The Luminary

A note from Dr. Sylvia Spears Vice President of Diversity & Inclusion The Urgency of Now
The Birmingham campaign against racism and racial segregation began in Birmingham, Alabama, on April 3, 1963. The campaign included a series of direct actions including marches and sit-ins. On April 12, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was imprisoned for his participation in a nonviolent demonstration, which was in violation of an injunction against parading, demonstrating, boycotting, trespassing, and picketing. Amid the harsh conditions of the Birmingham Jail, King wrote the now famous Letter from Birmingham Jail, which became the roadmap for the nonviolent social change movement. His letter was in response to a public statement of caution issued by eight white clergymen in Alabama. The letter also became the core of his book, Why We Cant Wait. The white clergymens so called Call to Unity condemned Kings methods of nonviolent resistance and called people to exercise their concerns through more passive

The Office of Diversity and Inclusion Newsletter of Emerson College

February 2014

means. Kings letter defends the strategy of nonviolent resistance and argues that people have a moral responsibility to speak out against injustices. We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor, it must be demanded by the oppressed. Frankly, I have never yet engaged in a direct action movement that was welltimed according to the timetable of those who have not suffered. For years now I have heard the word wait. This wait has almost always meant never. It has been tranquilizing a thalidomide, relieving emotional stress for a moment. We must come to see with the distinguished jurist of yesterday that justice too long delayed is justice denied. I am confident that some of you who are reading, while appreciative of the history

lesson, are also wondering what this has to do with Emerson. However, as I reflect on the lack of engagement and concern about bias incidents on our campus, the low turnout at the sexual assault advocate interviews and presentations, and the minuscule attendance at Martin Luther King Jr. week events, I cant help but wonder if we, just like those white clergymen in Alabama, have swaddled ourselves in a blanket of complacency. I cant help but wonder if we have succumbed to the tranquilizing effects of gradualism. I cant help but wonder if we are content to wait. I am not. I feel the deep urgency of now.

Civic Engagement
Family Night. Off-campus, a group spent the afternoon preparing and serving food to people experiencing homelessness at the Boston Rescue Missions Kingston House; another group tutored grade school children at the William E. Russell School in Dorchester. Lindsay Pacheco, a first year VMA major and student employee for the Elma Lewis Center for Civic Engagement, Learning, and Research, found her service at Kingston House to be rewarding and thought provoking. It was just incredibly humbling to see all those people, Pacheco told The Luminary. Dylan Manderlink, a senior studying theatre for social change and an Arts & Lectures Coordinator for the Office of Service Learning, also commented on the service as an opportunity for reflection. Its important to recognize that [people experiencing homelessness] are human beings and they deserve our respect, attention, good spirits, warmth, and care, Manderlink said.

Photo courtesy of Suzanne Hinton

Emerson community rolls up sleeves for Day of Service

On Friday, January 24, the Emerson community showed their dedication to civic engagement with a Day of Service. Organized by Suzanne Hinton, Director of the Serving Learning and Community Action, and Steven Martin, Director of Off-Campus Student Housing and Community Engagement, with assistance from the City Mission Society of Boston, the day was the culmination of the colleges weeklong series of events to celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. On-campus, volunteers busied themselves writing letters to local legislators in support of immigration reform, making blankets for St. Marys Center for Women and Children, and assembling Family Literacy Kits for Jumpstart

By Blake Campbell Office of Diversity & Inclusion staff

Photos from Martin Luther King Jr. Week

2 diversity_inclusion@emerson.edu Feb 2014

Feature

The Deradicalization of Mandela and King

It is easy to draw parallels between the cultural impacts of Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela. Both men are known for combating racial inequity (albeit on different geographic fronts), and have both been incorporated into the narrative of social progressivism as symbols of self-sacrifice, inspirational oratory, and the forgiving of ones enemies. A more troubling thread, however, has emerged to link the two men, especially in the time since Mandelas passing. The figures and institutions that adamantly resisted Mandelas and Kings respective calls for change are now the most visible forces at work in shaping the two mens legacies. Like King before him, in the medias rush to lionize Mandela in death, the aspects of his legacy that acknowledge him as a revolutionary who worked against a ferociously defended status quo have been glossed to oblivion. British Prime Minister David Cameron memorialized the fallen giant as a towering figure of our time; a legend in life and now in deatha true global hero. The mythical connotations of the word legend are particularly apt when considering the posthumous understanding of Mandela. Camerons own predecessor and fellow Conservative Party leader, Margaret Thatcher, staunchly opposed sanctions to the apartheid regime, even calling the African National Congress a typical terrorist organization. Camerons conferral of praise on Mandela is an act on behalf of a state that contributed greatly to the upholding of a system which Mandela dedicated his life to dismantling. A similar erasure of nuance pervades public knowledge of the American Civil Rights Movement. Kings role in the successful Montgomery Bus Boycott is well chronicled in most public school curricula, but the FBIs surveillance and attempted subversion of the civil rights advocate under its Counter Intelligence Program is a story largely untold. That Dr. Kings own government viewed him as a credible danger to, rather than savior for, the then-existing social and political order is an uncomfortable truth not in keeping with the platitudes about freedom and equality the nation touts each January. It is worth considering what the powers that be stand to lose by acknowledging their complicity in the maintenance of the conditions that King and Mandela worked to redress. A celebration of these mens respective lives that resists illuminating the familiar faces of the forces that opposed them diminishes the enormity of their accomplishments. A movie about either figure is inevitably tasked to contend with these complexities, and Mandela: A Long Walk to Freedom does a better job than most. Based on Mandelas 1995 autobiography of the same name, the conventional but enjoyable biopic chronicles both the personal and political exploits of the iconic former South African president with sensitivity and depth. At the heart of the films charm is Idris Elbas deft portrayal of the titular

Photo courtesy (right)obaixetudodownloads.com

character. Elbas studied approximation of Nelson Mandelas speech and mannerisms anchors a script that moves (at times abruptly) through several decades, laboring over aspects of Mandelas development while shortchanging others. For instance, a substantial chunk of screen time is allocated to Mandelas 27 years in prison, but scenes intended to allude to his marital infidelity are brief and perfunctory. Naomie Harriss powerful performance as Winnie Mandela also helps to counter the uneven pace. The movie is particularly notable for its depiction of Mandelas participation in desultory tactics to undermine the South African regime. In contrast to the sanitized narrative coalescing around Mandela since his passing, the film unflinchingly conveys the activists refusal to condemn black South Africans who used violence to resist apartheid. Though Mandelas belief in compassionate nonviolence is emphasized in the film, it is also made apparent that the former president perceived nonviolence as a tactically expedient choice rather than a moral absolute. This willingness to engage the more unsavory elements of Mandelas ideology helps the film to achieve a richness that is fitting of its layered and complex subject. The broader discussion of King and Mandela might benefit from taking on the films stance as a template. By GRa Asim Office of Diversity & Inclusion staff 3 diversity_inclusion@emerson.edu Feb 2014

Opinion
The Dreamers Take on the Capitalist Nightmare
As our educational community and the nation at large takes time this month to reflect upon the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., it is important to recognize the broader scope of his message. In addition to being a frontrunner in the fight against racial injustice, King was a vocal advocate of the poor and an incisive critic of capitalism. While the countless advancements in race relations that have occurred since Kings assassination in 1968 are often trumpeted as evidence of the realization of his dream, his vision of the struggle for human rights included more than the achievement of a desegregated society. It is especially apt to examine the implications of Kings message as it applies to poverty in view of the recent passing of the 50th anniversary of President Lyndon Johnsons declaration of war on poverty. As the architect of the Poor Peoples Campaign in the late 1960s, an economic rights effort spearheaded by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, King demonstrated a belief in the importance of financial dignity for all. This component of Kings legacy is of particular import to our student body. As the artists and communicators of tomorrow, it behooves Emerson students to appreciate the impact that popular perceptions of the poor have on the means used to combat economic inequality. Fifty years into the War on Poverty, the narrative that paints poverty as a consequence of deficient character, initiative, or integrity continues to have considerable currency in the public imagination. The notion that capitalism only fails those who first fail themselves is a falsehood that King hoped to eradicate. As producers and consumers of culture, we may advance the cause by recognizing the power we have to reshape class-related attitudes and expectations. Whether one is addressing economic inequity via news reporting, writing nonfiction, screenwriting, or otherwise, rendering the issue with recognition of the societal structures that propagate it is a revolutionary act. Let Kings legacy serve as a reminder of the opportunity we have to elevate the national discourse through media portrayals of class that embrace complexity and nuance. By GRa Asim Office of Diversity & Inclusion staff

Activism Needs Activity

Photo courtesy of Suzanne Hinton

On Wednesday, January 22, I had the good fortune to be invited to Emersons reception for Martin Luther King Jr. Day at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel. The reception had delicious desserts, a wonderful bar, amazing singing (including a particularly impressive rendition of We Shall Not be Moved by the Berklee Reverence Gospel choir), and a few elegant speeches by President Pelton, Sylvia Spears, and others. The highlight of the event was an address delivered by MJ Knoll-Finn, the Vice President of Enrollment Management. Her speech was a powerful account of how the words of King spoke to her as a woman. She spoke about the struggle of education for women, how Kings work allowed her, and the past female generations in her family, a chance at education, although he might not have realized it at the time, and how Kings words can, and should, inspire everyone. The whole event from start to finish was a well-executed celebration of Kings life and achievements. I could tell as I sat in my chair that a lot of heart had gone into making something that students would feel good about. There was just one small problema lack of the aforementioned students. When I arrived there were only a few people, but I had hopes that more people would show up as the event got into swing. A large number of staff from the 10th floor of the Walker Building did eventually show up, but the lack of students was frankly disappointing. At one point I even tried to envision what the room would have looked like had more people attended. I bring up my disappointment not to make people feel guilty, but to question why more of the Emerson community did not attend. I dont regret that the whole of the student body didnt show up; Im sure that some of them had classes, and that some of them had homework to do. Yet there was a stillness in the room that I found disquieting. As an Emerson graduate, I know firsthand that Emersons student body cares about civil rights issues. But the poor attendance made me question that notion, if only for a moment. When you put your whole heart into something, to educate and to provide enjoyment for people, you want what you have made to be shared by as many people as possible. I dont want to live in a complacent world, where people forget how we got here and where there is not celebration for the achievements we have made and the growth we have experienced, especially now, when there are still figures intent on forcing us back to a time when the voices of people of color, women, LGBTQ people, and other minorities were silenced. I want to enter a room where many people from different walks of life come to discuss and grow from their shared and diverse experiences. In the end, all I want is what King wantedthe forward movement of all lives, through conversation and togetherness. And I have the audacity to hope that I will see it someday. By Clare Wilson-Pelton Office of Diversity & Inclusion staff 4 diversity_inclusion@emerson.edu Feb 2014

Events
Events on Campus
Victory Stride Multiple events throughout February This campus-wide celebration of African American History Month includes a host of events. Featured guests range from Boston city councilor Michelle Wu to rapper Professor Lyrical (who is also a real-life professor at Northeastern University). A group of Emerson faculty members will also participate in a teach-in from February 3 to 25, each dedicating one class to a social justice issue. For more information, please visit word.emerson. edu/victorystride. Self-Reflection: African American Heritage Month 2014 The Office of Multicultural Student Affairs and GLBTQ Resources is hosting a series of events throughout the month of February to celebrate African American Heritage. For a full listing of events, please visit ecampus.emerson.edu. For more information, please contact tikesha_ morgan@emerson.edu. Covering Civil Rights Thursday, February 13 11:30 a.m. 1:00 p.m. Multipurpose Room Max Mutchnick Campus Center Journalist-in-Residence Cindy Rodrguez will moderate this discussion about the medias treatment of contemporary civil rights issues, featuring guest speakers WGBH senior investigative reporter Phillip Martin and Farah Stockman, a columnist for the Boston Globe. This is a free event only open to members of the Emerson community. For more information, please contact Professor Rodrguez at cindy_rodriguez@emerson.edu or 212810-1100. Bright Lights: Cutie and the Boxer Tuesday, February 18, 7:00 p.m. Bright Family Screening Room, Paramount Center Zachary Heinzerlings documentary examines 40 years of marriage between two creative people, the famed and eccentric boxing painter Ushio Shinohara and his wife, Noriko. As Ushio navigates the fine line between commercialism and genuine creative expression, Noriko works to advance her own artwork and gain a new sense of independence. This is a free event. For more information, please contact Anna Feder at emersonvma@ gmail.com. Fefu and Her Friends Multiple showings from February 20 to 25; check website for details Tufte Performance and Production Center Semel Theater, 3rd Floor Mara Irene Fornss feminist drama follows the lives of a close-knit group of seven women. Admission to the show is $8 for the Emerson community and $12 for the general public. For more information, please contact Megan Wygant at megan_ wygant@emerson.edu or 617-824-8000. Directed by Maureen Shea.

Boston Events
Reelabilities Boston: Disabilities Film Festival Now through Thursday, February 6; see website for screening information This festival features a variety of films from around the world that tackle the issue of disabilities. Many of the screenings are free events. For tickets and more information, please visit boston.reelabilities.org.

Photo from suffolk.edu

Bright Lights: Fruitvale Station Thursday, February 27, 7:00 p.m. Bright Family Screening Room Paramount Center Ryan Cooglers 2013 film tells the true story of Oscar Grant, an African American Bay Area resident who was fatally shot by the police in 2009. This is a free event. For more information, please contact Anna Feder at emersonvma@gmail.com. Co-presented by EBONI as part of African American Heritage Month

Photo from huffingtonpost.com

The Mirror of Race: Seeing Ourselves through History Now through Tuesday, February 25 Adams Gallery David J. Sargent Hall Suffolk University 120 Tremont St. Boston, MA 02116 This exhibition features representations of race in early forms of photography, including ambrotypes, tintypes, and daguerreotypes. These stark images challenge viewers to think critically about race relations and the history of people of color in the United States. Admission is free. For more information, please visit suffolk.edu/adamsgallery or mirrorofrace. org. Ayesha Mattu and Nura Maznavi discuss Salaam, Love: American Muslim Men on Sex, Love, and Intimacy Tuesday, February 11, 7:00 p.m. Harvard Book Store 1256 Massachusetts Ave. Cambridge, MA 02138 5 diversity_inclusion@emerson.edu Feb 2014

Events
Ayesha Mattu and Nura Maznavi are the editors of Salaam, Love, a collection of writings by Muslim men on sexual and emotional intimacy and how it intersects with their faith. Forgoing Muslim stereotypes, the book presents the testimonies of a wide array of men. This is a free event. For more information, please visit harvard.com. Events for African American History Month Massachusetts Historical Society 1154 Boylston St. Boston, MA 02115 The Massachusetts Historical Society will be hosting these events exploring the history of race in America: A tacit proclamation of achievement by the Race: Landscapes Built With African American Civilian Conservation Corps Labor in the Rural Midwest (Tuesday, February 11, 5:15 p.m. 7:30 p.m.) Created Equal: The Loving Story (Wednesday, February 12, 5:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m.) How can the wife submit? African Families Negotiate Gender and Slavery in New England (Thursday, February 13, 5:30 p.m. 7:00 p.m.) These events are free but require registration. To learn more or RSVP, please visit masshist.org. Can Kemal: Dreams of Bosphorus Tuesday, February 18, 8:15 p.m. Berklee Performance Center Berklee College of Music 136 Massachusetts Ave. Boston, MA 02115 Turkish drummer Can Kemal will perform traditional and modern pieces from his home country in his senior recital. American and Middle Eastern musicians will accompany him to invoke the musical heritage of Bosphorus, the strait in Istanbul which forms a border between Europe and Asia. This is a free event. For more information, please visit berklee.edu/ events. Mars, won the 2012 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry. This is a free event. For directions and more information, please visit bc.edu/ offices/lowellhs. Edmund White reads from Inside a Pearl: My Years in Paris Monday, February 24, 7:00 p.m. Brookline Booksmith 279 Harvard St. Coolidge Corner Brookline, MA 02446 Gay novelist Edmund White, author of the acclaimed novel A Boys Own Story and many other works of fiction and nonfiction, reads from his new book, a memoir of his years living in Paris. This is a free event. For more information, please visit brooklinebooksmith-shop.com.

Photo from berklee.edu

diversity_inclusion@emerson.edu
Published monthly by the Office of Diversity and Inclusion
Executive Editors Sylvia Spears Alayne Fiore Robert Amelio Editor Blake Campbell Design Judy Jun Copy Editor Blake Campbell Advisory Group GRa Asim Jeeyoon Kim Andrea Gordillo Contributors Clare Wilson-Pelton GRa Asim

Mili Bermejo and Sofia Rei in Concert Wednesday, February 19, 8:15 p.m. Berklee Performance Center Berklee College of Music 136 Massachusetts Ave. Boston, MA 02115 Mili Bermejo and Sofia Rei represent two generations of soulful singers in Latin American music traditions. At this concert, they will combine their talents to present a new set of original music. Admission is $8 in advance and $12 on the day of the show. For tickets and more information, please visit berklee.edu/events. Poetry Days Presents Tracy K. Smith Thursday, February 20, 7:00 p.m. Gasson 100 Boston College Chestnut Hill, MA 02467 Celebrated African American poet Tracy K. Smith will read at Boston Colleges Gasson Hall as part of the Lowell Humanities Series. Smiths 2011 collection, Life on

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African American History and Its Expressions: A Festival of Plays, Dolls, and Oral History Thursday, February 27 to Saturday, March 1 The Factory Theatre 791 Tremont St. Boston, MA 02118 This three-day celebration of African American culture features a puppet adaptation of The Purple Flower, a play by Harlem Renaissance playwright Marita Bonner; Obie-Award-winning playwright Ed Bullinss The Man Who Dug Fish; a presentation of historical dolls by the founders of the National Black Doll Museum of History & Culture; and a poetry performance by theatre artist and Emerson faculty member Robbie McCauley. For tickets and more information, please visit sleepingweazel.com. 6 diversity_inclusion@emerson.edu Feb 2014

Photo from sleepingweazel.com