Structural Racism: It’s Real, It Matters, and Why Change Can Happen Now

Furman University’s Richard W. Riley Institute broadens student and community perspectives about issues critical to South Carolina’s progress. It builds and engages present and future leaders, creates and shares data-supported information about the state’s core challenges, and links the leadership body to sustainable solutions. It is committed to nonpartisanship in all it does and to a rhetoric-free, facts-based approach to change.Visit the Riley Institute home page

The Riley Institute at Furman University

Presented by the Riley Institute and Osher Lifelong Learning Institute in partnership with South Carolina ETV

<p><strong>StraightTalk 2021 is a three-part series exploring the legacies of structural racism in the United States</strong></p><p>2020 was a watershed year for race relations in the United States. The murder of George Floyd at the hands of police officer Derek Chauvin and the killings of multiple unarmed Black Americans brought people of all races to the streets to protest against police brutality and racial violence and to remind us that even if historically they have been viewed as ‘less than,’ black lives do matter. At the same time, a global pandemic that has disproportionately impacted Black people, Indigenous people, and people of color caused many of us to examine disparities within healthcare and society at large. Combined, these moments led to honest conversations about race and racism, empathetic and sometimes angry social media exchanges, and earnest questions of what can be done to change a system that clearly isn’t working for everyone.</p><p>This national reckoning has also shined a spotlight on the legacies of structural racism, which is the broad system of policies, practices, structures, and norms that perpetuate and reinforce racial inequities. Structural racism contributes to ongoing disparities not only in our criminal justice system, but also in wealth, health, housing, employment, and education.</p><p>What are the costs of racism and the benefits to us all in realizing that life is not a zero-sum game? We hope you’ll join us for three compelling nights of insightful discussion of the continued impact of structural racism in America and what we can do as a community and a country to create a more just society.</p><h2>Ticket information</h2><p><strong>In-person attendance at McAlister Auditorium is required for Furman students and is open to faculty and staff. Due to the surge of COVID-19 cases in the Upstate, the general public should access the event via Zoom webinar.</strong> Please see below for ticket and registration information. Masks will be required for in-person attendance. </p><p><strong>General public (virtual only): </strong>$10 per session | $25 entire series</p><p><strong>Furman students (in-person only): </strong>No registration required. CLP pending.</p><p><strong>Furman faculty and staff</strong> may choose in-person or virtual attendance. No registration required for in-person attendance. Email rileyinstitute@furman.edu for virtual registration information.</p><p><strong>OLLI members,</strong> please direct any questions to OLLI@furman.edu.</p><p></p><h1>August 31 </h1><h2>Shaped by Racism: America Then and Now</h2><h3>6:30 - 8:00 p.m.</h3><p>America’s history has many stories of strong and principled leadership; however, laws and policies enacted over the last two centuries were often exclusionary. Not everyone has been equally positioned to access the full benefits of citizenship or gain wealth or power. How has structural racism shaped our country since its founding? What does the life and death of George Floyd tell us about the impact of structural racism on the individual and on policing?</p><p></p><h3>Featuring</h3><ul><li>Jeffery Robinson, head of the Who We Are Project and former director of the ACLU’s Trone Center for Justice and Equality </li><li>Monica Bell, Ph.D., Furman ’03, associate professor of law at Yale Law School and associate professor of sociology at Yale University, specializing in criminal justice, welfare law, housing, race and the law, and law and sociology </li><li>Brittany Arsiniega, Ph.D., assistant professor of politics and international affairs at Furman University</li></ul><p></p><h1>September 7 </h1><h2>Structural Racism: Impeding the American Dream for Us All</h2><h3>6:30 - 8:00 p.m.</h3><p>Our most vexing public problems — economic inequality, loss of public goods, rising debt, and collapsing infrastructure — are tied to systemic racism. The American Dream eludes many Americans. Some of today’s battle is rooted in the fear that progress for some must come at the expense of others. What if righting racial inequities in home ownership, neighborhood development, education, health, and employment opportunities isn’t really a zero-sum game, but rather yields benefits for all people? What is the best way forward if we are to prosper together?</p><h3>Featuring</h3><ul><li>Heather McGhee, economic and social policy expert and author, <em>The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together</em> </li><li>Thelisha Eaddy, reporter for South Carolina Public Radio </li><li>Ken Peterson, Ph.D., vice president for academic affairs and provost and professor of economics </li><li>The Hon. Richard W. Riley, Furman ’54, former U.S. secretary of education and former South Carolina governor </li><li>The Hon. Lillian Brock Flemming, Furman &#x27;71, Greenville City Council member</li><li>David Lominack, market president of South Carolina for TD Bank</li></ul><p></p><h1>September 14 </h1><h2>Dismantling Racism: Why Now is a Moment for Change</h2><h3>6:30 - 8:00 p.m.</h3><p>Racism and racial injustice are often in headlines and spur frequent protests. With heightened attention to these complex issues and the promise of federal investment in communities as they recover from losses due to COVID-19, now is a pivotal moment. How might these funds and other measures be employed to counteract the exacerbation of racial inequities during the pandemic? What can local leaders do to build up communities and drive equitable outcomes? What is our hope in this moment?</p><h3>Featuring</h3><ul><li>Angela Glover Blackwell, founder in residence at PolicyLink </li><li>John Simpkins, president of MDC </li><li>Russell Booker, Ph.D., executive director of the Spartanburg Academic Movement</li><li>Gavin Jackson, host of South Carolina ETV’s <em>This Week in South Carolina</em></li></ul><p><em>To learn more about the Riley Institute, </em><a href="https://riley.furman.edu/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer"><em>click here</em></a><em>.</em></p><p><em>To learn more about the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, </em><a href="https://www.furman.edu/osher-lifelong-learning-institute/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer"><em>click here</em></a><em>. </em></p><p><em>To learn more about South Carolina ETV, </em><a href="https://www.scetv.org/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer"><em>click here. </em></a></p>

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Structural Racism: It’s Real, It Matters, and Why Change Can Happen Now

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