Presented by Dr. James Mason, former Chief Diversity Officer, Providence Hospital and Jeff Selby, Communications Manager, City of Portland Office of Equity and Human Rights  

February 2019 was Black History Month. With it came a barrage of racially inflammatory incidences including:

•  Major fashion houses highlighting "Black face" caricatures on their fashions at runway shows, mail order "Black face" shoes from a pop recording idol, and "Black face" dolls in window displays on 5th Avenue in New York City

•  Uniformed Marine Corps members in "Black face" video surfacing on social media

•  Shopping #WhileBlack; selling lemonade/water #WhileBlack; lawyering #WhileBlack

Are these coincidental or intentionally triggering acts? What trends are surfacing in the public today as Black African Americans are being reported to the police for carrying out everyday activities "#While Black"? Hear experts talk about the trend of overt action taking place in our society today toward People of Color and learn about its implications and ramifications for the future.

About the Speakers:

Dr. James Mason, former Chief Diversity Officer, Providence Hospital

Jeff Selby, Communications Manager, City of Portland Office of Equity and Human Rights

This series deals with race in Oregon, both historically and up to the present time, to provide learning experiences that support the development of racial identity and sensitivity.

Each month, Kennedy School hosts a presentation on a different topic of ethnicity and racial elements in Oregon history, given by educators and/or experts in the topic at hand. The aim is to provide educational and learning experiences that support the development of intercultural sensitivity and racial identity.

This event is eligible for a History Pub Stamp