February 17th & March 10th, 7p.m. (ET): We Are Not Your Racial Wedge: Fighting Anti-Black Racism in the AAPI Community
Presented by Tarida Anantachai, Huey Hsiao, and Nicholas Lee
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the AAPI community has experienced a rise in anti-Asian racism. At the same time, the AAPI community has struggled with the model minority myth and responding to Anti-Black Racism that is prevalent in the
community. In this session, we will discuss these issues and how the AAPI community can be in solidarity with the Black community.
February 23rd & March 16th, 7p.m. (ET): #ProtectBlackWomen: Identifying and Demolishing Crooked Rooms
Presented by Kristian Contreras
As we continue to navigate a contentious climate of health inequities, racial disparities and discrimination, and misogynistic violence among structural interlocking oppressions, the phrase “protect Black women” has become popularized in mainstream media as well
as in everyday conversations on social justice. Building on Dr. Melissa Harris Perry’s work on “crooked rooms”, this conversation explores the exclusionary narratives that impact how we conceptualize, interact with, and (de)value Black women. In this vein, what
does it mean to protect Black women? What stereotypes and biases guide your relationship(s) with Black women? How do you contribute to the fortification of crooked rooms and what actions can you take in demolishing them?
March 3rd & April 7th, 7p.m. (ET): Marginalized Within a Marginalized Group: Black Disability History
Presented by Kate Jean Corbett Pollack
This presentation follows the story of Junius Wilson, a Deaf black man who was unfairly institutionalized for most of his life in the Jim
Crow South. Junius lived through many historic eras significant to disability history, including the Eugenics era of the early to mid20th century. Junius was institutionalized and sterilized during a time in our nation’s history when this injustice was routinely meted
out to disabled people. The presentation also follows the trajectory of disability rights over the 20th century, and how those movements affected Junius, and how black disability history is an important part of disability history, and far too often overlooked.
March 17th, 7p.m. (ET): Anti-Blackness and Racism Among LGBTQ+ Communities
Presented by Jorge Castillo
In this session, we discuss the supposed colorblindness that often claimed that “gay was the new Black,” ignoring the relationship between queer and Black activism as though they are separate communities and movements. Black Lives Matter challenges this
either/or binary and centers both Blackness and queerness. Additionally, we examine how Black and other people of color have been integral and foundational organizers to what we know as the “Modern Gay Rights Movement” with figures such as Marsha P.
Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, Storme DeLarverie, Bayard Rustin, and many others.
April 13th, 7p.m. (ET): Just Write & Music Production
Presented by Cedric Bolton
Learn the mindset of how creatives include equity through spoken word poetry and music production. Creatives utilize soundtracks, writer’s prompts, and music production to reach a global audience. Participants will gain access to lyrics, album reviews, producing
tracks, and the uploads to sites to support creative independent artists.
Date: April 14th, 7p.m. (ET): Students of Color and Higher Education
Presented by Jorge Castillo
In this session, we discuss the lived experiences of Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) students on college campuses by exploring the lack of awareness around race, anti-Black racism, and white supremacy, as well as a lack of understanding around gender identity, gender expression, and sexuality in the university. We reflect upon and identify campus areas of support and resources for BIPOC queer and trans students.
April 20th, 7p.m. (ET): Stolen Narrative – Exploring Trauma’s Hold on Student Persistence
Presented by Robin Maxile
As Black students grapple with different forms of trauma—racism, sexism, xenophobia, etc.—while navigating their academic careers, they also face criticism regarding their moral character, work ethic, and overall life experiences. The long-standing debate of whether there is an achievement gap among Black students in American education perpetuates the stereotype of Blackness as deficient or inferior. However, this conversation fails to address the root of trauma. How do we discuss Blackness? How do we discuss issues of gender, class, faith, etc., without first discussing anti-blackness? In this session, Robin Maxile leads a discussion on the unrelenting hold trauma has on Black students and the importance of providing healing spaces that can restore their stolen
narratives.
April 27th, 7p.m. (ET): Black Lives Matter: Activism within Mainstream Media and Pop Culture
Presented by Robin Maxile & Kristian Contreras
In this session, Kristian and Robin delve into the ways in which mainstream media frames racial issues. Specifically, we use a critical race lens to examine the intersections of identity and experience as the Black Lives Matter movement became a pop culture phenomenon. Exploring language and terminology used in mainstream media to define BIPOC experiences versus white counterparts, we discuss the choice of Chaos or Community as coined in Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s 1967 book, Where Do We Go
from Here: Chaos or Community?