Anti-Racism, Allyship, & Academia
** This workshop date has passed. You can send a request for this workshop here**
Below are what participants shared about their experience in January 2021
“This workshop was such a rewarding and useful experience. I leave feeling that I have an excellent launchpad to begin exploring how I bring anti-racism and allyship into my research and academic practice. Mary C. Parker and Anna Claire Walker are amazing facilitators who hold a space for learning and exploration of topics as well as sharing their own expertise. Thank you so much!”
“This was one of the best sessions I have had through Zoom! I also appreciate how I was acknowledged in the chat feature and in open discussion.”
“Honestly, I want to find more ways to have conversations with colleagues like this one so that we continue having a place to practice and grow our ability to identify and address racism in our workplaces.”
Do you work in academia? Currently a student? Want to learn more about how racism shows up in Higher Education Institutions? Then join Mary C. Parker and Anna Claire Walker on January 9th, 18th, or 30th for our anti-racism and allyship in academia workshop.
What Will You Do?
Together, we will identify and define common racist practices that are present within Higher Education Institutions, and explore antiracist actions and methods of disrupting those practices.
What will I receive?
We aim to equip attendees with more knowledge and awareness of how seemingly small instances of institutionalized structural racism can be named and compounded, and armed with that knowledge, promote change.
The content of this workshop is grounded in the theory of our published work and is influenced by our shared experience in academia as well as our individual experiences, taking into account our varying backgrounds and identity markers.
Who is this For?
Although our workshop is framed by experiences in Higher Education Institutions, the tools and awareness fostered in this workshop would be beneficial for anyone wishing to learn more about structural racism, intersectionality, and emotional labor.
Who are the Presenters?
Mary C. Parker and Anna Claire Walker met in 2018, during their Master’s Programmes at Royal Central School of Speech and Drama (RCSSD) in London, U.K. There they discovered a shared interest in race and representation in the arts. This led to an internal research project that examined how structural racism coexists within RCSSD and is embedded in the technology of student dramaturgy, writing, and performance, and analyzed its oppressive impact on black students. After our research received a Distinction from the institution, we authored an article for the Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Equality and Diversity Journal titled “Reflections on Researching Within a Structurally Racist Institution,” where we explore how multiple underlying and intersecting axes of oppression affected our work within academia. Together, we use our research to inform our workshop offerings of anti-racism and allyship in higher education.
Our collective credits include RCSSD, SUNY: Potsdam, Robert Morris University, Staten Island Arts, Lawrenceville United, Center for Puppetry Arts, Sitar Arts Center, and Artburst.
“I love how real this was - on the note of stripping the ‘professionalism’ in activism.”
“The breakout room discussion on the terms and scenarios were helpful for my own knowledge of the topics and I felt like I could replicate this for my coworkers to have an impactful conversation.”
“The definitions have helped to refresh the way I view behaviors within institutions. I in fact have already used these definitions to flesh through an anecdote described to me today! Compensation is now more prominent for me and gives me tangible things to advocate for in future instances.”
“I have had the tendency to call things out/in immediately. And in this workshop, I was able to speak with people who have different experiences in academia and it made me reflect on how much space/time/emotional labor my desire to immediately address racism may actually demand of my colleagues and that I need to consider ways to address institutional and individual racism in a way that does not cause harm to others in the room.
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