UPitt Dean Larry Davis Presents “Engaging Our Communities: Dialogue and Action on Racial Justice”

“A columnist for my local newspaper said, ‘The only thing that America dislikes talking about more than class is race.’ Well, we [the social work profession] must prepare ourselves to be comfortable talking about both,” University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work Dean Dr. Larry E. Davis told an audience of nearly 150 during an October 24 afternoon event.

Davis presented a lecture and discussion, Engaging Our Communities: Dialogue and Action on Racial Justice, sponsored by BUSSW’s Dean’s Office, the Equity and Inclusion Committee, and the Howard Thurman Center for Common Ground at Boston University.  

In his lecture, Davis explored the complex issues surrounding wealth, inequality, and racial justice in America. In a rapidly changing multiracial and class-divided society, Davis told the audience, we need to talk about “America’s taboo topic.” Davis called attention to many national statistics which continue to highlight economic disparities along racial lines. In America today, Davis said, the average Black family has about 5 cents for every dollar that the average white family has. The average Hispanic family has about 7 cents. The Walton family has more wealth than 42% of American families combined.

“We must move behind the feel good discussions of celebrating diversity and talk about the real issue, which has much to do with disparity. Perhaps we should move away completely from bumper stickers that say celebrate diversity and replace them with ones that say challenge disparity.”

“As social work students, educators, and community leaders we must not be afraid to confront these issues and talk about race and class, ” Davis said. “We must always remember that we are only as good as the causes we support and the values we uphold.”

Dr. Larry E. Davis is the Dean of the Social Work at the University of Pittsburgh, where he is the Donald M. Henderson Professor and also the Director of the Center on Race and Social Problems. He has long been recognized as a leading scholar of the narrative about race in America and its role in social justice.  Dr. Davis has spent his life and career dedicated to issues of race, civil rights, and social justice and his academic life has been dedicated to the creation of solution-based dialogues that promote a more racially equitable society.