Our Common Read unites the CUNY Law community around a single powerful text, chosen to complement our hands-on approach to legal education, spark campus-wide discussions, and inspire our pursuit of justice.
This signature initiative by the Office of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management kicks off at the start of summer and extends beyond incoming student orientation to include the campus community of all students, faculty, and staff in a series of related events. Designed to foster inclusive dialogue across disciplines and connect our community, the Common Read explores themes of social justice advocacy. We invite you to join this opportunity to bridge classrooms, perspectives, and experiences.
2024 – 2025 Selection
Viral Justice: How We Grow the World We Want
by Ruha Benjamin
“By using viral justice, we can connect the dots between various types of harm; from police violence to viruses, dissecting stressors and oppressors that lead to premature death. The only way we can change things is if we join together as a collective and, through small acts, create our own viral justice.”
“Part memoir, part manifesto, Viral Justice is a sweeping and deeply personal exploration of how we can transform society through the choices we make every day. […] A passionate, inspiring, and practical vision of how small changes can add up to large ones, Viral Justice details how transforming our relationships and communities helps us build a more just and joyful world.” Princeton University Press
About the Author
Ruha Benjamin is a renowned scholar, author, and public speaker who holds a professorship in African American Studies at Princeton University. There, she leads the Ida B. Wells Just Data Lab. Her acclaimed works include Race After Technology: Abolitionist Tools for the New Jim Code and the edited volume Captivating Technology. Benjamin’s insights have been featured in major media outlets.
Her work explores the intersection of science, technology, and society. She examines how technological advances impact different communities, highlighting both the potential benefits and risks. Benjamin’s writing and research encourage critical engagement with technological progress, emphasizing the need to consider its varied effects on human rights and dignity across different social groups.
Where to get the book
Check out the CUNY Law Library for available copies or order the book online.
Upcoming Events
Discussions and events for the entire CUNY Law community will be announced throughout the year and listed here.
Resources & Support
If you need emotional support while reading Viral Justice, you can access professional 24/7 support through CUNY’s TogetherAll platform or reach out to mentalwellness@law.cuny.edu, visit the Wellness Office (Rm 5-112) during business hours, or reach out to Student Affairs at (718) 340-4207.