Protests in Ferguson, Missouri, over the police shooting of unarmed black teenager Michael Brown prompted a discussion among several student leaders at UTC, who exchanged their thoughts about what racism looks like in the 21st century. Those discussions motivated the students to take action.
The Black Issues Steering Committee began a speaker series this semester, to discuss issues in the black community “in an effort to deepen students’ knowledge of the institutional and structural hurdles Black Americans face,” said Robert Fisher, one of the students involved in planning the series.
On October 7, “A Discussion of Black men and Education Equity” drew more than 70 people to the Multicultural Center on the UTC campus. Two more events are planned, one in October and one in November.
“A Discussion of Health Justice in the Black Community” will be held on Tuesday, October 28, at 7 p.m. in the Multicultural Center, located on the third level of the UTC University Center. The UTC University Center is located between East Fifth Street and Vine in the 600 block.
Dr. Shewanee Howard-Baptiste, Assistant Professor in the Department of Exercise Science at UTC, will lead the discussion. Howard-Baptiste has researched experiences of black female faculty in higher education, the role of stress and teaching strategies for minority faculty, and health education curriculum in Haiti.
Fisher, a Brock Scholar who is serving his second term as Student Government Association (SGA) President and was recently named a 2014 Truman Scholar, says SGA is working with the Black Issues Steering Committee. The common goal of the two groups is to move beyond discussion and influence policy.
“Among the early ideas was the development of a more robust UTC Africana Studies Program, with both historical and philosophical context,” Fisher explained.
Additionally, the group would like to see Student Development encourage more cross-cultural impact on leadership development. Fisher said the group would also like to see more structure and support provided to more student leaders.
Students involved in this movement realize change will not happen quickly. Fisher says there are sophomores, juniors, and seniors involved, indicating continuity in their efforts.
Plans are coming together for a one-day conference in late February with a keynote speaker and one or two plenary speakers. Fisher is hoping to include community and campus leaders in workshops with opportunities for students to lead small discussions.
“UTC is not unique in having these discussions. Students in universities across the country are also participating in the dialogue,” Fisher said.
Looking ahead, Fisher says there is a possibility SGA will support additional groups, like those who advocate on behalf of the LGBTQQIA movement and the growing Hispanic student population.
I am a student that attends the university! I have been suspended and dismissed on several occasions due extenuating circumstances in my life but I am so determined to finish. During the beginning of my college career my child’s father was killed. He was missing 3 1/2 months before his body was found. It was hard for me and I was very emotional. Later it helped motivate me as an African American woman raising an a young African American child that one day he will become a man. The death of my son’s father was not racism but it was black on black crime that I believe needs to be address in the black communities! More blacks are killing each other and I do believe this is why we had a situation like Micheal Brown. We have to start caring and respecting each other before we can get the respect from other races and higher up. Black men need to stick together and be more positive leaders in the black communities. It can not be left up to the black women to hold the black communities together.