SIUE Alumnus Coates Explores Unique Racial Equity Methods during SIUE Arts & Issues
Looking at race and racial inequality in different ways will be the subject of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Arts & Issues’ first session of the year. SIUE alumnus Rodney Coates, PhD, professor of critical race and ethnic studies at Miami University, will present the Zoom webinar, “The Matrix of Race-Fostering Social Change and Justice” at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 25.
The free webinar, presented by Arts & Issues and the College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Sociology, will take a unique look at race and racial disparities in new ways. Those being challenged will include minorities who have experienced the impact of race in their own lives and members of dominant groups who may believe that society is color blind.
The matrix refers to a way of thinking about race that reflects the intersecting, multilayered identities of contemporary society, and the powerful social institutions that shape the understanding of race. The webinar’s objectives are to help viewers get beyond the familiar “us vs. them” arguments that can lead to resistance and hostility. It will seek to promote self-appraisal, and stimulate more productive discussions about race and racism.
“At SIUE, we love having the opportunity to highlight alumni who are distinguished international speakers,” said Arts & Issues Director Grant Andree. “Rodney Coates, an alumnus from the Department of Sociology, brings a distinctive perspective on race. The ‘matrix’ includes the many ways people identify themselves and the social institutions that shape our views.”
An East St. Louis native, Coates has conducted bias training for school districts, municipalities, police departments and universities. He works with local communities, corporations and Miami University to establish pathways to progress for under-represented students in fields such as science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), business and law.
Register for this free event here.
For more information on Coates, visit his website.
Arts & Issues is tied to the academic mission of the University. For 36 years, the series has presented some of the world’s finest performing artists and showcased speakers from across the spectrum in areas such as science, history, literature and politics. The program also offers unique opportunities for students, faculty, staff and the community to engage with these performers and speakers through master classes and special sessions.
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SIUE alumnus Rodney Coates, PhD, professor of critical race and ethnic studies at Miami University.
