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Racism in American Public Life: A Call to Action
For some in our society, diversity is a threat. Others feel society should be more inclusive, if only out of fairness. But as Johnnetta Cole argues in her new book, embracing diversity and inclusiveness is more than a virtuous ideal; it is essential to a healthy, productive society.
Focusing on higher education and other arenas of cultural development, Cole explores our institutions’ vulnerability to the influence of racism and the wider implications for American society. At the core of Cole’s argument is the belief that increasing the representation of historically marginalized groups on college campuses, and in museums, media, and other institutions is, like the liberal arts, vitally important to social progress. Accompanying Cole’s urgent calls to implement social change are vividly rendered experiences from her own remarkable life. Cole issues a challenge for courageous conversations about race and racism and places unique responsibility and accountability on institutions of higher education in leading these conversations.
1137804500
Racism in American Public Life: A Call to Action
For some in our society, diversity is a threat. Others feel society should be more inclusive, if only out of fairness. But as Johnnetta Cole argues in her new book, embracing diversity and inclusiveness is more than a virtuous ideal; it is essential to a healthy, productive society.
Focusing on higher education and other arenas of cultural development, Cole explores our institutions’ vulnerability to the influence of racism and the wider implications for American society. At the core of Cole’s argument is the belief that increasing the representation of historically marginalized groups on college campuses, and in museums, media, and other institutions is, like the liberal arts, vitally important to social progress. Accompanying Cole’s urgent calls to implement social change are vividly rendered experiences from her own remarkable life. Cole issues a challenge for courageous conversations about race and racism and places unique responsibility and accountability on institutions of higher education in leading these conversations.
For some in our society, diversity is a threat. Others feel society should be more inclusive, if only out of fairness. But as Johnnetta Cole argues in her new book, embracing diversity and inclusiveness is more than a virtuous ideal; it is essential to a healthy, productive society.
Focusing on higher education and other arenas of cultural development, Cole explores our institutions’ vulnerability to the influence of racism and the wider implications for American society. At the core of Cole’s argument is the belief that increasing the representation of historically marginalized groups on college campuses, and in museums, media, and other institutions is, like the liberal arts, vitally important to social progress. Accompanying Cole’s urgent calls to implement social change are vividly rendered experiences from her own remarkable life. Cole issues a challenge for courageous conversations about race and racism and places unique responsibility and accountability on institutions of higher education in leading these conversations.
Johnnetta Betsch Cole, President of the National Council of Negro Women, is coauthor of Gender Talk: The Struggle for Women’s Equality in African American Communities.
Table of Contents
Foreword by David A. Davis Introduction 1. Race and Racism in American Public Life: Lessons from My Life and from Anthropology 2. The Need for Courageous Conversations about Race and Racism in American Public Life 3. Imagine Our Nation without Racism: A Call for Action in the Academy Afterword by Tikia K. Hamilton Notes
What People are Saying About This
Riché Barnes
A very timely contribution to our understanding of race, racism, and the ways in which people, particularly college students, and higher education as a societal institution, should be engaged in addressing systemic issues. The book begins some of the difficult conversations the author implores us all to have.
Bianca C. Williams
Riveting. Johnnetta Cole challenges all to engage in brave discussions about how race and racism influence education while offering historical context for how we got to where we are.
Laura L. Lott
Drawing on a lifetime of personal experiences with racism and the transformative power of courageous conversations about race, Dr. Cole issues a compelling call to action. This book is, at once, a deeply personal story, an engaging history lesson, and a hopeful guide, offering practical advice for anyone who believes in the power of education to build a better future."—Laura L. Lott, President & CEO, American Alliance of Museums
Henry Louis Gates
In Racism in Public Life, Johnnetta Betsch Cole gracefully interweaves her experiences as a child in the segregated South, a professor of anthropology, and a life-long educator to reflect insightfully upon the broad sweep of racism in America. In this era marked by the twin pandemics of COVID-19 and racial turmoil, Cole stresses the opportunities for honest, interracial, "courageous conversations" to confront the systemic inequality "that continues to afflict our nation." This beautifully written volume is an essential guide for these critically important discussions within the academy and our communities.
