Building an Interdisciplinary Science on Racism
February 28, 2020
In conjunction the University of Michigan’s Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 2020 programming, the U-M RacismLab held its annual symposium entitled, “Building and Interdisciplinary Science on Cultural & Structural Racism.”
Directed by Maggie Hicken, and housed within ISR’s Survey Research Center, the RacismLab is a transdisciplinary research collective that brings together doctoral students, post-doctoral fellows, and faculty to develop innovative theoretical frameworks and empirical approaches to better understand the impact of racism on health and well-being. In addition to regular working group meetings, the lab convenes annual campus-wide events on the conceptualization and measurement of race and racism at ISR and participates in writing retreats.
Part 1 activities happening all morning! Opening address coming up!! pic.twitter.com/2SWFGueegG
— UMich Racism Lab (@RacismLab) February 26, 2020
This year’s symposium was divided into two sessions. The morning session focused on the need to build diverse, interdisciplinary collaborations. Dr. Carolyn Finney opened the morning with a discussion on the myth of objective research and the need for diversity for strong science.
“One of my frustrations in graduate school was going to the library and not finding anything on African Americans and conservation.”
“There were scientists who said they did not see value in studying Black and Brown people’s relationship with the environment.”
Prof. Finney— UMich Racism Lab (@RacismLab) February 26, 2020
Then, RacismLab members and alumnae presented, in lightning talk format, the ways in which the RacismLab, as a safe and critical space for the study of racism, supported their professional development and career progression.
Channing Matthews discussing how @RacismLab co-founder @CL_McCluney helped her to find the balance between research and lived experiences/activism. This connection led to her first 1st authored publication! pic.twitter.com/cg1Q5sdi93
— UMich Racism Lab (@RacismLab) February 26, 2020
In the afternoon, Debbie Rivas-Drake, professor of psychology and education at the University of Michigan, led a working roundtable lunch on creating diverse, joyful, and productive research groups.
The afternoon session featured a panel of innovative scholars who integrate critical theory to understand the durability of racism.
Pictured here (from left to right): David Cunningham, Danielle Purifoy, Camilla Hawthorne, Hedwig Lee, Lisa Flores, and Vanessa Lovelace.
Highlights from the afternoon panel:
Vanessa Lynn Lovelace, assistant professor crime & justice studies, University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth
“What does freedom look like outside of the narrow purview of white supremacist, capitalist, patriarchy though – aka Western Political Thought – Dr. Vanessa Lynn Lovelace pic.twitter.com/twPzvL1b6c
— UMich Racism Lab (@RacismLab) February 26, 2020
David Cunningham, professor of sociology, Washington University in St. Louis
Prof. Cunningham begins his talk with images of violence enacted against Black reporters in Mississippi. pic.twitter.com/RzlIG5Jery
— UMich Racism Lab (@RacismLab) February 26, 2020
Danielle Purifoy, Carolina Postdoctoral Research Fellow , Department of Geography, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Our third panelist, @daniellepurifoy, begins her talk on Black towns. pic.twitter.com/UXB9CDYvlW
— UMich Racism Lab (@RacismLab) February 26, 2020
Camilla Hawthorne, assistant professor of sociology, University of California, Santa Cruz
@camillahawth makes us think and imagine the relationships and boundaries that historically shaped and contemporarily inform the racial contentions in Europe. In particular, she notes the challenges (contradictions and paradoxes) of studying race and racism in Europe.
— UMich Racism Lab (@RacismLab) February 26, 2020
Lisa Flores, associate professor, communication, University of Colorado, Boulder
Professor Lisa A Flores begins the last talk before the full panel with striking image from new report: pic.twitter.com/IeqoEAwbI2
— UMich Racism Lab (@RacismLab) February 26, 2020
The event culminated in a poster presentation and reception.
Our Poster Presentation winners for the 2020 RacismLab MLK Symposium! Kudos to them! pic.twitter.com/19vLpfQSOV
— UMich Racism Lab (@RacismLab) February 26, 2020
For more information:
Learn more about the RacismLab
Follow RacismLab on Twitter @RacismLab
Contact: Catherine Allen-West [email protected]