Sam Richards – Sociologist, Professor, Viral Lecturer
Sam Richards is a sociology professor best known not just for what he teaches but how the world watches him teach. He’s a faculty member at Penn State University, where he leads SOC 119: Race, Ethnicity, and Culture — one of the largest and most widely shared college courses online. His full lectures and classroom discussions are publicly uploaded on the SOC 119 YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKHQmMru9nAJ71FMrGfhfJQ) where they’ve found an audience far beyond his enrolled students. YouTube
Richards doesn’t just lecture — he engages. He tackles contentious topics like MAGA, Trump approval, race, and cultural values with a mix of data, real‑world examples, and questions that pull students into the conversation. That approach has made his clips viral classroom moments: some people praise him for making complex social issues accessible, while others take issue with how he frames politically charged questions. Controversy isn’t accidental — it’s part of the method to get people thinking rather than passively consuming.
At the intersection of sociological data and public debate, Richards’ teachings occupy a weirdly influential space: a college class that millions around the world watch, pause, screenshot, and argue about — whether they agree with him or not.
No comments:
Post a Comment