The “booker” of a network of brothels operating out of Massachusetts and Virginia was sentenced April 18 to a year in prison and another year of supervised release, as well as fined $200,000 in a Boston federal court.

Ibram X. Kendi, director of Boston University’s Center for Antiracist Research, responded to written questions from The Daily Free Press following mass layoffs and allegations of mismanagement of funds. The email interview has been edited according to The Daily Free Press and Associated Press Style punctuation and spelling guidelines but otherwise published in full.