Black Lives Matter Faculty Learning Community


About

Co-Chairs:
Phyllis Ryder, University Writing Program
Maranda Ward, School of Medicine and Health Sciences

The #Black Lives Matter FLC is a community of faculty committed to practicing antiracist, multicultural pedagogy and community engagement.  We recognize our embedded position in white supremacist culture and commit to courageous conversations and meaningful actions that promote equity. We meet to share resources and offer support to those who promote antiracism in classrooms, departments, colleges and communities.


We define antiracism as Ibram Kendi does in How to Be an Antiracist:  “One who is expressing the idea that racial groups are equals and none needs developing, and is supporting policy that reduces racial inequity” (24).  He notes “there is no neutrality in the racism struggle. The opposite of ‘racist’ isn’t ‘not racist.’ It is ‘antiracist’. . . The claim of ‘not racist’ neutrality is a mask for racism” (9). 


We have a commitment to honesty and forthrightness. Our group dynamics takes into account Sensoy & DiAngelo in “Respect Differences?: Challenging the Common Guidelines in Social Justice Education.” We recognize that “antiracism and racism are not fixed identities. We can be a racist one minute and an antiracist the next” (Kendi, 10).

[updated April 2020]


https://serve.gwu.edu/black-lives-matter-faculty-learning-community
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Hello #BLM FLC --

Wishing you all a safe first week of classes. Our first gathering this semester will be Thursday, 1/14 3-5pm. We welcome a chance to be in community with all of you.

Maranda has suggested compiling materials we have used to shape the discussions in our classes regarding the white supremacist insurrection and the fragility of democracy.

I've update the info on the calendar invitation so it now includes the password. Here's the full info.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://gwu-edu.zoom.us/j/6198232314?pwd=U1pHdTByY1owbzBjdjlBakt5d2l0dz09

Meeting ID: 619 823 2314
Passcode: WR1TE!gwu
The BLM week of action in public schools is coming up in February https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Week-of-Action--Black-Lives-Matter-at-School.html?soid=1101431245776&aid=1zi68GPk1Hw Teaching for Change has posted lots of tools and resources.
I forgot over the semester that we have a group set up via the Nashman Center GivePulse platform. I will use this more next semester to announce our monthly meetings. It might be easier to keep track that way.

In the meantime, I have a resource question for the group. I have long used materials from Keith Morton and John McKnight to introduce the idea of approaching a community through an asset rather than deficit lens. They work well enough, but I'd like to find a reading or video on this by a person of color, preferably a more recent source. Do you have any to recommend?
Sending a message to this group about the Anti-Racist Teach In with GSEHD next Saturday. Dr. Ward is a panelist and the event will use art, a virtual theater performance by high school students to begin the session. Register at the link https://givepul.se/h4f8rf to get the link for the event. Feel free to share with other students or faculty.