4226 - Equity and Inclusion for Scholars of Color in our Sections, ASA, and the Discipline

Session Submission Type: Workshop

Description

The problem of racism in the discipline of Sociology has long been named, including recently by former ASA President Eduardo Bonilla-Silva in his 2018 Presidential Address. In particular, Bonilla-Silva implored white sociologists to ‘take off their color-blind glasses.’ In the spirit of advancing this important goal, and also in connection with the 2019 ASA theme of “Engaging Social Justice for a Better World,” this workshop will educate participants about how race shapes the discipline of Sociology. It will highlight the myriad ways race impacts the experiences of sociologists of color in the discipline, as well as the reception of their work overall. As such, it will invite several sociologists, who have worked on the significance of race in the discipline and in social life, to share their knowledge. Workshop participants will then be invited to share their own experiences. Speakers and participants will deliberate collaboratively on strategies for addressing the ongoing impact of race and racism. We will also use the workshop to begin a process of documenting experiences of racism--both in the form of “racial micro-aggressions” and in terms of structural exclusion--within the discipline of sociology by creating an anonymous online forum for sharing personal experiences. We will use this documentation process in conjunction with the workshop discussion to develop recommendations via a document and a blog. We will also explore the possibilities for video or audio formats for presenting these experiences anonymously. Beyond the workshop, these recommendations and documentation can serve as pedagogical tools for sociology departments hoping to hold conversations about everyday racism at their institutions.

Sub Unit

• Workshops / Professional Development Workshop

Session Organizers

• Vrushali Patil, Florida International University

• Gowri Vijayakumar, Brandeis University

• Myron T. Strong, Community College of Baltimore County

• Joan H. Robinson, Columbia University

• Jaime Hartless, University of Virginia

Co-Leaders

• Katie Linette Acosta, Georgia State University

• Zine Magubane, Boston College

• Carla Shedd, The Graduate Center, CUNY