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SOME OLD BLACK MAN: A play by James Anthony Tyler, Starring Wendell Pierce and Charlie Robinson
January 15, 2021, 7:00 PM-12:00 AM
UMS presents:
When college professor Calvin Jones (played by Wendell Pierce) moves his 82-year-old doggedly independent, blue-collar, ailing father (played by Charlie Robinson) from Greenwald, Mississippi into his Harlem penthouse, an argument over what to eat for breakfast turns into a generational clash over race, opportunity, and a decision that Calvin made years ago. Some Old Black Man explores the personal trauma of a family’s history, as father and son try to rectify past hurts enabled in a racist world that has damaged their personal relationship. Written only a few years before the history-making events of 2020, the play invites audiences to consider and re-evaluate notions of fairness, equality, rights, and justice through a deeply personal, intimate relationship between father and son. Some Old Black Man challenges people of all ages to learn about the unique perspective of elders whose lived struggles created opportunities for future generations and to confront the experiential divides that can grow larger due to generational differences.
The creative team for this production quarantined together in Ann Arbor in fall 2020 and filmed the play in Detroit. This premiere presentation will include a talkback from the creative team.
Is RSVP required? Yes
Event Contact Info
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Virtual Town Hall: COVID-19 and the African American Community
January 16, 2021, 1:00 PM-2:30 PM
Sponsored by Program for Multicultural Health in collaboration with the Ministerial Alliance of Ypsilanti, Ann Arbor & Vicinity, Messias Temple Church, and SJMHS Ann Arbor/Chelsea presents:
Join the discussion and learn about COVID-19, the vaccine, and health disparities from local experts. Panelists will provide science-based facts and share personal stories to assist you in making an informed choice about your health.
Panelists:
Jessie Kimbrough Marshall, MD, MPH, Adjunct Assistant Professor, Division of Hospital Medicine, Michigan Medicine; Kiela Samuels, PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist, Division of Allergy & Clinical Immunology Michigan Medicine; Bishop Harry S. Grayson, Pastor, Messias Temple Church
Moderator:
Othelia Pryor, PhD, Senior Project Manager, Office for Health Equity & Inclusion, Michigan Medicine
Is RSVP required? Yes
Link to Remote Event: Receive upon RSVP
Event Contact Info
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MLK Virtual Wall: Where do YOU go from here? Day 1
January 18, 2021, 12:00 AM-11:00 PM
Center for Campus Involvement presents:
Share where YOU plan to go from here related to MLK’s legacy by sharing words, photos, resources, voice recordings, and more to be viewed by the campus community. The most “liked” post will be featured on the Center for Campus Involvement’s social media pages and the top 5 post owners will receive an Ann Arbor Folk Fest pass.
Is RSVP required? No
Event Contact Info
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22nd Annual MLK Children and Youth Program
January 18, 2021, 9:00 AM-12:00 PM
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor presents:
The MLK Children & Youth Program celebrates the life and legacy of Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr. by providing a day of activities and events designed specifically for
children and teens in grades K-12. Throughout these memorable years, these
activities have been filled with fun, creativity, dialogue, and entertainment and
included storytelling, guided discussions and group projects, skits, rap poetry, and
various musical performances. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event will be
facilitated virtually by professional educators and students at the University of
Michigan School of Education.
Is RSVP required? Yes
Event Contact Info
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Story, Word, Sound, Sway
January 18, 2021, 9:00 AM-5:00 PM
Stamps School of Art & Design – Stamps Gallery presents:
Story, Word, Sound, Sway is an exhibition of work by eleven Stamps School of Art & Design Alumni using performance, movement, text, sound, and design to interrogate systems of oppression and interrupt the status quo. It explores themes of alternative histories, archives, Black identity, collective memory, storytelling; meshing performance and performativity, and the interplay of the oral and aural in one’s experience of the world. An undercurrent of movement explored in multiple variations thread the works together, realized through a variety of methods including painterly gesture, repetitive mark-making, performance with an audience or without, spoken word, ambient sound, and reimagined instruments. The exhibition aspires to pull at the loosened threads of a social fabric in crisis, revealing larger complex histories and art discourses, nationally and internationally, framed through the experiences and trajectories of Stamps alumni during their time in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Featured Artists: Carsia Bledsoe (BFA Interarts ’14), Schroeder Cherry (BFA ’76), Elshafei Dafalla (MFA ’08), Masimba Hwati (MFA ’19), Caleb Moss (BFA ’13), Senghor Reid (BFA ’99), Valencia Robin (MFA ’08), Yvette Rock (MFA ’99), Wes Taylor (BFA ’04), Levester Williams (BFA ’13), and Elizabeth Youngblood (BFA ’73)
Co-curated by Jennifer Junkermeier-Khan and Moteniola Ogundipe, this exhibition is on view at Stamps Gallery (201 S. Division St.) and online at stamps.umich.edu/gallery from January 18, 2021 – February 28, 2021.
Stamps Gallery is open to the U-M community only at this time (faculty/staff/students with a valid M-Card). The gallery is not open to the general public. The gallery is open Tuesdays and Fridays from 2pm to 7pm. Learn more about our COVID-19 health and safety measures: https://stamps.umich.edu/stamps_gallery
Is RSVP required? No
Event Contact Info
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University of Michigan 2021 MLK Keynote Memorial Lecture: Where Do We Go From Here
January 18, 2021, 10:00 AM-11:30 AM
The University of Michigan 2021 Martin Luther King Jr. Symposium presents symposium keynote speakers : Dr. Gloria House and Malik Yakini
This year’s symposium features two speakers, Gloria House, poet, essayist, educator and human rights activist, and Malik Yakini, co-founder and Executive Director of the Detroit Black Community Food Security Network (DBCFSN). See below for their bios.
Gloria House is a poet, essayist, educator and human rights activist with a deep connection to the city of Detroit. In 2019, Dr. House was named the Kresge Foundation Eminent Artist. Her essays and single poems have appeared in numerous local and national anthologies and periodicals. Dr. House is the editor of the Naomi Long Madgett Poetry Award Series of Broadside Lotus Press, co-editor of the Detroit periodical, Riverwise, and lead editor of the anthology, A Different Image: The Legacy of Broadside Press (2004) – which received the Notable Book of Michigan Award from the Library of Michigan in 2005. In addition, Dr. House designed the African American and African Studies (AAAS) major program at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, and served as Director of the AAAS Program before her retirement in 2014. She is currently an organizer in the Detroit Independent Freedom Schools Movement, the Black Legacy Coalition, and the Coalition for Police Transparency and Accountability.
Malik Yakini is an educator, farmer, and food justice advocate. He is the co-founder and Executive Director of the Detroit Black Community Food Security Network (DBCFSN), and a co-founder of the National Black Food and Justice Alliance. DBCFSN operates a seven-acre urban farm and has led the launch of the Detroit People’s Food Co-op, a cooperative grocery store in Detroit’s North End. Yakini was also the Executive Director of Nsoroma Institute Public School Academy, a K-8 African-centered school, for 20 years.
We are also fortunate that Dr. Stephen Ward, U-M Associate Professor in the Residential College and the Department of Afro and African American Studies, will moderate this year’s keynote conversation.
The MLK Symposium will be streamed virtually on Monday, January 18, 2021, at 10:00 a.m.
The lecture is co-sponsored by the University of Michigan’s Office of Academic Multicultural Initiatives (OAMI) under the Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (ODEI), and the Ross School of Business with support from the William K. McInally Memorial Lecture Fund.
Is RSVP required? No
Event Contact Info
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2021 North Campus Deans’ Virtual MLK Spirit Awards
January 18, 2021, 12:00 PM-11:00 PM
CoE, Stamps, Taubman, & SMTD presents: 2021 North Campus Deans’ MLK Spirit Awards
The 2021 North Campus Deans’ MLK Spirit Awards has adapted a new virtual format to honor faculty, staff, and students who exemplify the vision of Dr. King during COVID-19. Beginning January 18, 2021 (MLK Day), a series of pre-recorded content will be released online to showcase this year’s awardees’ commitment to DEI during unprecedented times.
Check out the MLK Spirit Awards website for north campus at the link below to stay up-to-date with this year’s awardees!
Is RSVP required? No
Event Contact Info
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Creating Community Despite Chaos: Unpacking MLK’s Vision for Civil Rights, Anti-Racism, and the Future Ahead
January 18, 2021, 12:00 PM-1:15 PM
Office of Multi-Ethnic Student Affairs (MESA) and Office of Academic Multicultural Initiatives (OAMI) presents:
To kickstart Black History Month 2021, the Office of Academic Multicultural Initiatives (OAMI) and the Office of Multi-Ethnic Student Affairs (MESA) Social Connectivity are honoring the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by hosting a post MLK Keynote Memorial Lecture community discussion on MLK Day. The theme for this year’s U-M MLK Symposium is “Where Do We Go From Here?”, derived from Rev. Dr. King’s last book, Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community. In this publication, King provides an acute analysis of racial issues, injustice, race relations, civil rights successes and challenges, and dreams of a beloved community for America’s future. This session is open to the Ann Arbor community and led by some of Black History Month, MESA, and OAMI student leaders. This event focuses on understanding and reflecting on civil rights values in today’s world and building resilience to uphold Rev. Dr. King’s vision for an anti-racist America.
Student Facilitators:
Saveri Nandigama, Senior, MESA Black History Month Student Coordinator
Julia Ochoa-Corante, Junior, MESA Social Connectivity and Community Engagement Student Coordinator
Regis Haynes, Senior, OAMI MLK Symposium Student Program Assistant
Collaborative efforts by:
Andrew Ward, Program Manager-MESA
Gregory Thomas, Program Manager-OAMI
Is RSVP required? Yes
Event Contact Info
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Crip Camp: A Revolutionary Culture of Love & Pride
January 18, 2021, 12:00 PM-3:00 PM
Services for Students with Disabilities presents: Crip Camp: A Revolutionary Culture of Love & Pride
Join Services for Students with Disabilities in celebrating the life of Dr. King for a film screening and discussion of the Netflix documentary, Crip Camp. The documentary is a story of how teens with disabilities became revolutionary activists and shaped a culture of love, pride and self-acceptance. This film is a great example of the power of community.
Be part of the conversation and movement that continues to build an inclusive future for all.
Is RSVP required? Yes
Link to Remote Event:
Film screening and discussion will take place via Zoom. To obtain the link to participate, please RSVP at: https://myumi.ch/MEmlp
Event Contact Info
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Critical Disability Methodologies and Processes of Racialization
January 18, 2021, 12:00 PM-2:00 PM
Philosophy Department presents: Desiree Valentine
This talk explores the connections between Critical Disability Studies and Critical Philosophy of Race. Recently, there has been significant growth in scholarship identifying and addressing the whiteness of critical disability studies and the ableism of critical race studies. This talk will investigate the mutual distancing strategies implicit in studies across race and disability as well as explore the intersection of these two social markers as lived. Drawing from examples in law, health and medicine, and carcerality, I show how race and disability ought not be understood as disparate phenomena, but as a nexus through which we can reconceive opportunities for developing liberatory responses to entrenched and co-constituting oppressions.
Is RSVP required? No
Event Link Passcode: 540899
Event Contact Info
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Where Do We Go From Here: Body Politics and Movement Towards Racial Empowerment
January 18, 2021, 12:00 PM-1:30 PM
U-M Health Sciences presents: Monique Butler, MD
Bodies represent the sites of socially constructed differences and power relations. As such, the personal is political, and bodies are subject to political interpretations. Body politics based on racial (and/or ethnic) ascriptions (along with other intersecting elements such as sex, gender, sexuality, age, social class, ability, etc.) have adversely affected the overall health and wellness of bodies of Color in general, and Black bodies in particular – impacting their abilities, opportunities, access (inclusion/exclusion), care/treatment, and the overall nature of their lived experiences. Consequently, racialized body politics have contributed to an array of health disparities being more pronounced in communities of Color. However, movement offers a variety of health benefits and is therefore, a source of empowerment for racially politicized bodies.
This event will feature a keynote presentation by Dr. Monique Butler, U-M Kinesiology alumna and Chief Medical Officer for Swedish Medical Center (Denver, CO), addressing the theme “Where Do We Go From Here: Body Politics and Movement Towards Racial Empowerment.” This event is sponsored by the U-M Health Sciences units and hosted by the School of Kinesiology.
Is RSVP required? Yes
Link to Remote Event Registration is required. Individual links will be sent to all who register at http://myumi.ch/bvP38
Event Contact Info
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MLK Day at the UMDC
January 18, 2021, 1:00 PM-2:30 PM
University of Michigan Detroit Center presents: MLK Day at the UMDC
Devine is the Shepherd
In a world where uncertainty reigns, it can be a challenge to see a bright future for our young people. Economic turmoil, climate change, civil unrest, and worldwide pandemics all combine to paint a scary future. These challenges are particularly acute in the City of Detroit. It is in these times we need people willing to step up to show young people the path to glory. The people that teach and train young people to move past their current situation and to see a world beyond their circumstance are more in need than ever. It has been said that working with young people can be a calling. Join us as we meet with some that have answered the call to discuss the challenges and triumphs of being a youth leader in Detroit.
Is RSVP required? Yes
Link to Remote Event: Registration is required.
Event Contact Info
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Public Monuments and Our Histories: Reframing the Memories of Our Nation
January 18, 2021, 1:00 PM-2:20 PM
University of Michigan Museum of Art presents:
Public monuments, public spaces, and museums shape the shared understanding of our nation’s history. From the removal of Jim Crow-era statues of Confederate leaders in cities across the country to the opening of the Legacy Museum and the National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, AL, a dramatic shift in our perceptions and ideas about the complex heritage of our monuments and museums has occurred over the last five years. More recently, the country has considered the role of monuments and the narratives they perpetuate with much greater focus and intensity in light of the protest movements for social justice and against systemic racism that swept the nation in the summer of 2020. In honor of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, join us for an important discussion with four national experts on the power that monuments and public spaces assert in creating our nation’s stories. Mitch Landrieu, former Mayor of New Orleans; Earl Lewis, founding director of University of Michigan’s Center for Social Solutions; and Kristin Hass, Associate Professor of American Culture, will discuss the crucial role practice and policy play today in shaping our nation’s legacies, in a conversation moderated by Christina Olsen, director of the University of Michigan’s Museum of Art and co-director of the U-M Arts Initiative.
This event is a collaboration of UMMA, the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, and the Democracy & Debate Theme Semester.
Is RSVP required? Yes
Event Contact Info
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Linguistics Annual MLK Colloquium: Racial Bias in Automatic Speech Recognition
January 18, 2021, 2:00 PM-3:30 PM
Department of Linguistics presents: Alicia Beckford Wassink, PhD
Linguist Alicia Beckford Wassink, associate professor at the University of Washington, will give a talk titled “Uneven Success: Racial Bias in Automatic Speech Recognition.”
Racial bias in automatic speech recognition is an emerging area of concern in fields associated with human-computer interaction. Research to date suggests that sociolinguistic variation, namely systematic sources of sociophonetic variation, has yet to be extensively exploited in Acoustic Model architectures. This talk reports a study that evaluates the performance of one ASR system for a multi-ethnic sample of speakers from the American Pacific Northwest (including Native American, African American, European American and ChicanX speakers). Using a sociophonetic approach to characterizing vocalic and consonantal variation, I ask which dialect features appear to be most challenging for our ASR system. We also ask which error types are particular to the four ethnic dialects sampled. Recordings of both conversational and read speech were coded for a common set of 18 sociophonetic variables with distinct phonetic profiles. Automatic transcription was achieved using CLOx, a custom-built ASR system created in the University of Washington Sociolinguistics Laboratory. Normalized error frequency rates (Nf) are compared across ethnic group samples to evaluate CLOx performance. Nf error rates demonstrate clear differential performance in the ASR system, pointing to racial bias in system output. Specific predictions are made regarding approaches that might be taken to leverage sociophonetic knowledge to improve sociolect-recognition accuracy in ASR systems.
A reception will follow on Zoom at https://umich.zoom.us/j/98873312919.
Is RSVP required? No
Event Contact Info
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MLK and Militarism: Beyond Militarism; Where Do We Go From Here?
January 18, 2021, 2:00 PM-4:00 PM
Veterans For Peace/ UM Veterans and Military Service Off. presents: We Shea, Ph.D/ Bob Krzewinski
This discussion examines MLK’s views on militarism as found in his speeches and writings, and how these views might be applied today.
Is RSVP required? No
Event Contact Info
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Race, Protest & Politics: Where Do We Go From Here?
January 18, 2021, 2:00 PM-3:00 PM
Library MLK Committee presents: Mary Frances Berry
Dr. Mary Frances Berry
Author, Activist, Educator & Historian
For more than four decades, Dr. Mary Frances Berry has been one of the most visible and respected activists in the cause of civil rights, gender equality and social justice. Serving as Chairperson of the US Civil Rights Commission, Dr. Berry led the charge for equal rights and liberties for all Americans over the course of four Presidential administrations. A trailblazer for women and African-Americans alike, she also became the first woman of any race to head a major research university as Chancellor of the University of Colorado at Boulder. She is the Geraldine R. Segal Professor of American Social Thought and Professor of History at the University of Pennsylvania, where she teaches the history of American law and the history of law and social policy.
Dr. Berry made history as one of the founders of the monumental Free South Africa Movement (FSAM). She received the Nelson Mandela award from the South African Government for her role in organizing the FSAM, raising global awareness of South African injustice that helped to end over 40 years of apartheid. She also served as Assistant Secretary for Education in the US Department of Health, Education and Welfare, working to make these historically inequitable systems achieve a new level of fairness. A prolific author, Dr. Berry’s books cover a wide range of subjects, from the history of constitutional racism in America to the history of progressive activism. Her latest book, History Teaches Us to Resist: How Progressive Movements Have Succeeded in Challenging Times, examines the successful tactics of movements that ended the Vietnam War, jumpstarted government response to the AIDS epidemic, championed the Americans with Disabilities Act and advanced civil, women’s and LGBTQ rights—all of which she was a part of. Her previous book, Power in Words: The Stories behind Barack Obama’s Speeches, from the State House to the White House, offers insight and historical context of President Obama’s most memorable speeches.
A moving speaker who makes history come alive, Dr. Berry believes that each generation has the responsibility to make a dent in the wall of injustice. She continues to speak boldly for those who can’t speak for themselves and motivates all of us to take action. Her clarion call challenges everyone to stand up, stand tall and to never give up the fight.
Is RSVP required? No
Event Contact Info
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Youth Activism: Lessons from Flint and Beyond
January 18, 2021, 2:00 PM-3:00 PM
ISR presents: Mari Copeny
Amariyanna “Mari” Copeny, also known as Little Miss Flint, is a youth activist from Flint, Michigan. She is best known for raising awareness about Flint’s ongoing water crisis and fundraising to support underprivileged children in her community and across the country.
https://www.maricopeny.com/
Is RSVP required? No
Event Contact Info
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MLK Circle of Unity
January 18, 2021, 3:00 PM-4:00 PM
Michigan Community Scholars Program presents:
The Michigan Community Scholars Program will celebrate MLK and his legacy with the community at our 15th Annual Circle of Unity. Join hundreds of University and community participants via Zoom for this virtual event celebrating the life of Dr. King and his legacy of racial justice, nonviolence, and unity. All are welcome: students, staff, faculty, families, and children, as the audience is encouraged to participate as we honor Martin Luther King Jr. through song, dance, and spoken word. We will be joined by local musician favorite, Joe Reilly, in addition to performances by student musicians and spoken word artists. The event will also be streamed live to our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/umichmcsp/
Is RSVP required? No
Event Contact Info
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A Conversation about The Common Wind: Afro-American Currents in the Age of the Haitian Revolution
January 18, 2021, 4:00 PM-5:30 PM
Departments of Afroamerican and African Studies/History/Eisenberg Institute for Historical Studies presents: Julius S. Scott, Jr. With invited scholars
Please join us for a discussion of Julius Scott’s seminal book, The Common Wind: Afro-American Currents in the Age of the Haitian Revolution. Winner of the 2019 Stone Book Award from the Museum of African American History, the work presents a remarkable intellectual history of the slave revolts that made the modern revolutionary era. The Common Wind is a gripping and colorful account of the intercontinental networks that tied together the free and enslaved masses of the New World.
Is RSVP required? Yes
Link to Remote Event:
https://umich.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_1OVRFHlERJq6aAdnQ64qXg
Event Contact Info
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Marjorie Lee Browne Colloquium
January 18, 2021, 4:00 PM-5:00 PM
Department of Mathematics presents: Ryan Hynd
Title: Shapes of constant width
Abstract: It is a great honor for me to speak in the Marjorie Lee Browne Colloquium series and to help celebrate her legacy this Martin Luther King Jr. Day. In my talk, I will discuss a favorite topic of mine: shapes of constant width. In the plane, they are closed convex curves which have the property that any two parallel supporting lines are the same distance apart in all directions. A fundamental problem involving these curves is to find one which encloses the smallest amount of area. This was resolved long ago, and I’ll explain a few ways to address this problem. I’ll also mention what is known in three dimensions, including that the least volume shape has yet to be found.
Is RSVP required? No
Event Contact Info
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Days of Service/Social Action
January 18, 2021, 7:00 PM-8:30 PM
One World One Family presents:
Livestream the UM lecture (featuring the theme Where Do We Go From Here?) and speakers Gloria House and Malik Yakini at mlksymposium.umich.edu from your own home in the morning, then join Chelsea neighbors for a follow-up moderated virtual community discussion via zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81823896856?pwd=U0t3WEhCQTlJVkc3SUViekJkR0VyZz09
Also: Join us for fun, socially distanced opportunities to do good in your community. Download a
challenge card at owof.org/mlkjrday2021.html or at facebook.com/OneWorldOneFamily and
play along from Jan 15 to Jan 25. Snap a selfie with card and post on FB for special prizes.
Is RSVP required? No
Event Contact Info
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MLK Virtual Wall: Where do YOU go from here? Day 2
January 19, 2021, 12:00 AM-11:00 AM
Center for Campus Involvement presents:
Share where YOU plan to go from here related to MLK’s legacy by sharing words, photos, resources, voice recordings, and more to be viewed by the campus community. The most “liked” post will be featured on the Center for Campus Involvement’s social media pages and the top 5 post owners will receive an Ann Arbor Folk Fest pass.
Is RSVP required? No
Event Contact Info
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2021 Virtual MLK Day Event | Overcoming Turbulence: Trials and Triumphs of Black Women in Aerospace
January 19, 2021, 12:00 PM-1:30 PM
Aerospace Engineering presents: Black Alumnae Panelists
The Department of Aerospace Engineering invites you to join us for a candid and inspiring panel discussion in recognition of Martin Luther King Jr. A panel of Black successful alumnae will discuss their unique career journeys, the impact of being “the only one,” and how to overcome roadblocks. The panel discussion will be moderated by Black Students in Aerospace members, Erin Levesque and Erika Jones.
Meet the panelists:
Aisha Bowe, BSAE ’08
STEMBoard
Sydney Hamilton, BSAE ’13
Boeing
Dr. Jessica Jones, MSAE ’13, PhD AE ’17
Aurora Flight Sciences
Jasmine LeFlore, BSAE ’15
Collins Aerospace
Jasmine Sadler, BSAE ’09
The STEAM Collaborative
Lizalyn Smith, BSME ’02
Self-Published Author
Tia Sutton, BSAE ’00
Truck and Engine Manufacturers Association
Belinda Williams, BSAE ’96
Amazon
This event is free and open to the public via Zoom. Please register to receive the Zoom link.
Is RSVP required? Yes
Link to Remote Event: Link provided after registration
Event Contact Info
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Anti-Racism Exploration/Discussion Series of Caste (by Isabel Wilkerson) – Series #1
January 19, 2021, 2:00 PM-4:00 PM
Geriatrics Center/The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at U of M presents: in event description
This event is Part 1 of a 6 Part Series
Faye Askew King, LMSW & ACSW, and Karen Bantel, Ph.D, MBA
Introduction: Isabel Wilkerson, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, has written a well-researched, narrative history titled Caste: The Origins of our Discontents, that is asking us to look at our collective history from a new paradigm, that of caste vs. race and/class. We are offering this Discussion Series to allow participants to examine and reflect upon this reframing of our history, and its implications for our present and future as a nation. We want to offer participants a safe space forum to interpret, consider, and challenge the insights offered in Caste. Our hope is that through these thoughtful and difficult conversations about our nation’s past, we will gain a better understanding of how that history is operating today.
This Discussion Series will serve our collective benefit by beginning to think of ways that we as individuals and as a community can make changes, big or small, to improve the circumstances and experiences for our children, grandchildren, family, and friends in the near and far futures.
Following an intensive review and discussion of the book, we will then offer, using this new paradigm, the option to participants to continue with a series of monthly discussions throughout 2021 on additional selected topics. Participants will provide input on topic selection. Anticipated topics include: health care disparities, our criminal justice system, housing policies, economics, and black feminism.
Goals: To increase understanding, awareness, and sensitivity to issues of racial inequity and bias. Create community conversation and opportunities for self-reflection, personal growth, and behavior change. To consider possible personal action steps addressing racial inequities.
Format: Assigned readings and other materials. Facilitated discussion.
Facilitation: Co-facilitators: Faye Askew-King & Karen Bantel.
Duration: January-March, 2021 – biweekly two hour meetings.
Continuation optional: April -December, 2021; monthly two hour meetings. (Break in July or August.)
Continuation beyond 2021 tbd.
Dates/Times: January 19; February 2 and 16; March 2, 16, 30
All sessions will be 2:00pm-4:00pm.
Topics: Part I: January – March: Reading and discussion of Caste by Isabel Wilkerson.
Link to Remote Event: **CAPACITY FILLED**
Event Contact Info
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From Solidarity to Co-liberation: Shifting the Culture of Anti-Racism Organizing
January 19, 2021, 3:30 PM-5:00 PM
Center for Social Justice & Inclusion (UM-Dearborn) presents: Tawana Petty
Lifelong Detroit activist, mother, and poet, Tawana Petty, will lead us through her analysis of the various forms of allyship; from solidarity to co-liberation. Petty will share principles of anti-racist organizing from her book, “Towards Humanity: Shifting the Culture of Anti-Racism Organizing,” and discuss how non-Black organizers can practice genuine, non-performative collaboration with the movement for Black Lives. Although Petty focuses on anti-Black racism and organizing, her principles and wisdom can be applied to other movement spaces as well.
This event will be live streamed with Tawana Petty presenting and a Q&A to follow. The Q&A feature will be active during the webinar. Please feel free to submit questions during the registration process or during the event.
Thank you!
Is RSVP required? Yes
Event Contact Info
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MLK Virtual Wall: Where do YOU go from here? Day 3
January 20, 2021, 12:00 AM-11:00 PM
Center for Campus Involvement presents:
Share where YOU plan to go from here related to MLK’s legacy by sharing words, photos, resources, voice recordings, and more to be viewed by the campus community. The most “liked” post will be featured on the Center for Campus Involvement’s social media pages and the top 5 post owners will receive an Ann Arbor Folk Fest pass.
Is RSVP required? No
Event Contact Info
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Peer-Led Anti-Racism Teach-In
January 20, 2021, 5:30 PM-7:00 PM
Office of Multi-Ethnic Student Affairs presents: Peer Inclusive Educator (PIE) Team Members
Anti-Racism Teach-In
Racial justice begins with anti-racism. Anti-racism is the active process of identifying and eliminating racism by changing systems, organizational structures, policies, practices, and attitudes so that power is redistributed and shared equitably (University of Calgary). This peer-led teach-in will engage analytical frameworks for examining systemic cultural, social, economic, and political forces in the community along with individual reflection. Our hope is to raise critical consciousness, understand the opportunity for actions, and how our resources can be distributed.
Is RSVP required? No
Event Contact Info
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MLK Virtual Wall: Where do YOU go from here? Day 4
January 21, 2021, 12:00 AM-11:00 PM
Center for Campus Involvement presents:
Share where YOU plan to go from here related to MLK’s legacy by sharing words, photos, resources, voice recordings, and more to be viewed by the campus community. The most “liked” post will be featured on the Center for Campus Involvement’s social media pages and the top 5 post owners will receive an Ann Arbor Folk Fest pass.
Is RSVP required? No
Event Contact Info
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The Inclusive Campus Collaborative: What is it, and why should you join?
January 21, 2021, 4:00 PM-5:00 PM
Inclusive Campus Collaborative presents:
Have you been interested in getting involved in building inclusive communities? The Inclusive Campus Collaborative (ICC) is a great place to start! Join us to learn more about this organization and how we work together to promote inclusive practices and build our own professional development in this area.
The Inclusive Campus Collaborative is a group of students, faculty and staff committed to fostering a campus climate in which all members of the University of Michigan community feel respected, valued, and empowered to engage in the life of the university. We support one another in developing and expanding our own knowledge and skills in engaging across difference and serving as effective allies to students and colleagues affected by all forms of bias, racism, and structural inequality.
Come to this interactive session to learn more about the ICC!
Is RSVP required? No
Event Contact Info
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The Unsilenced Voices of 2021
January 21, 2021, 5:30 PM-7:00 PM
Michigan Engineering Diversity Equity & Inclusion Student Advisory Board presents:
There’s a lot weighing on our minds and emotions surrounding our country and world right now.
Big issues that often feel beyond our control. One way to regain some control is to share your
ideas, feelings, and opinions – and to listen to others.
The College of Engineering’s DEI Student Advisory Board is providing a safe virtual space for you to speak your mind in order to evoke change and actualize empathy during the current times. In an environment suspended from judgement and filled with compassion, the SAB is providing a space to reflect, feel, and react to all current events that are impacting you as a person. Join to unsilence your voice and speak up about what you have been going through.
Is RSVP required? Yes
Event Contact Info
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Building the Beloved Community Through Trauma-Informed Design
January 21, 2021, 6:00 PM-8:00 PM
Taubman College MLK Planning Committee presents:
According to Dr. King, “the Beloved Community is a global vision, in which all people can share in the wealth of the earth.” This symposium, led by Taubman College students, will explore community over chaos, the intersections of the twin pillars of economic and social justice, and the resources and education necessary to create the Beloved Community. We aim to interrogate the questions: What are the attitudes and systems that are keeping architects and urban planning from fostering the Beloved Community? What role does trauma-informed design play in educating the future leaders of the Beloved Community? What does trauma-informed design look like in urban planning and architecture education?
This will be a panel discussion moderated by Taubman College’s Harley Etienne. The panel will be made up of four urban planners, architects, designers, and activists working to achieve economic and racial justice: Craig Wilkins, Lesley Lokko, De Nichols, and Ujijji Davis.
Is RSVP required? Yes
Event Contact Info
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MLK Virtual Wall: Where do YOU go from here? Day 5
January 22, 2021, 12:00 AM-11:00 PM
Center for Campus Involvement presents:
Share where YOU plan to go from here related to MLK’s legacy by sharing words, photos, resources, voice recordings, and more to be viewed by the campus community. The most “liked” post will be featured on the Center for Campus Involvement’s social media pages and the top 5 post owners will receive an Ann Arbor Folk Fest pass.
Is RSVP required? No
Event Contact Info
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Cancel Culture and Exile: Building an inclusive community?
January 22, 2021, 12:30 PM-2:00 PM
Office of Student Conflict Resolution (OSCR) presents:
What is the goal of Cancel Culture? Is it useful or destructive to activism and online culture? What has been your experience with Cancel Culture? We will be holding a facilitated dialogue to explore these questions through the lens of conflict and restorative justice.
Is RSVP required? No
Event Contact Info
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MLK Virtual Wall: Where do YOU go from here? Day 6
January 23, 2021, 12:00 AM-11:00 PM
Center for Campus Involvement presents:
Share where YOU plan to go from here related to MLK’s legacy by sharing words, photos, resources, voice recordings, and more to be viewed by the campus community. The most “liked” post will be featured on the Center for Campus Involvement’s social media pages and the top 5 post owners will receive an Ann Arbor Folk Fest pass.
Is RSVP required? No
Event Contact Info
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Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration: Systemic Racism: COVID-19 & the African American Experience in Michigan
January 23, 2021, 1:00 PM-3:30 PM
Turner African American Services Council (TAASC) in collaboration with The Department of Geriatrics, Turner Senior Wellness Program, Community Health Services, Bethel AME Church, and Program for Multicultural Health presents:
Panelists will discuss systemic racism and how it impacts the experiences of African Americans and COVID-19 in Michigan. Event speakers: Renée Branch Canady, PhD, MPA – CEO Michigan Public Health Institute, Michigan Coronavirus Task Force on Racial Disparities Member;
Alexis Travis, PhD – Senior Deputy Director for Aging & Adult Services Agency
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
This is the first of four lectures on systemic racism and its’ impact on the African American community. Dates for the remaining lectures: February 27, 2021 – Education and Black History; May 8, 2021 – Social Justice; October 9, 2021 – Hope for the Future
Is RSVP required? Yes
Event Contact Info
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Martin Luther King Jr. Spirit Awards Ceremony
January 23, 2021, 2:00 PM-3:10 PM
This event is co-sponsored by the University of Michigan Schools of Education, Nursing, Information, Kinesiology, Public Policy, Public Health, Business, and Social Work (Community Action and Social Change Undergraduate Minor), as well as the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA) and the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. presents:
The Central Campus Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Spirit Award program honors undergraduate students on central campus who best exemplify the leadership and extraordinary vision of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Nominees and awardees will be recognized at this award ceremony which will highlight the various ways in which our students have worked to carry on the spirit of Dr. King.
Is RSVP required? Yes
Event Contact Info
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MLK Virtual Wall: Where do YOU go from here? Day 7
January 24, 2021, 12:00 AM-11:00 PM
Center for Campus Involvement presents:
Share where YOU plan to go from here related to MLK’s legacy by sharing words, photos, resources, voice recordings, and more to be viewed by the campus community. The most “liked” post will be featured on the Center for Campus Involvement’s social media pages and the top 5 post owners will receive an Ann Arbor Folk Fest pass.
Is RSVP required? No
Event Contact Info
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Center for Campus Involvement Presents: MLK Day Reflections
January 25, 2021, 6:00 PM-7:00 PM
Center for Campus Involvement presents:
The MLK Day Reflections is a student drop-in space to reflect with peers on practices of anti-racism, solidarity, and allyship, debrief the MLK Day Symposium Keynote Lecture, and discuss civil rights activists. Facilitators will share out anti-racism resources and civil rights activism historical resources. Students of all identities and backgrounds are welcome!
Is RSVP required? No
Event Contact Info
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Join the Inclusive Campus Collaborative
January 25, 2021, 6:00 PM-7:00 PM
Inclusive Campus Collaborative Student Committee presents:
Want to help make the campus a more inclusive and equitable space for communities of color, people with disabilities, LGBTQ folks, First Gens, women, and other marginalized groups? If so, we would like to invite you to join the Inclusive Campus Collaborative (ICC)!
The ICC seeks to foster a campus climate in which all members of the University of Michigan community feel respected, valued and empowered to engage in the life of the university.
We collaborate with students, faculty, and staff to help build an inclusive culture of belonging. We support one another in developing and expanding our own knowledge and skills in engaging across differences and serving as effective allies to students and colleagues affected by all forms of bias, racism, and structural inequality.
We are inviting you to the student-led group of the larger Inclusive Campus Collaborative. We are especially in need of 1st- and 2nd-year students, but we accept all undergraduate students. We have 2 meetings per month which are only 1 hour long.
Is RSVP required? No
Event Contact Info
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Books for Social Justice: Changing Who, What, and How We Publish at University of Michigan Press
January 27, 2021, 10:00 AM-11:00 AM
University of Michigan Press presents: Elizabeth Demers, PhD
The University of Michigan Press is the scholarly publishing arm of the University of Michigan. It publishes over 100 books a year in topics ranging from disability studies to African studies, from performing arts to political science. Over the last few years it has been on a journey toward publishing in a more equitable, just, and inclusive way. This extends from seeking out marginalized voices, through reexamining how titles are accepted, to increasing access. Acknowledging that there is still far to go, Dr. Elizabeth Demers, the Editorial Director of the Press, will discuss the steps taken so far and future directions that the Press and other publishers can take. She will be joined by some special guests.
Is RSVP required? Yes
Event Contact Info
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MLK, Agency and Action
January 27, 2021, 1:30 PM-2:00 PM
- Ann and Robert H. Lurie Carillon Tower
- 1230 Murfin Ave Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105
SMTD presents: Dr. Pamela Ruiter-Feenstra
MLK carillon concert performed by Dr. Pamela Ruiter-Feenstra on the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Carillon Tower on north campus. The program features Black agency and action: MLK’s March, African American spirituals, Music of March, a tribute to Toni Morrison, and the Black national anthem, “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing.” Stroll around while surrounded by bell resonances or listen from the car in the parking lot. Free and open to the public.
Is RSVP required? No
Event Contact Info
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Community Engaged Research: Reflections on MLK’s Legacy
January 27, 2021, 2:00 PM-3:00 PM
ISR presents: Dr. Breanca Merritt
On Jan. 4, 2021, the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration welcomed Dr. Breanca Merritt as the agency’s first chief health equity and ADA officer. As the chief health equity and ADA officer, Dr. Merritt will provide leadership in the evaluation of policy decisions that affect race equity, build metrics for agency accountability, ensure agency adherence to the Americans with Disabilities Act, and work to build a culture of equity across the agency. Dr. Merritt is also a Diversity Scholar at the University of Michigan and founding director of the Center for Research on Inclusion and Social Policy (CRISP) at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. She will maintain a faculty research affiliation with Indiana University and continue to publish research focused on inequitable outcomes in complex social issues including housing and homelessness, family financial instability, and criminal justice.
Is RSVP required? No
Event Contact Info
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Donia Human Rights Center Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Lecture. U.S. Race Relations and Foreign Policy
January 27, 2021, 4:00 PM-5:30 PM
Donia Human Rights Center presents: Ambassador (ret.) Susan D. Page, Professor of Practice in International Diplomacy, Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy and Professor from Practice, University of Michigan Law School
Secretary of State Madeleine Albright stated in 1998 that one of her “most important jobs is to call attention to the dangers that still confront us and to the direct connection that exists between the success or failure of our foreign policy and the day-to-day lives of the American people.” In my talk, I will explore the presence and impact of race relations on U.S. foreign policy and U.S. actions at home. I will speak to these issues through the lens of the diplomatic profession, including through the unique challenges and experiences I faced as a Black woman, and first U.S. ambassador to the world’s newest independent nation, the Republic of South Sudan, serving under the first Bi-racial American President of the U.S.
Ambassador (ret.) Susan D. Page possesses deep expertise in international relations, particularly in Africa, excellent French language skills, and the political, legal and analytical acumen of a Harvard-trained lawyer – her first career.
Page was sworn in as ambassador to the Republic of South Sudan on November 16, 2011. Following her historic tenure as the first U.S. ambassador to the world’s newest nation, she served as Acting Permanent Representative to the African Union and the UN Economic Commission for Africa and Chargé d’Affaires, a.i., to the U.S. Mission to the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and later chaired the U.S. Government’s multi-agency Security Governance Initiative (SGI) team for Ghana. Among her numerous positions in international affairs, Ambassador Page was Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) to Haiti, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Rule of Law, Global Focal Point (GFP) Review Implementation, deputy assistant secretary of State for African Affairs covering Central Africa, Southern Africa and Sudan, and Legal and Political Adviser to the Horn of Africa’s Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Secretariat for Peace in Sudan where she co-drafted essential elements of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) for Sudan. In addition, she was Director of the Rule of Law and Corrections Advisory Unit of the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS), Regional Director for Southern and East Africa at the National Democratic Institute (NDI) in Washington, DC, and senior legal expert in Rwanda and Sudan for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Ambassador Page is the recipient of several top awards from the State Department for her work on Sudan, South Sudan and the Great Lakes region of Africa, including the Sue M. Cobb Award for Exemplary Diplomatic Service for “leading the U.S. Mission to South Sudan under extremely challenging circumstances and advancing the President’s goals.”
Ambassador Page is a member of The Carter Center Board of Trustees and an elected member of the American Academy of Diplomacy (AAD). She serves as a board member of Road Scholar, is on the Advisory Council of the United Nations Association of the National Capital Area (UNA-NCA) and on the Advisory Board of the Kellogg Institute for International Studies. She is a member of the Association of Black American Ambassadors and numerous other professional organizations.
In August of 2020, Page joined the faculty at the University of Michigan as Professor of the Practice of International Diplomacy at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy with a concurrent appointment as Professor from Practice at the University of Michigan Law School. She is also assisting with the growth of U-M’s Weiser Diplomacy Center. Ambassador Page was a Visiting Professor of the Practice at the Keough School of Global Affairs at the University of Notre Dame in 2019-2020.
Ambassador Page began her foreign affairs career at the U.S. Department of State in 1991 as attorney-adviser for Politico-Military Affairs in the Office of the Legal Adviser following the conclusion of her Rotary International Postgraduate Fellowship to Nepal where she conducted research on women’s and children’s rights. Page was also a foreign service officer/regional legal adviser for East and Southern Africa for USAID, based in Kenya and Botswana, and political officer in Rwanda.
Originally from the Chicago area, Ambassador Page received her Juris Doctor (JD) from Harvard Law School, her A.B. in English With High Distinction from the University of Michigan, and Certificates of Distinction (English) and Merit (Psychology) from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland before attending law school. She loves learning about other cultures, traveling, and playing euchre.
Is RSVP required? Yes
Event Contact Info
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Intersection of Black Lives: Demystifying Black student and student-athlete experiences
January 27, 2021, 5:30 PM-7:00 PM
Alumni Association of the University of Michigan presents:
The Football Alumni of Michigan, U-M Black Alumni and the Alumni Association bring you the first of a two-part discussion with alumni examining the African American athlete experience across U-M sports. Former athletes of U-M’s flagship sports, starting with football, will share how they created community as Black student athletes, their experiences beyond sports, and how they addressed social justice issues since graduation.
Former Michigan football players (and years played) featured on the panel include:
Dennis Franklin (1971-74), Dhani Jones (1996-99), Jehu Chesson. (2012-2016), and Rod Payne (1992-1996). Eric Mayes (1995-1997) will moderate.
This event is a collaboration between the Football Alumni of Michigan, UM Black Alumni and the Alumni Association of the University of Michigan.
Is RSVP required? Yes
Event Contact Info
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Misinformation and Mistrust in Medicine
January 27, 2021, 6:00 PM-7:30 PM
Foundation for International Medical Relief of Children (FIMRC) presents:
Speakers:
-Dr. Alford A. Young, Jr. PhD, University of Michigan
-Dr. Jessica Jaiswal PhD, MPH, University of Alabama
During the lecture, we will discuss two main topics: (1) medical misinformation and its disproportionate effect on minorities, especially black and brown communities and (2) minority distrust of the healthcare system, its origins and its implications for health outcomes.
Is RSVP required? No
Event Contact Info
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Story, Word, Sound, Sway: In Performance & Conversation with Carisa Bledsoe & Schroeder Cherry
January 28, 2021, 1:00 PM-2:30 PM
Stamps School of Art & Design – Stamps Gallery presents: Story, Word, Sound, Sway: In Performance & Conversation with Carisa Bledsoe & Schroeder Cherry
Join Stamps Gallery for back-to-back virtual performances by artists and Stamps School of Art & Design alumni Carisa Bledsoe (BFA Interarts ‘14) and Schroeder Cherry (BFA ‘76). The performances are part of the exhibition Story, Word, Sound, Sway, featuring artists using performance, movement, text, sound, and design to interrogate systems of oppression and interrupt the status quo.
Bledsoe (she/her/they) will present a new iteration of their performance “What the Tide Brought In,’’ first performed at the Yellow Barn in Ann Arbor in 2014 shortly before Bledsoe graduated from U-M. Since its inception, “What the Tide Brought In” has been performed at venues across the US and France, morphing each time to address the site specificity of the venue and moment in time.
Cherry (he/him/his) will be in performance with his handmade puppets that have made appearances at the Studio Museum of Harlem, Baltimore Museum of Art, and Smithsonian Institution’s Anacostia Museum amongst other notable venues. Cherry’s performances have been enchanting and educating audiences of all ages since the 1970s when Cherry first started performing while an apprentice to a puppet master in Chicago during college. Performances will be followed by a conversation with the artists in dialogue with exhibition curators Jennifer Junkermeier-Khan and Moteniola Ogundipe, a current Stamps student. The conversation will be accompanied by a live Q&A.
Story, Word, Sound, Sway is on view at Stamps Gallery and online at stamps.umich.edu/gallery from January 18 – February 28, 2021.
Is RSVP required? Yes
Event Contact Info
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Education for Democracy: Building Habits of Civic Engagement
January 28, 2021, 3:00 PM-5:00 PM
Edward Ginsberg Center presents:
While the 2020 Presidential Election is over, we know democracy is what happens between elections! It is critical that we help students recognize the many ways they can contribute to systemic change. Whether your course content is directly related to civic engagement or not, actively connecting your discipline to broader systems significantly impacts students’ ability to understand and participate in civic life.
In this interactive session, we will share the Pathways to Civic Engagement that offer multiple options for students to develop immediate and long-term habits of civic engagement. Participants will explore how their courses, research, and programs can connect with each pathway.
Is RSVP required? Yes
Event Contact Info
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Rackham Graduate School’s 4th Annual King Talks
January 28, 2021, 6:00 PM-7:20 PM
- Virtual Room Rackham
- 915 E Washington St, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
Rackham Graduate School – University of Michigan presents: 5 Outstanding Rackham Graduate Students
The King Talks features 5 Rackham Graduate Students giving TED-style talks on the MLK Symposium theme “Where do we go from here?” Please join us for an evening of powerful and impactful talks.
Is RSVP required? Yes
RSVP form:
https://rackham.umich.edu/rackham-life/diversity-equity-and-inclusion/king-talks/
Event Contact Info
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Performing the Moment, Performing the Movement: Damon Locks
January 28, 2021, 6:30 PM-7:30 PM
Center for World Performance Studies presents: Damon Locks
Damon Locks will perform and speak about his work with Prison and Neighborhood Arts Project (PNAP) and the Black Monument Ensemble. In the Black Monument Ensemble, Damon Locks uses music and sound to connect the past and future of the civil rights movement. The Prison and Neighborhood Art Project provides arts and humanities courses to men at the Stateville Maximum Security Prison, where Damon Locks works as an artist educator.
Damon Locks is a Chicago-based visual artist, educator, vocalist/musician. He attended the Art Institute of Chicago where he received his BFA in fine arts. Since 2014 he has been working with Prisons and Neighborhood Arts Project at Stateville Correctional Center teaching art. He is a recipient of the Helen Coburn Meier and Tim Meier Achievement Award in the Arts and the 2016 MAKER Grant. He operated as an Artist Mentor in the Chicago Artist Coalition program FIELD/WORK. In 2017 he became a Soros Justice Media Fellow. In 2019, he became a 3Arts Awardee. Currently, he works as an artist in residence as a part of the Museum of Contemporary Arts’ SPACE Program, introducing civically engaged art into the curriculum at the high school, Sarah E. Goode STEM Academy.
In this new virtual series, Center for World Performance Studies invites performers and scholars from diverse disciplines to reflect on how performance is being used to respond to the political, social, health and environmental crises that we face at this moment. Sessions will take place over Zoom and require advance registration. You can read about the panelists, register for these events, find recommended reading and resources and/or request recordings of past events at https://lsa.umich.edu/world-performance.
If you require an accommodation to participate in this event, please contact the Center for World Performance Studies, at 734-936-2777. Please be aware that advance notice is necessary as some accommodations may require more time for the University to arrange.
Is RSVP required? Yes
Event Contact Info
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Live Q&A with Sheri Hagen, director of At Second Glance / Auf den zweiten Blick (2012)
January 29, 2021, 2:00 PM-3:30 PM
Department of Germanic Literatures and Languages, Center for European Studies presents: Sheri Hagen
In his famous “I Have a Dream” speech, Martin Luther King Jr. dared to hope that people would “not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” Years later, the trope of colorblindness has come to mask more subtle manifestations of racism that persist in contemporary US society.
Through its engagement with blindness as both a trope and a physical reality, German-Nigerian director Sheri Hagen’s At Second Glance (Auf den zweiten Blick, 2012) raises provocative questions regarding color blindness, race and racism, and in/visibility in contemporary German society. By challenging the normative categories of whiteness, able-bodiedness and heterosexuality, the film also explores alternative modes of seeing through the visual medium of cinema.
At Second Glance will be available for virtual streaming from January 18 through January 29. As a culminating event, we will hold a virtual Q&A with director Sheri Hagen on January 29 from 2-3:30pm. Hagen is one of few Black German (women) actresses and directors living and working in Germany. The Q&A will address Hagen’s own experiences navigating structural racism in the German performance and film industry, the importance of (self)representation, and much more.
The film and Q&A are free and open to the public.
Is RSVP required? Yes
Event Contact Info
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Anti-Racism Exploration/Discussion Series of Caste (by Isabel Wilkerson) – Series #2
February 2, 2021, 2:00 PM-4:00 PM
Geriatrics/The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UM at UM presents: Faye Askew-King, LMSW & Karen Bantel Ph.D, MBA
Isabel Wilkerson, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, has written a well-researched, narrative history titled Caste: The Origins of our Discontents, that is asking us to look at our collective history from a new paradigm, that of caste vs. race and/class. We are offering this Discussion Series to allow participants to examine and reflect upon this reframing of our history, and its implications for our present and future as a nation. We want to offer participants a safe space forum to interpret, consider, and challenge the insights offered in Caste. Our hope is that through these thoughtful and difficult conversations about our nation’s past we will gain a better understanding of how that history is operating today.
This Discussion Series will serve our collective benefit by beginning to think of ways that we as individuals and as a community can make changes, big or small, to improve the circumstances and experiences for our children, grandchildren, family and friends in the near and far futures.
Following an intensive review and discussion of the book, using this new paradigm, we will then offer the option to participants to continue with a series of monthly discussions throughout 2021 on additional selected topics. Participants will provide input on topic selection. Anticipated topics include: health care disparities, our criminal justice system, housing policies, economics, and black feminism.
Goals: To increase understanding, awareness, and sensitivity to issues of racial inequity and bias. Create community conversation and opportunities for self-reflection, personal growth, and behavior change. To consider possible personal action steps addressing racial inequities.
Format: Assigned readings and other materials. Facilitated discussion.
Link to Remote Event: **CAPACITY FILLED**
Event Contact Info
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Smash the Mainframe: The Collision Between Civil Rights and Computing
February 2, 2021, 7:00 PM-8:00 PM
School of Information presents: Charlton McIlwain, NYU
Charton is Vice Provost for Faculty Engagement and Development and Professor of Media, Culture, and Communication at NYU. His recent work focuses on the intersections of race, digital media, and racial justice activism. His latest book, Black Software: The Internet & Racial Justice, From the AfroNet to Black Lives Matter, reveals the hidden figures — from the 1960s to the present — who fought the power and sparked a revolution in computing technology. Charlton will explore how “smashing the mainframe” became the way to articulate and demonstrate the clash between civil rights and computing in the 1960s. Moreover, his talk will address what that moment in history can teach us about how to fight back against today’s technological threats to racial justice.
Moderated by Christian Sandvig, Professor of Information at the University of Michigan School of Information and Director of ESC: The Center for Ethics, Society, and Computing.
Is RSVP required? No
Event Contact Info
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A Primer for Student Activists: Students of Color Coalition, Twenty Years On
February 4, 2021, 7:00 PM-8:30 PM
Michigan Community Scholars Program presents: The Students of Color Coalition
What are the secrets for effective student activism? How do student activists leverage their experiences with activism on campus in their personal and professional lives, after graduation?
Join eight members of the Students of Color Coalition twenty years after their takeover of the Michigan Union tower on Feb. 6, 2000, a sit-in to protest the appropriation of Native American culture by elite campus club and “secret society” Michigamua. Their protest lasted for 37 days and impacted their lives during and after their careers at Michigan, while bringing greater awareness of systemic racism to campus and in the greater community. Come learn about their experiences during the strike and how campus activists shape meaningful lives and careers when their days of campus activism are behind them.
Panelists:
Farah Aquino (LSA 1999)
Brian Babb (LSA 2002, SSW 2008)
JuJuan Buford (LSA 2002)
Sabrina Dycus (LSA 2001)
Richard Nunn
Rupal Patel (LSA 2001, SPP 2004)
Malika N. Pryor (LSA 2000)
Joe Reilly (SNRE 2000, SSW 2013)
Link to NYT story about the original protest: https://www.nytimes.com/2000/02/13/us/michigan-students-protest-campus-club-s-indian-relics.html/sole_takes_action/scc
Is RSVP required? No
Event Contact Info
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Blackballed: Know Better, Do Better
February 6, 2021, 11:00 AM-1:00 PM
Fraternity & Sorority Life presents: Lawrence Ross
Lawrence Ross, best selling author of “Blackballed: The Black and White Politics of Race on America’s Campuses”, offers a blunt, but entertaining, virtual lecture on the history of campus racism, and how it manifests. America’s colleges have fostered a racist environment that makes them a hostile space for African American students. Blackballed evaluates the white fraternity and sorority system, universities who name campus buildings after racists, and anti-affirmative action policies that effectively segregate predominately white universities and provide ample room for white privilege. A bold mix of history and the current climate, Blackballed is a call to action for universities to make radical changes to their policies and standards to foster a better legacy for all students.
Private Event: Space is limited because this virtual lecture will also serve as the keynote for Fraternity & Sorority Life’s annual student leadership conferences. Select community members and campus partners will receive invitations from Fraternity & Sorority Life due to capacity limits.
Is RSVP required? No
Link to Remote Event: *CLOSED FOR INVITE ONLY*
Event Contact Info
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Fourth Annual MLK Day Lecture
February 8, 2021, 4:00 PM-6:30 PM
Center for Middle Eastern and North African Studies and Global Islamic Studies Center presents: Samer Ali, Moderator
Nubians are an internally diverse ethnolinguistic community whose historical homeland is located along the Nile River in southern Egypt and northern Sudan. Panelists discuss strategies for decolonizing knowledge about Nubia at the fraught intersections of race, politics, and history in the Global South. Panelists include Yasmin Moll, Geoff Emberling, and Michael Fahy, with a performance by Nabra Nelson.
Is RSVP required? Yes
Link to Remote Event: Registration is required.
Event Contact Info
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Anti-Racism Exploration/Discussion Series of Caste (by Isabel Wilkerson) – Series #3
February 16, 2021, 2:00 PM-4:00PM
Geriatrics/The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UM presents: Karen Batel, Ph.D, MBA, and Faye Askew-King, LMSW & ACSW
Isabel Wilkerson, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, has written a well-researched, narrative history titled Caste: The Origins of our Discontents, that is asking us to look at our collective history from a new paradigm, that of caste vs. race and/class. We are offering this Discussion Series to allow participants to examine and reflect upon this reframing of our history, and its implications for our present and future as a nation. We want to offer participants a safe space forum to interpret, consider, and challenge the insights offered in Caste. Our hope is that through these thoughtful and difficult conversations about our nation’s past we will gain a better understanding of how that history is operating today.
This Discussion Series will serve our collective benefit by beginning to think of ways that we as individuals and as a community can make changes, big or small, to improve the circumstances and experiences for our children, grandchildren, family and friends in the near and far futures.
Following an intensive review and discussion of the book, using this new paradigm, we will then offer the option to participants to continue with a series of monthly discussions throughout 2021 on additional selected topics. Participants will provide input on topic selection. Anticipated topics include: health care disparities, our criminal justice system, housing policies, economics, and black feminism.
Goals: To increase understanding, awareness, and sensitivity to issues of racial inequity and bias. Create community conversation and opportunities for self-reflection, personal growth, and behavior change. To consider possible personal action steps addressing racial inequities.
Format: Assigned readings and other materials. Facilitated discussion.
Facilitation: Co-facilitators: Faye Askew-King & Karen Bantel.
Duration: January-March, 2021 – biweekly two hour meetings.
Link to Remote Event: **CAPACITY FILLED**
Event Contact Info
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Toxic equilibrium: Structural racism and population health inequities
February 24, 2021, 10:00 AM-6:30 PM
RacismLab presents: Keynote: Eduardo Bonilla-Silva, Ph.D.
For the sixth annual RacismLab interdisciplinary symposium on the study of race and racism, we will hold a national virtual discussion on the interconnected nature of structural racism and its impact on population health inequities.
This event is free but registration is required. The link to the virtual event will be provided in the registration confirmation email.
Wednesday, February 24, 2021
10:00am – 11:30am: Keynote address by Dr. Eduardo Bonilla-Silva, the James B. Duke Distinguished Professor of Sociology; Moderated Q&A to follow
12:00pm – 5:00pm: Interdisciplinary panel discussions (exact times for each panel to be updated on the registration page).
Structural racism and health inequities: Lessons learned from the last decade and new innovations moving forward
Brittney Butler (PhD student, Epidemiology, The Ohio State University)
Brigette Davis (PhD student, Population Health Sciences, Harvard University)
Rebekah Israel Cross (PhD student, Community Health Sciences, UCLA)
Tongtan Chantarat (PhD student, Health Services Research, University of Minnesota)
Moderated by Rachel Hardeman (Associate Professor and Blue Cross Endowed Professor of Health and Racial Equity, University of Minnesota)
New intersectional theoretical directions for structural racism & health research: Critical race theory, mass incarceration, & cultural betrayal trauma
Lama Hassoun Ayoub (PhD student, Psychology, Wayne State University)
Jennifer M. Gómez (Assistant Professor of Psychology, Wayne State University)
Daeja Marzette (PhD student, Psychology, Wayne State University)
Alana Keller (PhD student, Psychology, Wayne State University)
Drew Wiggins (PhD student, Psychology, Wayne State University)
Moderated by Jennifer M. Gómez (Assistant Professor of Psychology, Wayne State University)
Addressing the impact of immigration policies as a form of structural racism on the health of Latino immigrants
Paul Fleming (Assistant Professor of Health Behavior, University of Michigan)
Thespina (Nina) Yamanis (Associate Professor of International Service, American University)
India J. Ornelas (Associate Professor of Health Services, University of Washington)
Emily Lemon (PhD student, Behavioral, Social and Health Education Sciences, Emory University)
Moderated by India Ornelas (Associate Professor of Health Services, University of Washington)
Is RSVP required? Yes
Event Contact Info
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Anti-Racism Exploration/Discussion Series of Caste (by Isabel Wilkerson) – Series #4
March 2, 2021, 2:00 PM-4:00 PM
Geriatrics/The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UM presents: Faye Askew-King, LMSW & ACSW and Karen Bantel, Ph.D., MBA
Isabel Wilkerson, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, has written a well-researched, narrative history titled Caste: The Origins of our Discontents, that is asking us to look at our collective history from a new paradigm, that of caste vs. race and/class. We are offering this Discussion Series to allow participants to examine and reflect upon this reframing of our history, and its implications for our present and future as a nation. We want to offer participants a safe space forum to interpret, consider, and challenge the insights offered in Caste. Our hope is that through these thoughtful and difficult conversations about our nation’s past we will gain a better understanding of how that history is operating today.
This Discussion Series will serve our collective benefit by beginning to think of ways that we as individuals and as a community can make changes, big or small, to improve the circumstances and experiences for our children, grandchildren, family and friends in the near and far futures.
Following an intensive review and discussion of the book, using this new paradigm, we will then offer the option to participants to continue with a series of monthly discussions throughout 2021 on additional selected topics. Participants will provide input on topic selection. Anticipated topics include: health care disparities, our criminal justice system, housing policies, economics, and black feminism.
Goals: To increase understanding, awareness, and sensitivity to issues of racial inequity and bias. Create community conversation and opportunities for self-reflection, personal growth, and behavior change. To consider possible personal action steps addressing racial inequities.
Format: Assigned readings and other materials. Facilitated discussion.
Facilitation: Co-facilitators: Faye Askew-King & Karen Bantel.
Duration: January-March, 2021 – biweekly two hour meetings.
Link to Remote Event: **CAPACITY FILLED**
Event Contact Info
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Anti-Racism Exploration/Discussion Series of Caste (by Isabel Wilkerson) – Series #5
March 16, 2021, 2:00 PM-4:00 AM
Geriatrics/The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UM presents: Karen Bantel, Ph.D., MBA, and Faye Askew-King, LMSW & ACSW
Isabel Wilkerson, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, has written a well-researched, narrative history titled Caste: The Origins of our Discontents, that is asking us to look at our collective history from a new paradigm, that of caste vs. race and/class. We are offering this Discussion Series to allow participants to examine and reflect upon this reframing of our history, and its implications for our present and future as a nation. We want to offer participants a safe space forum to interpret, consider, and challenge the insights offered in Caste. Our hope is that through these thoughtful and difficult conversations about our nation’s past we will gain a better understanding of how that history is operating today.
This Discussion Series will serve our collective benefit by beginning to think of ways that we as individuals and as a community can make changes, big or small, to improve the circumstances and experiences for our children, grandchildren, family and friends in the near and far futures.
Following an intensive review and discussion of the book, using this new paradigm, we will then offer the option to participants to continue with a series of monthly discussions throughout 2021 on additional selected topics. Participants will provide input on topic selection. Anticipated topics include: health care disparities, our criminal justice system, housing policies, economics, and black feminism.
Goals: To increase understanding, awareness, and sensitivity to issues of racial inequity and bias. Create community conversation and opportunities for self-reflection, personal growth, and behavior change. To consider possible personal action steps addressing racial inequities.
Format: Assigned readings and other materials. Facilitated discussion.
Facilitation: Co-facilitators: Faye Askew-King & Karen Bantel.
Duration: January-March, 2021 – biweekly two hour meetings.
Link to Remote Event: **CAPACITY FILLED**
Event Contact Info
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Anti-Racism Exploration/Discussion Series of Caste (by Isabel Wilkerson) – Series #6
March 30, 2021, 2:00 PM-4:00 PM
Geriatrics/The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UM presents: Faye Askew-King, LMSW & ACSW and Karen Bantel, Ph.D, MBA
Isabel Wilkerson, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, has written a well-researched, narrative history titled Caste: The Origins of our Discontents, that is asking us to look at our collective history from a new paradigm, that of caste vs. race and/class. We are offering this Discussion Series to allow participants to examine and reflect upon this reframing of our history, and its implications for our present and future as a nation. We want to offer participants a safe space forum to interpret, consider, and challenge the insights offered in Caste. Our hope is that through these thoughtful and difficult conversations about our nation’s past we will gain a better understanding of how that history is operating today.
This Discussion Series will serve our collective benefit by beginning to think of ways that we as individuals and as a community can make changes, big or small, to improve the circumstances and experiences for our children, grandchildren, family and friends in the near and far futures.
Following an intensive review and discussion of the book, using this new paradigm, we will then offer the option to participants to continue with a series of monthly discussions throughout 2021 on additional selected topics. Participants will provide input on topic selection. Anticipated topics include: health care disparities, our criminal justice system, housing policies, economics, and black feminism.
Goals: To increase understanding, awareness, and sensitivity to issues of racial inequity and bias. Create community conversation and opportunities for self-reflection, personal growth, and behavior change. To consider possible personal action steps addressing racial inequities.
Format: Assigned readings and other materials. Facilitated discussion.
Facilitation: Co-facilitators: Faye Askew-King & Karen Bantel.
Duration: January-March, 2021 – biweekly two hour meetings.
Link to Remote Event: **CAPACITY FILLED**
Event Contact Info
