Every January, the Ithaca College community celebrates the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr through a series of programs sponsored by the Office of Student Engagement & Multicultural AffairsEvery January, the Ithaca College community celebrates the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr through a series of programs sponsored by the Office of Student Engagement & Multicultural Affairs
Faculty, staff, and students lead the campus community in presentations and dialogues that explore a variety of topics and subjects rooted in social justice and the work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Here are the workshops for the 2016 celebration on Tuesday, January 26 and Thursday, January 28:
Presenter(s): Diversity Peer Educators
Title: "Microaggressions"
Microaggressions can be defined as “brief and commonplace verbal, behavioral, or environmental indignities, whether intentional or unintentional, that communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative…slights and insults toward people…” (2007, Sue et al). This activity will explore the nature of microaggressions, and how this behavior affects its victims. In addition to exploring microaggressions as they relate to large concepts of privilege and oppression, students will be encouraged to utilize the workshop as an opportunity to discuss microaggressive behavior as it occurs on the Ithaca College campus.
Presenter: RahK Lash, Assistant Director of Multicultural Affairs (OSEMA)
Title: "The Curious Case of Rachel Dolezal"
Most people have a difficult time talking about race. Modern views such as “post-racial” and “trans racial” challenge our notions of what it means to have a racial identity. These views are dubious and enigmatic because they ignore the power and privilege dynamics between dominant/subordinate groups, and they can negatively impact intergroup behaviors and perceptions. This session will ask participants to think critically about colorblind vs. color conscious as they navigate through their respective spaces on campus.
Presenter: Ann-Marie Adams, Lecturer, Strategic Communication
Title: "A Place of Peace in Trade, Politics, and Social History"
Trade, politics and social history procured the elegance of the Lowcountry region of South Carolina by vast quantities of slave labor and money. The same three elements continue to define the region today. Once agricultural centers for cotton, rice and indigo the region is now viewed as a premier destination for leisure tourism and outdoor recreation. Most notable among the cultures converging in the Lowcountry region is the Gullah influence on Saint Helena Island, South Carolina. A place known for vocal advocacy on behalf of the black residents of Beaufort County.
Presenter: Sean Eversley Bradwell, Assistant Professor, Center for the Student of Race, Culture and Ethnicity
Title: "Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Black Power"
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. dedicates the second chapter of his last book to examine and ultimately argue against Black Power. In framing the chapter within a larger diaspora and historical context, the workshop is designed to unpack Dr. King’s writing on ‘Black Power’ and asks participants to explore the relevance of the chapter for today’s social justice movements.
Presenters: Harriet Malinowitz, Lecturer, Writing; Beth Harris, Associate Professor (retired), Politics; Dubian Ade and Andrea Levine, IC Alumni
Title: "From Tamir to Amir: Black and Palestinian Lives Matter"
In August 2015, more than 1,000 black activists – among them Angela Davis, Cornell West, and five Ithacans including an IC graduate – released a statement of solidarity with the Palestinian struggle for freedom and justice. As we confront the impunity with which U.S. officers routinely kill black Americans – including children – many are just becoming aware of the corresponding situation in Israel/Palestine. But how can one begin to engage with activism on this issue? This workshop will address some of the obstacles facing U.S. students and how they may be confronted.
Please continue to visit the following link as information will continue to be added and updated. https://www.ithaca.edu/sacl/osema/mlkcelebration/
Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodations should contact OSEMA at osema@ithaca.edu or (607) 274-3222. We ask that requests for accommodations be made as soon as possible.
https://www.ithaca.edu/intercom/article.php/20160108114156438