Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Racism & the Costs of Inequality

“Hey, go back to where you came from!” Have you ever heard someone say that to anyone? It is an anti- immigrant sentiment heard and uttered by many in the history of U.S. Some believe that America has eradicated racism because we have elected an African American president. My two cents? Considering the recent arrest of Henry Louis Gates Jr., the Harvard professor down the street by the Cambridge police… probably not.

According to Tim Wise, one of the most prolific antiracist educators in the U.S., racism is not as clear as black and white. Behind systematic racism, there is something as ugly, systematic classism. We have fallen under the spell of self-serving elites and have been manipulated into supporting their hidden motives, greed and power for hundreds of years. If you are interested in learning more, please come to the upcoming thought provoking film, Tim Wise on White Privilege. You may be stirred up but you won’t be bored.

Tim Wise has spoken at over 400 college campuses, including Harvard, Stanford, and Columbia. Wise has trained teachers, physicians, corporations, government, military and law enforcements on dismantling institutional racism. In Wise’s own words, “Racism hurts us all.”


Tim Wise on White Privilege
Thursday, Dec. 10, 5:00 - 7:00 pm
University Hall Amphitheater

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Day of the Dead / El Dia De Los Muertos in Second Life and in Lesley’s Atrium at University Hall!

Virtual Celebration in Second Life

A Day of the Dead collaboration between Lesley University and the Smithsonian Latino Museum

Help create an altar by bringing pictures of your dead loved ones, ancestors, or someone no longer with us who was inspirational in your life. Add your ofrendas (offerings): sweet breads, marigolds, candied sugar skulls, papel picado (folded and cut tissue paper). Leave a note, poem, drawing, song...anything to celebrate and honor the dead.

WHEN: Monday, November 2 from 12pm - 4pm

WHERE: University Hall, 2nd Floor Atrium

WHAT: Live Video Projection of the festivities in 2nd Life

(Mexican Buffet at the Porter Cafe, Third Floor, University Hall)

For more information visit http://astrodime.wordpress.com

Or you can join virtually by going to http://latino.si.edu/education/LVMDayoftheDeadFestival.htm

Sponsored by: The Diversity Council at Lesley University, Bon Appetit, The Critical Pedagogy Committee, Smithsonian Latino Center, and AstroDime Transit Authority 

Friday, October 16, 2009

Maid in America

According to the homeland security website, there are over one million people who have obtained legal permanent resident status in 2008. Do you support immigration? Or, do you believe immigrants (legal or illegal) are here to take our jobs, money and resources? To honor the National Hispanic Heritage Month in October, the GSASS Diversity Committee would like to invite you to a film, “Maid In America” by director Anayansi Prado.

In “Maid In America”, Prado follows the stories of three women, domestic workers in Los Angeles as they go about their day-to-day work in the wealthy enclaves of L.A. There are over 100,000 domestic workers in Los Angeles, women who leave their families behind in Central America and Mexico in order to take care of other people's children and homes in southern California. Undocumented workers in L.A. work wherever they can find jobs from raising children and maintaining a household to keeping lawns beautiful, offices clean and restaurants functioning. The American economy is totally dependent on them and could not function in its present state.

Maid in America
Monday, October 26, 2009, 5:00 - 7:00 pm, University Hall, Room 3-097
Film Duration: 57 minutes

Please join us and share your views. All thoughts are welcome!

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Introducing my2cents Multicultural Film Series: 2009 - 2010

The GSASS Diversity Committee, in an effort to encourage awareness and dialogue regarding issues of power, privilege and oppression, is sponsoring the my2cents Multicultural film series. This effort was spearheaded by Counseling Psychology student representatives to the committee.

Maid in America
Monday, Oct. 26, 2009, 5:00 - 7:00 pm, University Hall 3-097
Tim Wise on White Privilege
Thursday, Dec. 10, 2009, 5:00 - 7:00 pm, University Hall Amphitheater

Bell Hooks: Cultural Criticism & Transformation
Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2010, 12:30 - 2:30pm, University Hall Amphitheater

Reel Bad Arabs: How Hollywood vilifies a People
Monday, Mar. 22, 2010, 5:00 - 7:00 pm, University Hall Amphitheater

Questions and answers with a panel of experts will follow each film. Please come join us and share your views!