A Recap of the Programming Board’s Black Lives Matter Series

By Isis Amusa, Strategic Communications Specialist

All lives can’t matter until Black lives do. Though the BLM movement predates to 2013, the national and global attention has never been greater. Following the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and several others this year, millions of people flocked to the streets amid a global pandemic, in a moment Angela Davis called “historical and unprecedented.”

For KPU and its cosponsors, there has never been a more pivotal moment to bring national conversations to AU, and not only host them but enrich them. As a speakers-bureau, we are committed to uplifting BIPOC voices and shedding light on discussions of racial injustice and police brutality during this unprecedented time in American history.

For those who were unable to participate in these vital conversations, here’s a recap.

WI Writer’s Workshop — Visions of the Future: Writing the Words We Want to Live In with Alán Peláez López — 9/15

The Women’s Initiative and its cosponsors invited Afroindígena, poet, and interdisciplinary artist, Alán Peláez López, to lead a workshop on Afrofuturism. Afrofuturism explores the intersections of the African diaspora and technology, which can be found in the artistry of Janelle Monáe, the writing of Octavia E. Butler, and many more. For López, Afrofuturism entails creating and writing worlds where BIPOC and LGBTQ+ people feel liberated.

López first led the group through an exercise of “practicing being selfish” and writing “I deserve…” sentences. After participants commented on their sentences using the chat function, López compiled them into a poem. Some examples included “I deserve peace,” “I deserve to go outside and feel the sun on my face,” and “I deserve to feel safe.” Later, the group participated in longer writing exercises and many students read their work aloud to be met with enthusiasm and praise.

López emphasized the importance of writing for building self-worth, appreciating one another, and attaining a sense of belonging. Above all, what rang true throughout the entire event was, “if one of us is under attack and doesn’t feel safe, none of us do.”

A Conversation on Anti-Blackness in the Latinx Community with Dr. Noemí Enchautegui-de-Jesús and Dr. Olga Pabón — 9/16

LULAC, LASO, and cosponsors hosted a conversation about anti-Blackness and colorism within the Latinx Community with Dr. Noemí Enchautegui-de-Jesús and Dr. Olga Pabón.

Both began by sharing their own experiences with microaggressive comments from family members about their skin tone and hair texture. Through these, they both became increasingly more aware of their race and identity. These ignorant interactions, though hurtful, stem from societal issues, they said. When talking to someone with a stereotypical perception of what a Latinx person may look like, it’s important to understand how influential representation in media can be. The speakers noted the lack of diversity in novelas and how this contributes to the erasure of Afro-Latinx people.

Above all, they stressed the importance of education in these interactions. Allies to the Afro-Latinx community especially need to look within their circle of influence, understand the conceptions those around them have, and help to educate them on the diversity of the Latinx region. As educators themselves, they always encourage people to learn and grow as individuals.

They concluded on a reminder that issues of anti-Blackness are societal, cultural, and systemic. Further, the misconception that issues of immigration and BLM are separate contributes to anti-Blackness, the erasure of Afro-Latinx people held in detention centers, and the obstruction of intersectional understandings of movements. We must all work to tear those misconceptions down.

Keynote Speaker Events: Angela Davis and Noname — 9/17 & 9/21

Click here to read about our amazing keynote speakers!

WI Presents — Trans and Nonbinary Allyship in Feminist Spaces — 9/23

The Women’s Initiative and its cosponsors hosted a conversation to critically examine feminist movements and the ways in which they are exclusionary to nonbinary, trans, and BIPOC people.

Led by junior Rory Hayes and senior Aaliyah Charania, the event held space to uplift trans and nonbinary voices and to dismantle the harmful anti-trans premises that exist in feminist spaces. The group began by examining what they knew, what they wanted to learn, and thinking about what they have internalized about gender.

Conversations ebbed and flowed from discussions of queerness to reproductive rights to the Women’s March and its promotion of the binary and obsession with genitalia. The group also went on to criticize the march for its lack of collaboration with BLM chapters, racism, and transphobia. Finally, participants reflected ways to deconstruct gender in their interactions and support of movements.

From women’s suffrage to now, the feminist movement has historically excluded intersectional and marginalized experiences and identities. Rory and Aaliyah concluded by stressing that feminism is not just about cis-gendered white women and it is not about elevating people to the level of cis-gendered white men, it’s about dismantling the patriarchal systems that place them over others in the first place.

The Black Lives Matter Series Presented by the Kennedy Political Union, the Women’s Initiative, the Student Union Board, the Black Caucus Committee, and the Antiracist Research Center

Our organizations are so proud of this incredibly important series. It is vital that we utilize our platforms to contribute to national conversations and promote solidarity with our Black community.

We hope that the entire AU community found these events enriching, empowering, and impactful. Thank you to all who attended!

Follow all of our social media, @AUSGKPU, to stay updated on our upcoming events!