Discussions around race and equity bring the 91探花community together before public lectures in the Equity & Difference Speaker Series
The desire to increase the amount 鈥� and quality 鈥� of dialogue about race and equity has inspired the Graduate School and the 91探花Alumni Association to pair 鈥淔acilitated Conversations鈥� with selected lectures from the yearly series they traditionally present. Titled 鈥�,鈥� the series exposes and explains transgressions and struggles, both systemic and personal, experienced by so many in our communities today. The series features thought leaders from 91探花and around the world who are working to confront prejudice and create change.
In the 鈥淔acilitated Conversations鈥� hosted just before each lecture, audience members meet and talk in small roundtable groups. They can share their personal experiences, discuss new ideas and brainstorm actions and solutions related to the lecturer鈥檚 theme.
鈥淕aining the skills to dialogue with people from diverse backgrounds and across multiple disciplines is fundamental to how our society builds communities that are equitable and inclusive,鈥� says David Eaton, vice provost and dean of the Graduate School. 鈥淭he objective of this unique series of discussions is to support student involvement and skill-building in these important conversations, and to encourage participation in discussions of difference.鈥�
Leigh Friedman, a senior who participated in the conversation before Harry Belafonte鈥檚 lecture, stated, 鈥淚 loved having students, faculty and administrators at one table. I didn鈥檛 realize how helpful that could be in 鈥榗onnecting the dots鈥� of the problem.鈥�
Facilitated Conversations are paired with the following lectures:
October 6, 2015: 鈥淪tars for Freedom,鈥� Harry Belafonte and the Civil Rights movement
Civil Rights leader, actor, singer and activist Harry Belafonte kicked off the series with an interview by Valerie Curtis Newton of the 91探花School of Drama. His discussion of the link between artists and activism connects to the recent publication of the 91探花 Press: 鈥�,鈥� which examines the history of actors who supported the Civil Rights Movement.
January 14, 2016: What鈥檚 the Difference With 鈥楧ifference鈥�?
Ralina L. Joseph, associate professor of communication, explores how and why the language we use matters both on an individual and a broader level. She looks at the language associated with minority-identity classifications and how changes can speak to shifting principles of naming. Joseph is an adjunct associate professor in the departments of American Ethnic Studies and Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies, and is the founding director of the new 91探花Center for Communication, Difference and Equity.
April 5, 2016: Microaggression: Power, Privilege and Everyday Life
American journalist, culture critic and television personality Tour茅 will visit campus to discuss microaggressions, manifestations of power and privilege in everyday life and the impact on the human experience. Tour茅 is a co-host of The Cycle on MSNBC and was also a contributor to MSNBC鈥檚 The Dylan Ratigan Show, and the host of Fuse鈥檚 Hiphop Shop and On the Record.
Resources for facilitators of conversation about race and equity
The (CTL) offers resources for faculty and other discussion leaders with tips on leading tough discussions and creating safe spaces for discussing equity and difference.
- Creating a safe space is crucial to engaging in meaningful conversations. It means acknowledging the topics can be uncomfortable for everyone, that mistakes may be made, and reserving the right to have 鈥渄o-overs鈥� for difficult moments that need more processing. Find more .
- Inclusive teaching means teaching in ways that do not exclude students, accidentally or intentionally, from opportunities to learn. Find more .