Reprise a webinar from August 2020: “Racism and Identity”

Monday, February 21, 2022 - 1:00pm
CST
Linda Alcoff & Charles Mills

The problem of racism has captured public attention in the United States as tens of thousands of protesters fill the streets of every major city as well as many small towns. Largely peaceful protestors, Black and white, have persisted day after day, week after week, demanding systemic racism must end. And it’s not just police violence against Blacks, but racism in all aspects of the society that treat people of color unfairly so as to keep them at the bottom of society. The country is being called to a reckoning with its history.

The fact of the matter is that the United States was founded as a White nation. And while the society has gone on to become multicultural, including Blacks, native Americans, and various ethnic groups, they never enjoyed equal status. The mindset of a large number of USians remain White still today. Racism is not only built into the institutions of society, it is also built into the identity of whiteness. The racism of this White identity is now being challenged by the Black Lives Matter movement. What does it mean to be White? How is this White identity constituted and how does it lead to a denial of an equal humanity to the “Other”? We need a soul searching critique of whiteness if we are to ever overcome racism.

Two philosophers help us in this reflection. They are Charles Mills, author of The Racial Contract, and Linda Alcoff, author The Future of Whiteness. Black philosopher Mills argues that racial presuppositions are built into the very foundations of Western liberal thought. We don’t see White supremacy just as fish are not aware of water. Thus, without intending it Whites tend to dominate people of color. Latina philosopher Alcoff delves into racial as well as gender identities and how they shape the self. The ability of whiteness to define the national identity has been weakened, threatening the continued dominance by those who identify themselves as White.

UPCOMING TOURS

January 26, 2025 to February 4, 2025
Join us in an exciting visit to Cuba--a country committed to building socialism. We will learn about Cuba’s stunning accomplishments such as free health care and education, its collective production in agricultural and urban cooperatives, We will dialogue with leading thinkers about their visions... Read more
November 25, 2024 to November 29, 2024

We will depart from San Miguel early in the morning for an about two and a half hour drive to Morelia, known as the pink city, because the pink limestone used to build all of the historical mansions and churches. There we will spend one night, and almost two full days.

Upcoming Special Events

October 8, 2024 to October 12, 2024

As a part of the Global Action for Palestine, we invite you to VIVE PALESTINA 2024, a series of cultural events taking place in San Miguel de Allende. The event has its origins in a discussion on Palestine hosted by the Center for Global Justice some months ago. After that there was a followup meeting and a group of people decided to form... Read more

Upcoming Forums & Films

Monday, October 14, 2024 - 1:00pm
CST
Débora Poo
Location:
Hotel Quinta Loreto Community Room

The Palestinian people’s struggle for freedom, justice and equality needs your support. We will share information about the the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement that works to end international support for Israel's oppression of Palestinians and to pressure... Read more