Fulfilling America's promise: racial equity and justice
While the news cycle occasionally rivets America’s attention on racial fault lines and flashpoints, enduring structural issues of racial inequity seldom receive sustained public attention. Americans believe we are committed to fair and equitable treatment of all people, but statistics show that race remains a key driver of inequality. Scholars and activists who dedicate their work to promoting equity and justice point out that all Americans are impacted by systemic racism, and that only sustained attention can fulfill the promise of justice for all. This series features speakers who work to make a difference and who will encourage (and inspire!) us all to take practical steps toward a more just society.
Lyceum lectures are held in the Lee Honors College lounge on the main campus of Western Michigan University on Wednesdays from noon to 1 p.m. Lectures are free and open to students, staff, faculty and the general public. Lunch is not provided, but the audience is welcome to bring brown bag lunches.
The keynote event for the series is “An Evening with Ms. Sybrina Fulton,” activist and mother of Trayvon Martin, on her work turning grief into advocacy for empowering youth, Wednesday, March 29, 7 p.m. at Chenery Auditorium. Ms. Fulton will also conduct a workshop for WMU students the following morning. Students interested in participating in the workshop should contact Associate Dean Jane Baas at jane.baas@wmich.edu.
Additionally, the Kalamazoo Public Library is welcoming Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to Miller Auditorium on March 14. This is a free event, but an RSVP is necessary.
Recordings of the Racial Equity series.
Jan. 18
Taking Inspiration from Women of the Civil Rights Movement
Mia Henry, Executive Director, Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership
Jan. 25
Dismantling Racial Bias in Law Enforcement on Campus and in the Community: A dialogue.
Chief Jeffrey Hadley, Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety and Chief Scott Merlo, WMU Public Safety
Feb. 1
First-Generation College Students: Fulfilling the Promise of Higher Education: A panel discussion.
Adriana Cardoso Reyes, Director of the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP), Division of Multicultural Affairs, WMU; Von Washington, Jr., Executive Director of Community Relations, Kalamazoo Promise; and Walter Malone, Director, WMU Alpha Program
Feb. 8
The Reality of Racial Bias in the Criminal Justice System
Dr. Carla Adkison-Johnson, Professor of Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology, WMU and Attorney E. Dorphine Payne, E. Dorphine Payne Law Office, Kalamazoo
Feb.15
Activist Tools You Can Use
Pecha-Kucha with WMU student leaders and activists
Feb. 22
How to Take on Hate: A Dialogue on Islamophobia and Racism with Activist Asha Noor and WMU Professor Alisa Perkins
Asha Noor, Advocacy and Civil Engagement Specialist, National Network for Arab American Communities and Alisa Perkins, Assistant Professor of Comparative Religion, WMU
March 15
Using Fashion and Spirituality to Build Cross-Cultural Love
Zarinah El-Amin Naeem, WMU alumna, social entrepreneur, and founder of Beautifully Wrapped and the Headwrap Expo
March 22
“SHARE OUT: You and Why Race Matters: A discussion/panel involving WMU students and SHARE."
This discussion will revolve around why we believe being intentional in confronting the concept of race, racism and privilege is necessary; and personal testimonies of our journey while doing work around racial equity and why it is important to society, especially in relation to our experience with higher education.
Maime Butler and members of the Student Assembly for Racial Equity and Cultural Inclusion (SAREC), WMU and Jacob Pinney-Johnson, Society for History and Racial Equity (SHARE)
March 29
This lecture will take place at 7 p.m. at Chenery Auditorium.
An Evening with Ms. Sybrina Fulton
Ms. Sybrina Fulton, activist and mother of Trayvon Martin and Earlene McMichael, moderator, WMUK, an NPR affiliate. There is no need to register and we are not ticketing for Ms. Fulton's talk. Chenery Auditorium seats 1,500, and we are confident there will be adequate seating for all who are interested. The doors open at 6:30, and seating is first come, first served. Ms. Fulton's talk is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. We hope you will join us for this important community event.
WMUK interview with Sybrina Fulton.
April 5
Black Lives Matter or All Lives Matter? Color-Blindness and Interpretive Justice
Dr. Ashley Atkins, Assistant Professor of Philosophy, WMU
April 12
Voices of First Generation Latino Immigrant Fathers: Migration and the Dual Frame of Reference
Dr. Angel Gullon-Rivera, Assistant Professor of Family and Consumer Sciences, WMU