Spring symposium explores race, identity
ASU’s Center for the Study of Race and Democracy finished up a week of events with its spring symposium, held March 30 at ASU SkySong. Titled, “Trending Race: Shaping and Embracing Black and Brown Identity,” Myles Lynk, ASU law professor welcomed the participants.
Matthew C. Whitaker, ASU Foundation Professor of History and founding director of the Center for the Study of Race and Democracy at ASU delivered the morning’s keynote address.
Fatimah Halim facilitated the first student panel titled, “Who Am I? A Discussion on Culture and Identity.”
D'Trick Trotter (right) began the student panel discussion. Other participants in the panel were (from left to right) LaTina Rencher,Anthony Agrait and Veronica Flores.
The second panel of the day explored “Being Black and Brown.” Panel participants included (from left to right) Kimberly Scott, ASU professor, Jorge J. Garcia professor at State University of New York, Buffalo and attorney Nicolas C. Vaca.
Ivette Chavez, director of University Academic Success Programs at ASU’s Polytechnic campus, served as the panel facilitator.
Alonzo Jones, associate dean of Student Affairs and Multicultural Student Services, spoke about his background as he facilitated the third panel, “Images and Imaginations: Media and Society.”
Sharon Bramlett-Solomon, associate professor of journalism and mass communications, discussed colorism and the media.
Aja Martinez talked about her research on Chicano/a identity in academia. Martinez will be completing her doctorate from the University of Arizona in May and has accepted a teaching position as an assistant professor of English at the State University of New York in Binghamton.
Aja Martinez listens as Don Logan makes his presentation. Logan is the president of his own firm, which provides diversity awareness training, employee relations resolutions and motivational speaking.
Marcos Cervantes, assistant professor in the Department of Bicultural-Bilingual Studies at the University of Texas San Antonio spoke about the complexities of Mexican American culture and identity.