Political Landscape - A bill will be signed that allows voters to determine their own maps, a first in US history [1] - The state aims to stand up against the "rule of dawn" [1] Geographic Focus - The discussion involves Texas [2]

Racial Justice and Mapping - Maps have historically been used to establish and perpetuate racism, and continue to pose risks to communities of color if race is not considered [3][4][5] - Organizations should prioritize conversations about race and racial equity in their work to ensure the safety, health, and prosperity of every community [7] - Colonizers used maps to exploit Africa's resources and enslave its people, highlighting the historical misuse of maps for oppression [9][10][15] - Redlining practices in the US, supported by racist maps, led to segregation and limited opportunities for Black communities [19][20][21] - During disasters like Hurricane Katrina, racial disparities were evident, with Black people disproportionately affected [22][23][24] - Colorblind maps during the COVID-19 pandemic failed to address racial disparities, but some organizations used maps to highlight these inequalities, revealing that Black people were two to six times more likely to die [24][25][26] Action and Change - Change requires action, not just time, in the fight against racism and other systems of oppression [32] - When creating and using maps, it is crucial to involve Black people and other marginalized groups in the process [34] - Maps and policies should be designed to advance racial justice from the beginning, not as an afterthought [34] - The Northstar of GIS promotes mapping practices rooted in racial justice and highlights the work of the melanated and mapping community [30][31]

[Music] I'm here today to talk to you about maps. Maps. I love maps.I think they're a great tool. Uh those two students who just gave me the wonderful introduction, they'll tell you how I never shut up about maps in class. I think it's super important in a global politics class, in a history class, any class, you have to understand what's going on. You have to understand what's on the map.However, there's some things that maps leave out. Now, I've been into geography for a long time. It's something I've bee ...