Third National Conference on Whiteness Beyond "White," "Black" or "Other":
Confronting Whiteness to End Racism
November 6 thru November 8
(Friday thru Sunday)
UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
CALL FOR PRESENTERS
WE'RE INVITING . . .
Organizations and individuals who are... Activists, Educators, Scholars,
Organizers, Community members and leaders, Spiritual members and leaders, Artists, Trainers,
Consultants, and all generally interested in supporting the
theme, the mission, and goals of the conference.
TO PRESENT . . .
Workshops, panel discussions, papers, symposiums, artistic performances,
roundtable discussions, and other events of potential interest to participants.
FOCUSING ON . . .
OUR THEME: (Beyond "White," "Black," or "Other") We use the term "Other" to
denote the centrality and focus on racism in the U.S.A. as a "black/white"
issue. The title also reflects the common usage of these terms. Our goal
here is to challenge all these divisions -- to get "Beyond" them -- not to
endorse them. We understand Native Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans, to
name a few groups, are often left out of the analysis and discussion. Our
hope is to create space where dialogue occurs and awareness increases on
these issues. We're specifically interested in examining how whiteness has
created, contributed to and maintained the racial categorization of "white,"
"black" or "other" and what new ideas, strategies, tactics and definitions
can be used to move beyond this idea which has been so politically,
spiritually, morally and socially divisive.
OUR MISSION: To hear diverse voices and ideas on how to confront whiteness
to end racism.
OUR GOALS:
Expand the analysis of racism and "white" supremacy beyond "black" and "white"
Build alliances among antiracists to confront the legacy of "white" supremacy
Explore how ideas of "whiteness" relate to "race," class, gender,
sexuality, age, ethnicity and other diverse ideas of human differences
Spark antiracist action locally and nationally
Explore strategies and tactics to make the discussion of "whiteness" and
antiracism a mainstream issue
Bridge the experiences of academics and activists
Develop more accessible and effective language to discuss concepts of "race"
and racism
Encourage "white" people to examine their role in the perpetuation of
racism both personally and as members of the "white" race
Make sure people of all "racial" and cultural groups are involved in
leadership roles in the study of "whiteness"
Explore how "whiteness" has denied the "multiracial" heritage and history of the U.S.A. and its people
Explore the history of the idea of "whiteness" and its relationship to
racial oppression, the idea of "non-white" inferiority and the idea of
"white" supremacy
HOW TO SUBMIT A PROPOSAL
Send us a 1-page description of your presentation, workshop, event etc.
Include your name and contact information.
Indicate the length of your event. We are blocking program time for events
either 1 hour in length (60 minutes) or 2 and 1/2 hours in length (150
minutes). If you are proposing an event of some other length, please specify
this. Depending on the proposal we may or may not be able to find a space on
the program.
Indicate space or equipment requirements if you need more than a simple
classroom and blackboard setting. Simple is better, but we will try to
accommodate special needs.
When possible, (to help us) please submit proposals by email. This helps us
keep our cost low and to circulate submissions for review. Email submissions
should be sent to contact@euroamerican.org
If you do not have email, we will accept proposals by U.S. mail at Center
for Study, 245 West 4th Avenue, Roselle, NJ 07203
We will begin selecting proposals October 1, 1998. Submissions will be
reviewed until all remaining positions on the schedule are full.
For information on the submission process, please contact Jeff Hitchcock,
Executive Director, Center for the Study of White American Culture by phone
at (908) 241-5439 or by email at jeffhitchcock@euroamerican.org
TO PRESENTERS . . .
The National Conference on Whiteness, an annual event, drew over 300 people
in Cambridge, Mass. last November. From our start, we envisioned the
conference as a 20-year series that not only looks at whiteness, but also
mobilizes the attention and resources needed to act on it on a national
scale. This year, our third, we're planning for 500 participants. As with
last year's event, funding is limited. The conference is administered by a
collection of small nonprofit organizations, i.e. we have no large
institutional sponsor. Over 95% of our funds come from registration fees. We
can not reimburse expenses to presenters. But if you do present, we
recommend you take advantage of our sliding registration fee scale (from
$125 down to $15) commensurate with your contribution, and balanced against
the difficulty or success you have in obtaining other funding.
We look forward to continuing our relationship with those who have worked
with us previously, and we encourage those just hearing about us to join the
process. For more information on the conference, check the conference web
hosted here at www.euroamerican.org.
