Purdue University Northwest’s (PNW) Race, Racism, Anti-Racism series of free, faculty-driven discussions begins Sept. 28. Led by PNW faculty members, these conversations began in 2020 as a way to channel the energy and discussion generated by the murder of George Floyd into learning.
The series is set to discuss a wide array of topics that touch on everything from critical race theory, racism in education, the life and works of great nonviolent protestors such as Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr., and the surprising breadth of people hurt by racism. Each discussion is being offered over Zoom, with the link available at pnw.edu/anti-racism.
“The purpose of this series, as I see it, is to bring about greater harmony between people,” said Deepa Majumdar, professor of Philosophy at PNW. “Activism doesn’t have to be angry and violent, it can be gentle. It’s very important to build bridges, not chop down channels of communication, and this is one way of building those bridges.”
The schedule for the series was crafted by PNW faculty with the goal of generating the discussion of ideas.
“We see these discussions as a place to ask questions, connect with others, and deepen their understanding of some of the issues that impact society today,” said Karen Bishop-Morris, associate professor of English at PNW and moderator for the series. “The goal isn’t to talk at people - it’s to engage them. That’s the way learning happens. We all have a diverse perspective and something to bring to the table and contribute. Without having those voices participating, we’d be severely limiting what we could accomplish.”
The Race, Racism, Anti-Racism discussions are not built from notes in a textbook or according to any syllabus, but from the faculty members’ desire to generate a dialogue.
“This isn’t an academic series, these aren’t conferences,” Majumdar said. “This is what I think we should be doing more of – less formal, less regimented conversations.”
Bishop-Morris noted that a series like this is a fantastic resource for Northwest Indiana in particular.
“We have some work to do here in Northwest Indiana, and that means great opportunity,” she said. “It’s not about finger pointing, but about educating the community to the opportunities that exist here. Broadening one’s mindset not only enriches us personally, but can absolutely enhance the bottom line. So it’s an important conversation just from a profit standpoint, the more diverse the perspective, the better the return.”
Every conversation in the PNW Race, Racism, Anti-Racism Series is free of charge and open to the public. View the schedule and register to attend at pnw.edu/anti-racism. If you attended last year’s discussions, the Zoom link has changed – please visit the registration page to find the new link.
“I’m thrilled with what we have planned,” Morris said. “The support and feedback from the community has just been overwhelming in a really positive way. The lineup we have is exciting, and we have had folks reach out to us about appearing that we wouldn’t have imagined we’d be able to secure.”
