The RJTF has been actively engaging in conversations and planning to achieve our goal of identifying and recommending changes to reduce the impact of systemic racism in our community. Over the past few weeks, more and more community members have stepped up in their areas of influence to initiate change. One way in which we are supporting that is through the Racial Healing Practice Challenge, which launched its second theme this week. Over 250 participants across the community are learning and reflecting, which we know will impact Bentley as an institution. We encourage the community to continue prioritizing their efforts to address systemic racism.
Upcoming Events
Conversation with Anne Rawls and Waverly Duck on Tacit Racism: a Clear and Present Danger
Tuesday, October 13 at 2:00 p.m.
In Tacit Racism, Anne Warfield Rawls and Waverly Duck illustrate the many ways in which racism is coded into the everyday social expectations of Americans, in what they call Interaction Orders of Race. They argue that these interactions can produce racial inequality, whether the people involved are aware of it or not, and that by overlooking Tacit Racism in favor of the fiction of a “color-blind” nation, and a definition of racism that focuses on individual attitudes rather than systemic racism, we are harming not only our society’s most disadvantaged—but endangering the society itself. What many of us in the United States—especially White people—do not recognize is that centuries of institutional racism have molded our social expectations. This leads us to act with implicit biases that can shape everything from how we greet our neighbors to whether we take a second look at a resume. This is Tacit Racism.
Please submit any questions to: ngunasekera@bentley.edu and register here.
Big Question 1: How Does Race Show Up on Bentley’s Campus?
Wednesday, October 21 at 3:30 p.m.
The Racial Justice Task Force will be hosting the “Big Questions for Bentley” community dialogue series. These programs will bring together students, alumni, faculty and staff to openly and bravely examine and uncover the ways in which race is discussed and enacted in our community. These workshops will combine self-reflection, facilitated dialogues, and targeted activities to provide participants multiple ways to understand and engage with race on campus. Register here.
Beyond the Task Force
Several members of the Bentley community have initiated their own efforts across campus to combat issues of systemic racism. We are proud to see this activity and will continue to highlight their work on our website.
Student Advocacy
Last week, student leaders gathered in a Community Conversation to assess the impact of student advocacy on combatting racial prejudice and discrimination across campus. Those in attendance talked of the implementation of chairs and committees within their organizations to focus on the topics of equity and inclusion, the undergoing of training sessions on the topics unconscious-bias and anti-racism, and the recognition (and desire) to continue our own learning on how to make Bentley a more equitable community for all.
Faculty Initiatives
At the Faculty Senate meeting on September 23, members shared a wide range of initiatives their individual departments will be undertaking to impact racial justice. These initiatives ranged from more intentional incorporation of race and racism into current classes, internal audits of student support and professional development for faculty.
Core Team Member Profile
With each update we will showcase an individual volunteering to serve on the RJTF Core Team.
This week, meet Anjela Maravilla:
Anjela Maravilla is a Senior studying Marketing and Global Perspectives with a minor in Psychology. An active member and officer in Philippine United Student Organization, Black United Bodies and Coming Full Circle, she
joined the Task Force to ensure that long-lasting and tangible change occurs to ensure a more equitable and just future at Bentley. She believes the BIPOC community deserves and has the right to equitable treatment, meaningful opportunities, and a positive experience at Bentley.