A huge thank you Dr. Janelle Williams and staff for the successful Speakers Series event with Angela Davis. Dr. Davis challenged us to think deeply about intersectionality, institutional/structural racism, and much more. Not only did she invite us to think deeply, but to come together to facilitate change, while reminding us there is hope. As Dr. Cornel West notes “Angela Davis is one of the few great long-distance intellectual freedom fighters in the world. From the revolutionary mass movements of the 1960s to the insurgent social motion in our day, Angela Davis has remained steadfast in her focus…”
I love it when we have a speaker that makes me want to know more, to reflect and understand issues deeper. I thought I would share some of the literature or articles around some of her topics. Please share with me your favorites too.
If you go to the following link you can get a short clip under the media tab of Dr. Davis and her thought on how all things are connected.
http://www.speakoutnow.org/speaker/davis-angela
Further reading on structural racism.
Also, the link to one of my favorite Aspen Institute reports on structural barriers that “perpetuate student success gaps long racial/ethnic and socioeconomic lines” follows:
https://www.aspeninstitute.org/publications/structural-equity/
This 1991 scholarly article provides some background on the origins of the concept of “intersectionality.” Kimblere also has a TED Talk that gives a graphic of the discussion that is helpful for visual learners.
https://www.ted.com/talks/kimberle_crenshaw_the_urgency_of_intersectionality
Zaneta Encarnacion’s favorite quote of the evening with Angela Davis is “We must never stop believing we can create a better world.”
Speaking of Zaneta….Our SWC Foundation has four identified priorities for giving:
- JAG Kitchen & Food Pantry – helping hungry students
- Southwestern College CARES – assisting students facing emergency financial need
- Veterans Scholarships – scholarships to students who have or are serving in the military
- Southwestern College Promise – scholarships to ‑first year students who have graduated from a school in the Sweetwater Union High School District.
Our Southwestern College CARES program and JAG Kitchen & Food Pantry are gaining momentum, as well our Southwestern College Promise and Veterans Scholarship…to provide support go to the following: