The current political and racial landscape is the topic of discussion for an upcoming event hosted by the Center for Critical Race Studies (CCRS) and the Center for Diversity & Inclusion (CDI) on June 18. The UHD Community is invited to join the guided presentation, “UHD Community Dialogue: Ensuing Action Post George Floyd.”

This timely event’s learning outcomes hope to:

• Create historical context and lay groundwork for intersectional understanding of race.
• Build capacity for mutual respect and understanding of the moment.
• Develop a platform for future events to address concerns or questions brought up during the event.

“Following the murder of George Floyd, I reached out to Dr. Robertson to develop some type of program or response to the murder and growing unrest,” said Erika Harrison, Title IX/Equity & Diversity Officer. “By the time we were able to meet and discuss a potential event, the protests had grown from Minneapolis to around the nation and later the world. There’s an awakening among Americans who are wanting to learn more and are looking to fill their blind spots on these issues. The event provides an opportunity to discuss these issues, learn the historical context and understand the meaning of terms, such as “white privilege” or “systemic racism.”

“Both CCRS and CDI work to create conversations. We hope to make UHD a more inclusive place for our faculty, staff and students. And through this event, we will gain even more insight on how to achieve that for future programming.”

The event will feature CCRS Faculty Fellows

• Dr. Vida Robertson, Director of CCRS and Associate Professor of English
• Dr. Jonathan Chism, Assistant Professor of History
• Dr. DoVeanna Fulton, Dean of College of Humanities & Social Sciences
• Dr. David Ryden, Associate Dean, CHSS and Professor of History
• Dr. Kristin Anderson, Professor of Psychology
• Dr. Douglas TeDuits, Assistant Professor of Management & Insurance Risk Management

"This event is an opportunity for the University to join the national debate on the systemic racism that plagues police departments throughout the country," said Roberston. "The murder of George Floyd reflects back to us the naked anti-Black bigotry of the United States in stark, unflinching brutality. The Center for Critical Race Studies and the Center for Diversity & Inclusion will facilitate a University-wide conversation to help students, faculty and staff better understand the unjustified killing of George Floyd and the resulting protests by contextualizing the complicated history of race, racism and activism in the U.S."

Two Zoom sessions will be held on Thursday, June 18:

Faculty & Staff
10 a.m.
Zoom RSVP: https://uhd.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_mbn8XQ0gS6CKDI8NwIF5vg

Students
2 p.m.
Zoom RSVP: https://uhd.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_dkwsvasLSO2BTjXBFm1x