The University of Akron is exploring race relations in a series of events titled "Rethinking Race: Black, White and Beyond," on Feb. 1-11.
The series’ roots can be traced back to 1997, when President Clinton chose UA as the location for his first Town Hall Meeting on Race. This is the third year that students, faculty and staff have planned the "Rethinking Race: Black, White and Beyond" series to commemorate the president’s visit and cultivate an understanding of race relations. The series will include keynote speakers, story circles, Face2Face conversations, an online museum, films and more.
"The Rethinking Race series was designed to develop and nurture respect and appreciation for diversity," says Fedearia Nicholson, director of UA's Office of Multicultural Development. "Our speakers and events will help the community identify and analyze contemporary issues, as well as help attendees critically analyze their own cultures."
Author and playwright Mark Cryer will present “99 Questions You’ve Always Wanted to Ask an African-American but Were Too Afraid for Fear They’d Break Their Foot Off in Your A**” on Thursday, Feb. 4 at 7 p.m. in UA’s Student Union Theatre. Cryer created this insightful, funny, poignant and powerful piece in response to a racial slur written on a college student’s door. This presentation is sponsored by Zips Programming Network and the Institute for Teaching and Learning.
Hazel Symonette, senior policy and program specialist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, will present “Inclusive Excellence Imperatives: Mobilizing Self as a Responsive Instrument for Social Justice” on Monday, Feb. 8 at 6 p.m. in UA’s Student Union Theatre. Her talk is sponsored by UA’s Office of Inclusion and Equity.
John Flores will present “Mexican Migration to the Midwest: A Historical and Contemporary Perspective,” on Tuesday, Feb. 9 at 2 p.m. in the Student Union Theatre. A specialist in Mexican-American history, Flores is the Climo Junior Professor in Case Western Reserve University’s college of arts and sciences. His presentation is sponsored by UA’s department of history.
Tim Wise, one of the most prominent anti-racist writers and activists in the U.S., will present “White Like Me: Reflections on Race from a Privileged Son” on Tuesday, Feb. 9 at E.J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall, Stage Door at 7:30 p.m. This presentation is sponsored by UA’s Office of Multicultural Development, Center for Conflict Management and the Institute for Teaching and Learning.
Inspirational retired football coach Herman Boone will present “Lessons from the Titans” on Wednesday, Feb. 10 at 7 p.m. in UA’s Student Union Theatre. Boone is the real-life coach behind the story of “Remember the Titans.” His speech is sponsored by UA’s Student African-American Brotherhood and University College Dean’s Office.
David Williams, the Florence and Laura Norman Professor of Public Health, African and African-American Studies and Sociology at Harvard University, will present, “Social Inequities in Health: Patterns, Causes and the Cost of Doing Nothing” on Thursday, Feb. 11 at 1:45 p.m. in UA’s Student Union Theatre. His talk is sponsored by the College of Business Administration and the Department of Sociology.
Robert Roche, executive director of the American-Indian Education Center, will present “The Invisible People” on Thursday, Feb. 11 at 6 p.m. in UA’s Student Union Theatre. His talk is sponsored by the Summit College Dean’s Office.
The culminating event for "Rethinking Race: Black, White and Beyond” will be a Unity Celebration on Thursday, Feb. 11 at 7 p.m. in UA’s Student Union Ballroom.
All events are free, unless otherwise noted. For information about additional events, including a detailed Face2Face schedule, visit http://www.uakron.edu/race/ or call 330-972-6446.
