Next Chapters -
Promoting Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Next Events:
-- Classmate-led presentation and discussions: Saturday, June 4th 2:30 - 3:50pm
The traditional motto of the United States of America is E pluribus unum--“From many, one.” Americans are a diverse group by all measurements, including age, gender, race, religion, ethnicity, income, education, political affiliation and sexual orientation. Despite--and perhaps because of--these differences we have created a vibrant, hopeful body politic that strives but often fails to enact the ideal "that all [people] are created equal.” Building a world in which all people not only are, but genuinely experience themselves as being important members of that world, is a gargantuan task that must be taken on by every generation.
This topic started with a Zoom Gathering on May 24th. The June 4th session plenary topic will focus on the recent Harvard and The Legacy of Slavery report, on which participants’ thoughts and ideas will be solicited. Its specific form and content will be finalized using results from the the May 24 Zoom Gathering. Questions we may explore include:
· How is Harvard’s history present, both in the wider world and in our own lives?
· What can we do next, not only as Harvard grads, but as “We the People”?
Resources for Further Conversation in June
and Ongoing Efforts to Foster Equity and Inclusion
Many of the following resources come from the Harvard Alumni Association Anti Racism Working Group's database. The Group shares them to provide interested alumni with tools for fighting all kinds of discrimination and anti-Black racism in particular.
Harvard University Resources
- Pursuing Excellence on a Foundation of Inclusion, Harvard University Presidential Task Force on Inclusion and Belonging.
- Harvard & The Legacy of Slavery
- Harvard Alumni Association Anti-Racism Working Group
https://alumni.harvard.edu/anti-racism
Video Resources
- Allegories on Race and Racism: Dr. C. Jones / TEDxEmory
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNhcY6fTyBM
- Contentious Communications: How to Connect Across Differences
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sfqo4D1Qaz8&list=PLCDeNOSEAAT5fgx05c0cyYAubM0jJE5JU
- Naming Racism: Radcliffe Institute Discussion with Dr. C. Jones
https://www.radcliffe.harvard.edu/event/2020-naming-racism-virtual
- Celebrating Harvard Alumni of Colon: Harvard Archives Presents: Stories of Belonging at Harvard
- Celebrating Harvard Alumni of Colon: Harvard Archives Presents: Environmental Justice: The Enduring Impact and Urgent Challenges for Our Communities
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gqFJK2lNTg&list=PLCDeNOSEAAT7i07Ab3_Ip6giE41We63nz&index=3
Print Resources
- Caste, The Origins of Our Discontents, by Isabel Wilkerson.
“Caste is the granting or withholding of respect, status, honor, attention, privileges, resources, benefit of doubt, and human kindness to someone on the basis of their perceived rank or standing in the hierarchy.” This book by the Pulitzer prize winning author of The Warmth of Other Suns brilliantly presents the argument that the very human habit of ranking other humans worth by an arbitrary measure has created and perpetuates the marginalization of African Americans in today’s society.
- The Color of Money, by Mehrsa Baradiaran
A history of how wealth inequalities in America evolved from slavery
- The Color of Law, by Mehrsa Baradiaran
A history of how government exacerbated segregation in America
- From The Harvard Gazette: “Revealing webs of inequities rooted in slavery, woven over the centuries.”
- From The Harvard Gazette: “Want to be a good person? Stop trying so hard.”
https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2022/02/how-to-be-goodish-according-to-a-social-scientist/
- Heart: A Journey Toward Cultural Humility by Dr. James Knight
“This book is a manual and guide for any leader, student, or person looking to develop greater awareness and increase their emotional and cultural intelligence.” The website as a whole lays out services and other information for those who are want to “be the reason someone feels welcomed, seen, heard, valued, loved, and supported.”
- Sapiens, A Graphic History, by Yuval Noah Harair.
A look at the “Big Picture”, ie the entire history of the human species in a "fun" graphic novel.
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In the weeks ahead we hope to post two PowerPoints related to building equitable and inclusive community through individual storytelling, public narrative, and authentic listening.