Poet Andre Anderson (left) talks with a student following a workshop.
Indiana University South Bend's "A Conversation on Race," held throughoutthe day Nov. 14, culminated in a keynote speech by Harvard University'sCornel West, one of America's foremost voices on the impact of race onAmerican culture. The event drew praise as the university opened itsdoors to the community for a candid discussion about race relations inAmerica today.
The day-long series of seminars were inspired by President Bill Clinton'saction to impanel a blue-ribbon advisory board to conduct town meetingson racial issues across the nation.
West, a professor of Afro-American studies and of theology, along withHarvard colleague Louis "Skip" Gates, wrote The Future of Race.
"America is going to have to choose between a multiracial democracy or no democracy at all," West told South Bend participants engaged in the"conversation." Some 800 people attended West's evening lecture atIUSB's Northside Hall Auditorium.
| Examining "the melting pot that's more like a stew," the day was inspired by President Clinton's initiative to conduct town meetings on racial issues. |
The day drew community, faculty and student participants to more than 50 "conversations," with discussions ranging from affirmative action tohistorical perspectives on race relations in America. Discussions onmulticulturalism centered on such topics as "Race in the global village,""Discussing the 'undiscussable,'" and "Melting pot more like a stew."
Many organizations, from Work Force Development and the South Bend Tribune to city government and school corporations, encouraged employees to attend. The South Bend Tribune and WSBT radio and television stations co-sponsored the event. Besides next-day coverage, the Tribune dedicateda special section to the discussions in its Nov. 23 issue. (See today's Webmastery column)
Edison Middle School blocked off a series of rooms for its students, whofound themselves opening up on issues like interracial dating andfriendships among various racial groups.
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Poet Andre Anderson (left) talks with a student following a workshop.
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Though West gave warning of the racial climate in today's society, herefuses to relent.
"I'm going down fighting. I've received too much love and care to not bewho I am," he said.
Memorable at the South Bend event was the erudite quality of studentquestions following the speech which served as testimony to theintellectual accomplishments of students of African-American studies.
The planning committee is pursuing follow-up activities including a"Conversation of Race II" next fall. Several upcoming activities -- from aseminar on youth violence to a speech by IUB English Professor SusanGubar regarding her new book, Racechanges: White Skin, Black Face inAmerican Culture -- are being examined as potential extensions of thecommunity/university collaboration.
For more about West, go to this Restoring Hope Project site:
http://www.obsidsociety.org/hope.html
Read about Gubar's Racechanges at the Home Pages' archival site:
http://www.iuinfo.indiana.edu/homepages/0214/text/gubar.htm
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