- University News Archive - ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

Author Ibram X. Kendi shares views with ��Vlog��ý Little Rock community during Diversity Month conversation

John Hill — Thu, 08 Apr 2021 19:33:59 +0000

Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, award-winning author of “How to Be an Antiracist,” spoke to more than 300 ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students, faculty, and staff in celebration of Diversity Month on March 31.�� Kendi is a three-time, No. 1 New York Times best-selling author including the groundbreaking, “How to Be an Antiracist,” one of the books chosen for the university’s first campus-wide book read and discussion on race and ethnicity. Lauren Wilson, assistant director of the Multicultural Center, joined Kendi in a frank discussion about his books, work in higher education, and his views on policy and power. “It was my honor to be in conversation with Professor Kendi,” Wilson said. “I was impressed by the way he was able to take the big ideas from his research and work and make them relevant for us here at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. It is my hope that this conversation will lead to more conversations, but more importantly, to action that will help our campus be a welcoming, equitable space for all students, faculty, staff, and community members.” Kendi also spoke about his most recent book project, serving as co-editor of “ The book brings together 90 writers and poets to share the 400-year journey and history of African Americans in one unique volume. “Bringing together 90 writers was unlike anything I’ve ever done before,” Kendi said. “I wanted to put together a single volume of Black history that would allow people to read the full story of African Americans. I wanted them to learn about the Black historical experience in all of its complexity. I wanted them to see that the racial problem has never been Black people. The racial problem has always been racism.” He offered advice on how those in higher education can work toward building an antiracist society that ensures equity and justice. “If you are in faculty affairs, focus on faculty diversity and affairs,” he said. “You should be pressing for a faculty body representative of the state. If you are a student, you should do the same with students. We can all focus and start in our own backyard.” As the founding director of the Boston University Center for Antiracist Research, Kendi researches novel and practical ways to understand, explain, and solve seemingly intractable problems of racial inequity and injustice. “We have a nation of racial inequities and injustice. Let’s look at anti-Black racism,” Kendi said. “Black folks are twice as likely to be unemployed than white people. Black folks are disproportionately incarcerated. They are dying at twice the rate of Covid-19. We have to track those stories to understand those stories. That’s the first research project. The second research project is what is causing these disparities. The next step is what are we going to do about it, and then we can create data-driven solutions.” When asked by an audience member how people should respond to the outcome of the trial of Derek Chauvin, the Minneapolis police officer who has been charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter in the death of George Floyd, Kendi compared the situation to how you handle the death of a loved one who is seriously ill and then passes away. “When we know they are seriously ill, we are not necessarily surprised or shocked when they pass away, but we are still hurt,” Kendi said. “If there is a not guilty verdict, we shouldn’t be surprised. It’s almost impossible to convict a white police officer of killing a Black person in this country. It’s almost impossible to get them to trial, let alone get a guilty conviction. I also don’t think that should stop us from being sad or outraged or hurt, as we are when a loved one passes away. If there is a guilty conviction, that is something we can build on. We want a system of equal justice.” Wilson asked for Kendi’s suggestions for podcasts and television shows to watch for people who want to learn more about differing viewpoints. “If you don’t necessarily read, you can listen to audiobooks when you exercise,” Kendi said. “I consume a lot of audio books. It allows me to read more. Podcasts like NPR’s ‘Code Switch’ is a podcast I would recommend. Many people talk about ‘Watchman’ or ‘Lovecraft County.’ Even a show like ‘S.W.A.T’ on CBS talks about racial issues. We are in a time when there are many great creators.” Kendi also had a message of hope for those who are overwhelmed by the fight for racial justice and equality. “Dealing with racism for everyday people who are going about their lives is tiring. Fighting racism on top of that is tiring too,” Kendi said. “I think people should be able to voice how tired they are. I think it’s human to be tired of fighting something day in and out. I don’t think that’s a problem. I do think it’s a problem if we allow that tiredness to cause us to stop. There are days when we are cramming for that test, and we are tired. We should say that, but we shouldn’t consider stopping. It’s important for us to know that if we are fighting against racism collectively that there is a chance that one day we won’t be tired anymore from racism. That’s the type of society that I want to build. That is the type of society that we should all want to build.” The event was sponsored by the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Multicultural Center, Diversity Council, and Office of the Chancellor. For more information on Kendi, please visit .

��Vlog��ý Little Rock to host Ibram X. Kendi as closing Diversity Month Speaker

John Hill — Wed, 17 Mar 2021 17:19:39 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock will host Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, National Book Award-winning historian and author of “How to Be an Antiracist,” as the final speaker for Diversity Month.�� Kendi will speak about the book “How to be an Antiracist” and antiracism work in higher education during a virtual event held via Zoom at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 31. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students, faculty, and staff may register for “An Evening with Dr. Ibram X. Kendi” and submit a question to Kendi by visiting . Chancellor Christina Drale will provide opening remarks, while Lauren Wilson, assistant director of the Multicultural Center, will moderate the discussion. Kendi’s book “How to Be an Antiracist” was one of three books read during ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s Inaugural Campus Read on Race & Ethnicity, during which students, faculty, and staff engaged in small-group conversations.�� “Hosting Dr. Kendi not only gives us the incredible opportunity to end Diversity Month and the Campus Read on a high note, but it also reminds the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock community that working towards an equitable, antiracist campus environment requires an ongoing commitment to educating ourselves and others,” Wilson said. Kendi is a #1 New York Times bestselling author, the Andrew W. Mellon Professor in the Humanities at Boston University, and the founding director of the BU Center for Antiracist Research. His relentless and passionate research puts into question the notion of a post-racial society and opens readers’ and audiences’ eyes to the reality of racism in America today. For more information on Kendi, please visit .

��Vlog��ý Little Rock to host March 11 Conversation with Authors David Montague, Paige Bowers

John Hill — Wed, 03 Mar 2021 22:26:52 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock will host a with authors David Montague and Paige Bowers to discuss their new book on the life and legacy of the U.S. Navy’s ‘Hidden Figure’ Raye Montague. The event, “Overnight Code: A Conversation with Paige Bowers and David Montague,” will take place from 12:30-1:30 p.m. Thursday, March 11. , the award-winning anchor of FOX16 News since 2004, will moderate the conversation.�� “It is a privilege for the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Downtown Center and the Center for Arkansas History and Culture to work with David Montague and Paige Bowers to bring the extraordinary life of Raye Montague to our community through their discussion and the rich assortment of archival material that her family so kindly gifted to the university,” said Dr. Deborah Baldwin, associate provost of collections and archives at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “Raye Montague’s story is an inspiration to all of us and a legacy to�� be protected.” Montague, executive director of online learning and faculty mentoring at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, and Bowers, a nationally published news and features writer, released “,” in January.

“Overnight Code” by David Montague and Paige Bowers

The book tells the story of Montague’s mother, Dr. Raye Montague, an internationally registered professional engineer with the U.S. Navy who is credited with creating the first computer-generated rough draft of a U.S. naval ship. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Downtown and the Center for Arkansas History and Culture are co-hosting the event in celebration of Women’s History Month and Diversity Month. In addition to the virtual conversation, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Downtown is hosting an exhibit of materials on display from the center’s Raye Montague Collection as well as some items donated from David Montague. The collection can be seen at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Downtown from March 11-31.�� “We are grateful to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock for hosting us in what promises to be a very special book talk,” David Montague and Paige Bowers said. “Not only will we be able to discuss the narrative arc of Raye Montague’s remarkable life, but we will be able to further illuminate it with her personal artifacts that are being lovingly preserved at the Center for Arkansas History and Culture. Archives like these are vitally important to the community at large, giving us tangible reminders of who we are and what we can become. Raye’s collection there is perfect proof of that.” The collection includes Montague’s awards from the Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame,�� the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame, the Arkansas Academy of Computing, and the National Computer Graphics Association. They also include a scrapbook and sweatshirt from Montague’s sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha, and a framed photograph of a battleship that Montague designed digitally. The event is free and open to the public and can be

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Announces Events to Recognize Diversity Month

John Hill — Thu, 25 Feb 2021 18:38:18 +0000

To celebrate Diversity Month, the University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s Diversity Council has scheduled a variety of events set to take place throughout the month of March. Presentations will include discussions on a range of topics, research findings, and historical events. Addressing Microaggressions – Noon, Wednesday, March 3 The Academy for Teaching and Learning Excellence (ATLE) will present this upcoming Lunch and Learn session as an opportunity for faculty to engage in conversations about how to deal with microaggressions in the classroom. Disability and Diversity – Noon, Thursday, March 4 The director for the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Disability Resource Center, Reed Claiborne, will present a discussion on disability and the things that frame perceptions of disabilities such as legal definitions, media portrayals, historical treatments, and more. Anti-Blackness, Social Feelings, and Public Policy: 1964-2020 – 6 p.m. Thursday, March 4 ��Vlog��ý Little Rock English Department’s Cooper Honors Program will present a talk with Dr. Lisa Corrigan, associate professor of communication and director of the Gender Studies program, who will discuss her latest book, “Black Feelings: Race, Affect, and the Long Sixties.” Building Collaborative Relationships to Improve Race Relations – 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 9 A panel of researchers from the Little Rock Congregations Study (LRCS) will discuss findings relevant to race relations from their Fall 2020 survey with 35 community congregations. The panel will consist of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock professors Gerald Driskill, Rebecca Glazier, and Kirk Leach. In partnership with the Clinton School of Public Service, the panelists will also present a process of facilitating community dialogues on key issues found within their survey results. Modern Warriors of World War I: American Indians in the Great War – Noon, Wednesday, March 10 Presented by Erin Fehr, an archivist with the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Sequoyah National Research Center, this event will highlight the sacrifice and bravery of American Indians and Alaska Natives that served in World War I. It will inform audience members about things such as how they used their language to create a code that was never broken by the Germans. The Sequoyah National Research Center created a to identify all 12,000 American Indians that served in World War I, which can be found online as part of the ’s website. New Funds for Minority Businesses in Little Rock – 2 p.m. Thursday, March 11 The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center will present a panel discussion on new funding opportunities available in Little Rock for minority businesses. We Sing! A Celebration of Women’s Heritage – 3 p.m. Sunday, March 14 ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Choirs will host a live-streamed performance celebrating Women’s Heritage Month, featuring historically informed music performances, poetry reading, a speaker with commentary on notable women of the suffrage movement, and a special musical oratory presentation with Dr. Linda Holzer and Dr. Yslan Hicks. Putting the Pieces Together: A look at how Universal Design for Learning, Open Educational Resources, and Affordable Learning Content work together to benefit students and faculty – 3 p.m. Monday, March 15 in the Ottenheimer Library Presented by e-Learning Specialist Hannah Hurdle, will discuss the Universal Design for Learning (UDL), Open Educational Resources (OER), and Affordable Learning Content (ALC) frameworks for inclusive learning. Entrepreneurship: My Journey into the Unknown – 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 16 Entrepreneurial Education Specialist Pamela Reed, with the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center, will present a panel discussion featuring minority entrepreneurs. Connecting & Utilizing Social Media for Each Generation – 1 p.m. Thursday, March 18 Jennifer McDannold, coordinator of student orientation and transitions, will present information about each generation, focusing on social media and marketing tricks as well as best practices for Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z. “This is Not Who We Are:” Discussing Whiteness, Denial, & Division – 10 a.m. Monday, March 29 Laura Casey, a student success coach with the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Student Retention Initiatives (SRI) team, will host a discussion on the experiences of whiteness and confronting denial. She will be utilizing references such as Ibram Kendi’s book “How to Be an Antiracist” in her presentation to unpack what denial mixed with whiteness looks like. Exploring Our Power and Privilege – 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 30 Sharon Downs, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock assistant vice chancellor for student affairs, will present this final event to encourage conversation on the concepts of power and privilege.

- University News Archive - ����Vlog��ý Little Rock

Author Ibram X. Kendi shares views with ����Vlog��ý Little Rock community during Diversity Month conversation

����Vlog��ý Little Rock to host Ibram X. Kendi as closing Diversity Month Speaker

����Vlog��ý Little Rock to host March 11 Conversation with Authors David Montague, Paige Bowers

����Vlog��ý Little Rock Announces Events to Recognize Diversity Month

- University News Archive - ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

Author Ibram X. Kendi shares views with ��Vlog��ý Little Rock community during Diversity Month conversation

��Vlog��ý Little Rock to host Ibram X. Kendi as closing Diversity Month Speaker

��Vlog��ý Little Rock to host March 11 Conversation with Authors David Montague, Paige Bowers

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Announces Events to Recognize Diversity Month