May 2019 Race Talks: COINCIDENTAL or INTENTIONAL? Overt Racism During Black History Month

February 2019 was Black History Month. With it came a barrage of racially inflammatory incidences including:

• Major fashion houses highlighting “Black face” caricatures on their fashions at runway shows; mail order “Black face” shoes from a pop recording idol; “Black face” dolls in window displays on 5th Avenue in New York City
• A well known actor proclaiming wanting to exact justice against any random Black person in retaliation for a Black on White crime perpetrated against his friend
• Uniformed Marine corps members in “Black face”video on social media
• A high school wrestler forced to cut off dreadlocks or be responsible for his school being eliminated from the match
• Shopping #WhileBlack; Selling lemonade/water #WhileBlack; Lawyering #WhileBlack
• The list goes on and on…

Are these  coincidental or intentionally triggering acts? What trends are surfacing in the public today as Black African Americans are being reported to the police for carrying out everyday activities “#WhileBlack”. Hear experts talk about the trend of overt action taking place in our society today toward People of Color and what are its implications and ramifications for the future.

SPEAKERS:

Dr. James Mason, former Chief Diversity Officer, Providence Hospital

Jeff Selby, Communications Manager, City of Portland Office of Equity and Human Rights