Doshie Piper found a career in criminal justice while looking for a better understanding of her own world.
“I was trying to figure out why the communities that I grew up in were policed more than other communities,” Piper said. “I was trying to get some understanding, some insight, around why my brother at 15 was certified as an adult and sent to prison.”
She is only two years younger than her brother. In the decades since, Piper has cultivated a distinguished career — finding the answers and explanations for herself. Now, she is helping students do the same.
As a criminal justice professor at the University of the Incarnate Word, Piper looks to find a personal connection between her students and the work they do. The university is a Hispanic Serving Institution, so Piper is intentional with selecting texts — often written from a marginalized perspective — that her students can relate to.
“If my students can see themselves in the people who write the books, they’ll be drawn to read the books,” Piper said.
It wasn’t Piper’s plan to teach at the university. She’d intended to teach at a Historically Black College and University, but now she sees it clearly as part of her path. Although Piper is not part of the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, she found her people.
“The sisters are fighting for things in the Catholic Church that haven’t been realized or actualized for women yet,” Piper said. “I’m fighting for things in Black and brown communities that haven’t been realized or actualized for them yet. Because we have a similar struggle, a similar fight, similar journey — that’s what makes this a good fit.”
Piper has spent six years serving on the board of directors for the Texas Organizing Project, a member-led group based on political organizing. A portion of the work is dealing with member issues and complaints.
It has offered Piper the opportunity to explore restorative justice practices, such as facilitating healing circles. She’s been able to learn from other practitioners, including a Nigerian man whose research explored how his village would collectively decide when formal law enforcement was needed. She was struck by how effective this could be in Black and brown communities.
“I was fascinated by it — this concept of restoration and repair and accountability versus punishment and harm,” Piper said.
When you look at where and how she grew up in Houston, Piper said, she wasn’t supposed to get a Ph.D. But through prayer, faith and hard work, Piper has made possible what once felt impossible.
“I’ve been in difficult situations, and the belief in prayer has gotten me through,” Piper said. “I can’t explain it. I think that’s what faith is about. It’s the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things unseen.”
Piper’s dedication to faith, education and empowerment sets the foundation for her involvement in the city’s MLK Commission. She’d been involved for eight years and just began leading the commission as president.
This year’s march was blessed with good weather, Piper said. Now, she is looking to next January’s 40th anniversary march.
There is particular importance in the march for Black and brown communities, Piper said, to highlight “the progresses that have been made for particular populations of people are not only necessary but are essential to personhood, humanity, dignity and life.”
“This is really about that particular time period and the progress that came out of it through this individual’s leadership,” Piper said.
“But also recognizing that there were many other people that had a hand, a role in the successes of that time, and not being too far removed or detached from our current state of affairs that are threatening those successes and advances.”
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