Our Hidden Conversations - Chapter 6: "How Do You Define Racism?"

We invite you to join us on our journey through Our Hidden Conversations: What Americans Really Think About Race and Identity by Michele Norris. Each week, we unpack a new chapter, shedding light on the complex and often unspoken dynamics of race and identity in America.

This Week’s Discussion: Chapter 6 - "How Do You Define Racism?"
In this chapter, Norris tackles one of the most challenging and pivotal questions in conversations about race: How do we define racism? She explores the varied definitions people hold and the nuances that shape how we understand racism in personal, societal, and systemic contexts. Join us as we explore these different perspectives and wrestle with how language, history, and lived experiences shape our understanding of this term.

Date: Wednesday, October 16

Time: 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.

Location: Zoom - https://sl.richmond.edu/vp

Key Discussion Points:

• How does Norris’s definition of racism compare to your own understanding or other definitions you’ve encountered in your life?
• What role does personal experience and cultural background play in shaping one’s definition of racism and how do diverse perspectives add complexity to discussions about race?
• How does the conversation about "systemic racism" differ from discussions about personal prejudice or bias and why is it important to distinguish between these different forms of racism?
• What impact do shifting definitions of racism have on public discourse and policy?

Whether you’re familiar with these topics or just beginning to engage with them, we welcome your voice. Join us for this important conversation as we strive to better understand the many ways people define and experience racism in our society.

For more information on Intersections or this discussion series, please email Dr. Keith W. McIntosh at cio@richmond.edu.