News and Events

LECTURE: “BLACK-PALESTINIAN: A UNIVERSALIST VISION”

Dr. Zahi Zalloua, Cushing Eells Professor of Philosophy and Literature and professor of French and Interdisciplinary Studies at Whitman College

February 26, 2020 at 5-6:30 p.m., Rolvaag Memorial Library 525

Are the pursuit of the universal and anti-racist action mutually exclusive? Anti-racist thinkers have cogently argued against the harm that Europe has visited on its racial and racialized others in the name of a putatively universal humanistic philosophy. Critical black studies and philosophies of difference have sought to bring universalism’s failings to light and attend to particularism as a correction to Eurocentric visions. Yet might there be an anti-racist mode of critique beyond the universalist/particularist divide? Dr. Zalloua’s talk will draw out the emancipatory potential of Slavoj Žižek’s alternative universality by exploring its contours and examining what it can contribute to anti-racist philosophy and politics. The talk will explore Black-Palestinian solidarity as a case study for thinking such universality. Co-sponsored by the Political Awareness Committee and “To Include Is to Excel.” Free and open to the public public.

FACULTY SEMINAR: ‘ALL LIVES MATTER’ OR ‘PALESTINIAN LIVES MATTER’ YES, PLEASE!

Dr. Zahi Zalloua, Cushing Eells Professor of Philosophy and Literature and professor of French and Interdisciplinary Studies at Whitman College

February 27, 2020 AT 3:30-5 p.m., BUNTROCK COMMONS 144

This critical and pedagogical conversation is facilitated by Dr. Carlos Gallego, associate professor of English and Race and Ethnic Studies. Please contact Race and Ethnic Studies program director Dr. Jennifer Kwon Dobbs for a PDF copy of the scholarly article on which the seminar is based. Light refreshments.

“AN ANTI-RACIST EDUCATION:” A CHAPEL TALK BY JANE BURNETT ’72

OCTOBER 2, 2019 AT 10:15-10:45 A.M., BOE CHAPEL

A live stream of Jane Burnett’s chapel talk to kick off commemorating 50 years of Race and Ethnic Studies is available here.

OCTOBER 4 & 5, 2019 AT ST. OLAF COLLEGE

Join the Race and Ethnic Studies students, faculty, and friends for a slate of events to celebrate our history as one of the first ethnic studies programs to be established at a small liberal arts college and as St. Olaf’s curricular leader in the study of race, ethnicity, and indigeneity.

Intro to Race and Ethnic Studies Open Class | October 4 at 12:55-1:50 p.m., Viking Auditorium

“Reflections on 50 Years”: A Conversation with Jennifer Kwon Dobbs and Ronald E. Hunter ’70 | October 5 at 1:30-3 p.m., Viking Auditorium

“The Impact of Race & Ethnic Studies on Professional Life” | October 5 at 3:00-4:30 p.m., Taylor Center for Equity and Inclusion

Reception to Honor 50 Years (hot hors d’oeuvres and birthday cake) | October 5 at 4:30-5:30 P.m., King’s Dining Room

INDIGENOUS LITERATURES AND DECOLONIZATION

April 30, 2019 at 4-5 P.M., Viking Auditorium

This event brings together Sami studies scholar Harald Gaski and Native American literature scholar and visiting assistant professor of Race and Ethnic Studies Samantha Majhor to discuss indigenous literatures and decolonization in Norwegian and Minnesotan contexts. How have indigenous literatures been and continue to be important sites of cultural memory and resilience against ongoing histories of settler colonialism? Director of Race and Ethnic Studies Jennifer Kwon Dobbs will moderate the conversation. Co-sponsored by the Norwegian Department and the Leraas Endowment.