Tim Wise

Sept. 9, 2009 - Anti-racism activist and author Tim Wise will speak at the KSU Campus. Wise is the author of six books including his latest, Between Barack and a Hard Place: Race and Whiteness in the Age of Obama (City Lights Books, 2009). This event is sponsored by the Center for African and African Diaspora Studies, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, and the Siegel Institute for Leadership, Ethics & Character. Find out more about Tim Wise at http://www.timwise.org/

What would motivate whites to act for social change when the nature of that change would mean a level playing field where whites would move from the top of the social hierarchy of privilege? If one takes seriously the moral, ethical, or religious principles by which most of us claim to live, resisting oppressive systems that cause harm, exclusion or deprivation of rights is the appropriate thing to do.

Is it true that privileged people's commitment to social change tends to be more reliable when it is grounded in an acknowledgement of one's own interests? We can't deny that it doesn't always motivate people with unearned privilege to act for social change of the very system that gave them the privilege.

What are the costs to white people of being white in a white-supremicist society? What do we say to people who deny white supremacy exists, or who deny responsibility for the discrimination and injustices done by generations before us? I can't count the number of conversations where my white relatives or friends claim to not be racist, and then purport that they have done nothing personally against non-whites and are not responsible for what happened during slavery or the resistence to the civil rights movement...and then express their fears about "black power" or "minority power" occuring when our "minority" people groups outnumber the white population.

What lies exist that support the system that denies the full humanity of non-white people? I agree with author Robert Jenson who wrote, "To be fully human is to reject a system that conditions your pleasure on someone else's pain" (The Heart of Whiteness: Confronting Race, Racism, and White Privilege; City Lights Books; 2005). This is a vital discussion that we must explore and resolve with ourselves if we want to lay claim to our full humanity. Next on my reading list before Sept. 9 is Tim Wise's book, White Like Me: Reflections on Race from a Privileged Son.



- Karen Pressley, Graduate Research Assistant
Siegel Institute for Leadership, Ethics & Character

Kerwin Swint: Ethics in the Age of Obama

Author, Political Scientist, and Kennesaw State University Professor Dr. Kerwin Swint will speak at the Siegel Institute for Leadership, Ethics & Character's Daring Dialogues event on the KSU campus Thursday, Aug. 27:

Do Americans really know what they want from their leaders?

Is Barack Obama a Socialist, or a progressive-minded Democrat?

Can he deliver? [Is he a Ronald Reagan or a Jimmy Carter?]

What's the right thing to do on health care? [Is Canada really so bad?]

Swint's most recent books include Mudslingers: The 25 Dirtiest Political Campaigns of All Time and Dark Genius: The Influential Career of Legendary Political Operative and Fox News Founder Roger Ailes.

Swint or his work has appeared in a number of national and international media, including CNN, CNN International, BBC Radio, Fox News, C-SPAN, ABC's The View, The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times, National Public Radio. The New York Daily News, The Daily Mail (UK), National Journal, Roll Call, The Hill, Publisher's Weekly, Campaigns & Elections, Salon, Slate, The Chronicle of Higher Education, and numerous other national and regional publications. He is a former political campaign consultant, a frequent speaker for community, civic, and business groups, and has been recognized by the university and the community for distinguished service and scholarship.

This event is open to the public. Bring your questions or comments to the event, or post them here.