Continuing the Conversation

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06/24/2020 June 2020 Perspectives

For further exploration of racism and racial justice, here are resources written or suggested by Arts & Sciences faculty.

 

Politics and Race 

Political Science faculty reflect on the George Floyd protests in a series of essays.

 

Celebrating Black Directors

Cinema & Media Studies faculty suggest 20 noteworthy films by Black directors, currently available for streaming.

 

Understanding the Past

Blackpast.org, founded by history professor emeritus Quintard Taylor, provides a wealth of materials on African American history.

 

More Arts & Sciences Resources

The College’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion webpage provides links to articles, interdisciplinary centers, and other resources, including information about the College’s diversity minor.

 

IN THE NEWS

Companies Can Keep Their Hollow Statements on Racism. We Need Real Change
Anti-racism public statements by companies, organizations, and institutions are empty without efforts to enact real change, says Alexes Harris, UW professor of sociology and University of Washington Presidential Term Professor. She suggests cultural and structural changes that could have an impact. Source: Newsweek

A moment where protest leads to change? UW professor sees an historic arc
To put these weeks of protest against police brutality in some historical context, KUOW spoke with Michael McCann, UW professor of political science, who teaches about police violence and social movements. Source: KUOW

The white press has a history of endangering black lives going back a century
 “The Black Lives Matter protests have been shaking up not just conversations about policing, but also almost every industry — including journalism,” writes Megan Ming Francis, UW associate professor of political science, who describes a long history of predominantly white U.S. newsrooms behaving clumsily at best in periods of racial upheaval. Source: Washington Post

As a Black mother-to-be, I’m already full of heartache
On Mother’s Day, 22 weeks pregnant with her first child, Maya Angela Smith and much of the nation first learned about the killing of Ahmaud Arbery. “I could not stop thinking about his mother’s pain,” writes Smith, UW associate professor of French. Source: Boston Globe

'Cheering yes!' This Seattle poet believes this time may be different
Colleen McElroy, UW professor emerita of English, shares her perspective as a Black woman in Seattle — and the first Black woman to become a tenured professor at the UW. Source: KUOW

More Stories

Sarah Levin-Richardson in her office, with books on shelves behind her.

Lifting Marginalized Voices — from Ancient Rome

"Interesting, frustrating, and necessary,” is how Sarah Levin-Richardson, professor of Classics, describes her research into the lives of enslaved individuals in the ancient world. 

Tiana Cole + Brad Blackburn III seated behind a microphone.

Mentorship for Black Professionals, Earbuds Not Included

Identity Unboxed, a podcast created by alums Tiana Cole and Brad Blackburn III, explores the experiences of Black professionals in the Seattle area.

Sai Ahmed (left) and Soohyung Hur snap a self at a rally. Soohyung has a fist raised.

The Satisfying Work of Empowering Workers

Through the Bridges Center for Labor Studies, UW students work on labor-related issues as interns for local labor organizations.

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