Presenters: Kim Le, Gloria Kehinde

The majority of liberal arts education, from primary school to higher education, is focused on American or European history. Particularly within the public school system, the majority of historical studies concerning people of color are told from an exclusive viewpoint that often omits the diverse experiences and cultural backgrounds of students of color. In this presentation, we plan to debrief the effects of a systemically eurocentriceducation system on racial bias through both researched statistics and lived experiences. Through the lens of two women of color who grew up in predominantly white areas and attend a PWI (predominantly white institution), we plan to share our personal narratives and expand on how growing up with a non-diverse education system impacts the perception and understanding of personal racial identities among people of color. Through this program, we hope to bring awareness to the importance of diversity within a classroom setting from a young age. Given that adolescents spend the majority of their time within the classroom, the impact of education on an individual’s developing sense of identity holds great magnitude. In order to enhance cultural competency, we need to emphasize the significance of a diverse education. Additionally, we hope to provide an increased understanding of racial development within adolescents, encourage educators to incorporate works from authors of color, and teach history from an intersectional perspective.

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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.