Office of Diversity and Inclusion Hosts "White People talking to White People about Racism"

The broad civil unrest following the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery brought forth a resounding call for social justice and a formal commitment to promote an anti-racism agenda in broader society. Included in that call to action was the expectation that higher education explore its pledge to racial justice and the necessary steps to underscore that work. On Nov. 18, Kalamazoo Valley's office of Diversity and Inclusion is hosting talks for students, staff and faculty called White People Talking to White People About Racism.

Based on a webinar presented by The University of Southern Californian's Race and Equity Center, White People Talking to White People about Racism offers a space where white people can help each other in everyday anti-racist work beyond protest and public statements. This 90-minute program includes candid conversations about race, bias and other polarizing concepts of diversity and inclusion.

For many, this approach provides a framework to work intentionally on understanding white culture and white privilege and to learn from each other about these ideas, rather than relying on people of color to teach them (as often occurs in integrated spaces). During these discussions, it’s also important to acknowledge and talk about whiteness. According to a recent Pew Research Center survey, 15 percent of white people say race is core to their identity compared to 75 percent of Black people, 59 percent of Latinxs, and 56 percent of Asian Americans. To effectively discuss racism and anti-racism, white people need to be able to recognize and understand the role of whiteness in a racialized society.

The sessions will be hosted via Zoom, moderated by Diversity and Inclusion Director Trice Batson and facilitated by various white people including Tracey Corbett, Coty Dunten, Craig Jbara, and Patti Henning.

When: Wednesday, November 18 – two sessions
11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. and
2:30 – 4 p.m.

Please forward questions, accommodation requests and RSVPs to Trice Batson at tbatson@kvcc.edu.