Why is identity a social relationship? How do we reconcile the idea of self in our identity? When does identity become intersectional and simultaneous? How do issues of race, gender, ethnicity, sexuality, religion, and ability status overlap and impact our perception of others? Join us as we discuss these questions and more during this community roundtable.
Discussion leaders include:
Kristi Williams, Associate Director of Advising and Adjunct Professor
Maureen Reed, L&C Adjunct Professor, Core Curriculum
Tom Krattenmaker, Associate Vice President for Public Affairs and Communications
Tracy Nguyen-Chung, Program Coordinator, Office of Multicultural Affairs

Discussion about the politics and social effects of “whiteness” in the formation of black racial identity. Presenters include: Christopher Wendt, L&C Assistant Professor of Political Science, Jane Hunter, Associate Dean of the College, Jordan Thierry, Filmmaker, “Black Fatherhood Project”.

“Personal Identity: Guided By a Great Feeling of Love.”Ericka Huggins is a human rights activist, poet, professor, and former Black Panther leader and political prisoner. For the past 25 years, she has lectured throughout the United States, where her extraordinary life experiences have enabled her to speak personally and eloquently on issues relating to the physical and emotional well-being of women and children, youth, education, incarceration, and the role of the spiritual practice in sustaining activism and promoting change.

For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf is a 1975 choropoem play by Ntozake Shange. Lewis and Clark students present a workshop performance of her poetry expressing the many struggles and obstacles that African-American women face throughout their lives.

Dinner in the bon in honor of Black Heritage Month. 

Stephen Manning, J.D. presents “When We Become the Other”. Manning is adjunct faculty at Lewis & Clark’s School of Law, and a partner of Immigrant Law Group PC. He is Chair of the Amicus Committee for the American Immigration Lawyers Association on which he coordinates nationwide litigation strategies to advance the rights of immigrants and asylees. He is the receipient of the Edith Lowenstein award for Excellence in Advancing the Practice of Immigration Law and is a graduate from Lewis & Clark Law School.

Kwanzaa, the first specifically designated African-American holiday, began in 1966 and is centered on the seven principles of Kwanzaa, an African culture-centered ritual that observes and promotes Unity (Umoja), Self-Determination (Kujichagulia), Collective Work and Responsibility (Ujima), Cooperative Economics (Ujamaa), Purpose (Nia), Creativity (Kuumba) and Faith (Imani).

The theme of the panel is: Sustaining Cultural Lifeways: Sovereignty, Identity, and Development of the Native Community. Panelists include:
Cornel Powewedry, Portland State University’s Director and Associate Professor of Native American Studies, Blaze Starkey, LC Student ‘12, and Tana Atchley, Advisor of the Multicultural and Spiritual Clusters at Portland State.
The panelists will discuss issues regarding: tribal identity, economic and community development, and the role of social media and the digital age. 

In a diverse and global society, why are conflicts surrounding race, ethnicity, religion and culture persisting and broadening? As an ideology and a movement, multiculturalism purportedly benefits underrepresented groups of individuals and promotes equality, but this panel seeks to understand the ways in which multiculturalism has contributed to unintended negative effects on societal discourse and behavior—including a) who gets to define multiculturalism? and b) how might current notions of multiculturalism impact historically oppressed underrepresented groups?

“Multiculturalism in U.S. Education:
 Critical Perspectives From the Inside”
Gary Okihiro, Professor of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University
“Multiculturalism and Ethnic Studies: Divergent Origins and Future Prospects”
and
Geneva Gay, Professor of Education, University of Washington
“Principle Achievements and Persistent Challenges to Culturally Responsive Teaching”
Keynote moderated by Scott Fletcher, L&C Dean of the Graduate School of Education and Counseling, Interim Chief Diversity Officer
Welcome by symposium co-chair: Julie Peterson, L&C’12 

What is the rhetoric used surrounding race? How do the choices we make in language influence and inform our social interactions? What should we expect for the future of dialogue about race? This panel discussed how social dynamics impact the way individuals choose (not) to engage over issues of race, culture and ethnicity. Strategies for improving our discourse were also discussed. November 2011. 

Gary Younge is an author and award-winning Chicago-based columnist for The Gaurdian who has reported all over Europe, Africa, the US and the Caribbean. He also writes a monthly column, “Beneath the Radar,” for The Nation magazine and is the Alfred Knobler Fellow for The Nation Institute. 

As part of the So you think you can… series students teach dances from all over the world. Whether you want to learn how to salsa or to show off your salsa moves the Office of Multicultural Affairs provided a chance to do just that.

Liberal Arts colleges strive to empower students with intellectual understanding of the complex geopolitical, socio-economic, and ethical landscape of today’s society. This panel explores the role and responsibility of a liberal arts education in preparing students for our complex, diverse, and globally interdependent world. College faculty and alumni discuss their own experiences and perspectives on the liberal arts education model, and ideas for enhancing dialogue about cultural perspectives in a liberal arts curriculum.

Moderator:  Charlie Ahlquist, L&C Campus Living Area Director
Kim Cameron-Dominguez, L&C Adjunct Faculty, CORE, Cultural Anthropologist
Joel Martinez, L&C Assistant Professor of Philosophy
Hanako Conrad, L&C’10, L&C Former Office of Multicultural Affairs Intern
Bruce Smith, Associate Dean of Students, Student and Campus Life, Reed College

Student projects on culture, identity and the modern experience.  An interdisciplinary discussion with the students who are developing research projects drawn from topics of interest related to the modern multicultural experience. 
 Welcome by Latricia Brand, Interim Dean of Students, Director of Multicultural Affairs
Emily Katzman, L&C ‘12, “Black Power: A Transnational History of Aboriginal Australian Activism, 1968-1974”
Alison Dubchansky, L&C ‘12, “Bilingual Children as Language Brokers: Role Reversals, Language Choice, and Identity Development”
Lu’ukia Nakanelua, L&C ‘13, “Reclaiming Space in Post-modern Los Angeles: Freeways and their Chicano Murals”

A celebration with Mexican hot chocolate, chips and salsa, face painting, pan de muerto baking (Day of the Dead bread), and candles. Traditionally, Latin American cultures honor their loved ones who have passed away by making an altar for their loved ones. The altar consists of pictures, flowers, bread, fruits, drinks, and anything that was dear to those who have passed away.  This is not just a commemoration of the dead, but a celebration of death we have cheated by living another day. Since it took place on Halloween people wore costumes to add a the Halloween flare! This event was sponsored by MOSAIC, The Latin American Solidarity Committee, and the Spanish Club. 

The purpose of the Multicultural Fair is to bring the Lewis & Clark community together to celebrate the vast array of cultures represented on campus through the shared experience of food, student performances, music, activities and decoration. 

Celebration of Hispanic culture through signature dishes and a performance by the Mariachi Viva Mexico! This event was co-Sponsored by Gente Latina Unida and MOSAIC for the Lewis & Clark community in October 2011.

The mainly student-taught performances this year incorporated kahiko, ʻauana, tahitain, haka, and fire arts performed by students, faculty and staff.

This year’s theme for Lewis & Clark’s celebration of Black History Month was “Narratives on Race, Culture, Identity and the Collective Black Experience.” Some of the events this year included: Soul Food Night at Fields Dining Hall, and public lectures by University of Oregon’s Dr Charise Cheney and Emory University’s Dr. Rudolph Byrd (LC ’75). 

 

Over the course of a week, The Pluralism and Unity board organized a series of events that allowed students to reflect about their own identities and our identity as a Lewis & Clark community. Here are photographs of the culmination of that week.