Presenters: Mary C. Parker

Together, we will identify and define common racist practices that are present within Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), and explore anti-racist actions and methods of disrupting those practices. In this Anti-racism and Allyship workshop, we aim to share a framework for anti-racism practices and establish an understanding of critical race theory and intersectionality through interactive engagement. The content of this workshop is grounded in the published article Mary co-wrote for the Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Equality and Diversity Journal titled “Reflections on Researching Within a Structurally Racist Institution,” where she explores how multiple underlying and intersecting axes of oppression affected our work within academia. In this workshop, we will begin with a dialogue on experiences of structural racism within HEIs. This will lead to defining key terms like critical race theory and intersectionality. Then participants will use real-life scenarios to role-play and collectively determine how people and institutions can become complicit in the operations of anti-Black racism. Opportunities to “try on” perspectives and differing points of view will expand understanding of the intricacies of racism on an ideological, institutional, interpersonal, and internalized. To close, we will review the tools and strategies explored during the session. We would repeat key terms and provide recommendations to re-evaluate beyond the workshop engagement.

Register

If you require an accommodation to participate in this event, please contact the Office for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at diversity@pitt.edu by July 21

This workshop is a part of the 2021 Diversity Forum.