Conversation Aforethought

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As we start a new semester, I’m thinking back to things that transpired last fall that haven’t faded with the intersession break. It’s impossible for me to reflect on last semester’s happenings at Boston University without considering what happened in our country, simultaneously — recently, Ferguson, Cleveland, Staten Island. We’ve still got work to do as a community in making sense of race in our country and around here. Conversations continue, and I encourage you to step in on them with a few events where you’ll hear some knowledgeable people’s takes on the implications of race in our society. Here are the details:

An Evening with April Ryan: Join 27-year White House correspondent April Ryan as she answers your questions and discusses her coverage of race and politics in a conversation with BU alumna and WCVB-TV’s Karen Holmes Ward. April will be launching her new book titled The Presidency in Black and White: My Up-Close View of Three Presidents and Race in America. Tuesday, February 3 @ 6 PM in the George Sherman Union’s Metcalf Ballroom (775 Commonwealth Avenue)

#BlackLivesMatter Symposium: You’ve seen it on Twitter and poster boards, but now it’s time to go beyond the #blacklivesmatter hashtag and address how BU can move forward as a community, regardless of color. We’ve invited four prominent community leaders from around the country to join School of Theology’s Associate Dean Pamela Lightsey in discussing systemic discrimination, police violence against Black persons and challenges to authentic diversity in academic contexts. The panel session will include Q&A and “do-tank” breakout sessions among students. Make sure to RSVP on Eventbrite. Tuesday, February 10 @ 7 PM in the Metcalf Trustee Ballroom (1 Silber Way, 9th floor)

“Dear White People” Film Screening + Panel: While Juno temporarily postponed the screening of “Dear White People,” The Howard Thurman Center for Common Ground has rescheduled the movie screening and subsequent panel discussion for Wednesday, February 11 @ 6 PM in Tsai. Tickets are free but you have to RSVP on Eventbrite to get a seat!

While topics of race and racism may be uncomfortable, challenging, and perhaps even foreign to some, I hope you’ll seize the opportunity to attend these events and join the conversation. Encourage others to also get into one or all of these conversations.

Peace.

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