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Internationally-known anti-racism author and speaker Tim Wise will be at Washburn University on Friday to hold a community conversation on race and justice.

Bruce Mactavish, assistant history professor and associate dean of Washburns college of arts and sciences, said he first met Wise nine years ago when Wise was honored in 2008 in Topeka as an Oliver L. Brown distinguished visiting scholar for diversity issues at Washburn.

He comes armed with a great deal of facts, Mactavish said of lectures regarding white privilege and racism he has heard Wise deliver. Hell engage an audience in a way you just cant ignore.

Wise is well-known for his speeches on what white people dont know or understand about racism. In many of his lectures, he cites a 1963 Gallup poll that found 60 percent of white people believed African-Americans were treated as equally as they were in their communities. The same poll, he said, showed that percentage increased to 75 percent in 1967, the year before the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated and before the Fair Housing Act was signed into law.

Even more tellingly, in 1962, fully 85 percent of whites told Gallup that black children had the same chance as white children to obtain a high quality education, Wise wrote in a national media opinion piece in 2015. Such beliefs might strike us as delusional in retrospect, of course, but thats the point: Unless we believe that white Americans have somehow become amazingly attuned to the experiences of persons of color in the last half-century (and more so than those people of color are, with regard to their own experiences) even as our parents and grandparents clearly failed to discern truth from fiction it seems that we should probably think twice before trusting white perceptions when it comes to the state of racial discrimination in this country.

Mactavish said he admires the way Wise can talk about the complexities of white privilege and racism.

These issues are hard to talk about, he said. Theyre hard to talk about in the classroom.

On Friday, Wise will speak from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. during the Washburn faculty luncheon at the Memorial Union. At 3:30 p.m., he will be the guest speaker for KTWUs Minds that Matter program at White Concert Hall. Wise will also have two book signings, one at Memorial Union at 1:3o p.m. and another at 6 p.m. in the vestibule at White Concert Hall.

Other sponsors of Wises visit include the Washburn University Foundation via the Ruth Garvey Cochener Fink Visiting Professors of Leadership and the Washburn University Office of University Diversity and Inclusion.

Contact reporter Angela Deines at (785) 295-1143 or @AngelaDeines on Twitter.

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Tim Wise, anti-racism author and speaker, will speak Friday at ... - Topeka Capital Journal

In this completely revised, Remix version of his highly-acclaimed memoir, White Like Me, Tim Wise explores how racial identity and whiteness influence the lives of white Americans, by examining how they have impacted his own life. Wise examines what it means to be white in a nation created for the benefit of those who are white like him, and how privilege seeps into every institutional arrangement, from education to employment to the justice system. Importantly, he also discusses the ways that white privilege can ultimately harm its recipients in the long run and make progressive social change less likely. Through personal storytelling and convincing analysis, Wise makes the case that racial inequity and white privilege are real and persistent threats to personal and collective well-being, but that resistance to white supremacy and racism is possible.

James Loewen, best-selling author of Lies My Teacher Told Me, and Sundown Towns calls White Like Me:

the most important memoir by a white person about how race and racism affect everyday life since Lois Mark Stalveys The Education of a WASP. And, as with Stalvey, after reading Wise, white readers are energized to join the fray and reduce racism in our society.

Author and long-time liberation activist Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz calls White Like Me:

A brilliant and personal deconstruction of institutionalized white supremacy in the United StatesIt is a beautifully written, heartfelt memoir.

And Publishers Weekly, speaking of the books first edition, called it invigorating.

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Tim Wise White Like Me: Reflections on Race from a ...

Details Last Updated on February 9th, 2017 February 9th, 2017 Written by Chuck Samples

Emporia State UniversityBlack History Month celebrationcomes with a highlightof ESU'sfirst Social Justice & Equity Lecture.

Tim Wise, one of the nations most prominent anti-racist activists and educators,has traveled to Emporia today to speak to thepublicabout the importance of social justiceactivism. Wise's visit comes on the same day as the roll out of the new ESU's diversity, equity and inclusion plan. Jason Brooks, Assistant Dean of Students, indicated that thiswas just a happy coincidence.

Brooks this event, by no coincidence, takes place duringBlack History Month, a event Brooks says Emporia State prides itself on celebrating.

Wise is the author of seven books, including his highly-acclaimed memoir, White Like Me: Reflections on Race from a Privileged Son." His latest book, Under the Affluence: Shaming the Poor, Praising the Rich and Sacrificing the Future of America." The event will take place a 6pm, at Albert Taylor Hall, it is free to the public and does not require a ticket. Brooks said that this is an invitation to the table for everyone to sit down with Wise.

Emporia State University has its first Social Justice and Equity Lecture on Thursday.

Tim Wise, the author of "White Like Me: Reflections on Race from a Privileged Son" and six other books, will be the featured speaker. Wise has spent 25 years talking with audiences about racism and equality matters. His latest book, "Under the Affluence: Shaming the Poor, Praising the Rich and Sacrificing the Future of America," was published two years ago.

Wise has also made several network TV news appearances, including appearances on CNN, MSNBC, NPR, ABC and CBS.

The lecture will be at Albert Taylor Hall starting at 6 pm. The event is free and the public is encouraged to attend.

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Noted activist Tim Wise giving ESU's first Social Justice and Equity lecture Thursday - KVOE

Tim Wise, one of the nations most prominent anti-racism activists and educators, presented at Emporia State University on Thursday. His presentation focused on social justice and equity.

Wise is the author of seven books, including his highly-acclaimed memoir, White Like Me: Reflections on Race from a Privileged Son, which was adapted into a 2013 documentary. His latest book, Under the Affluence: Shaming the Poor, Praising the Rich and Sacrificing the Future of America, was published in 2015.

The importance of looking at history when considering race relations and equity in the United States was a focus of his talk. Wise said white Americans typically wants black Americans to move on when it comes to the history of slavery, mainly because that history doesnt present a positive image of white Americans yet they dont want to move on from other bits of history that do present a positive image.

White Americans in particular are very quick to tell people of color that talk about the past to quickly say to them, Why do you have to bring that up? That was a long time ago, why cant we move on? Why cant we get over it, Wise said. Now this, I beg to remind you, is precious coming from white people because there is nobody on this earth that loves the past more than the white man.

We absolutely adore the past worship it. Thats why the Tea Party said they wanted it back and it does not point to the future. They believe the past is this splendid place. White folks love the past but they just love the pretty part for us the part that makes us special, that makes us feel better. We just dont want to be burdened with the less-pretty parts. The parts that people of color occasionally bring up.

Wise said if one does not understand the history and what came before there is no way to understand social inequality. He said this can be seen in regards to the Black Lives Matter movement.

If we dont understand the historical significance of police interactions with the black community, then the uprising on behalf of the Black Lives Matter movement will not make sense to you, Wise said. It will seem outrageous to you. Because people rising and expressing anger with police, if police have all been people that come to your neighborhood to get the cat out of the tree or take little Billy on a ride in their car to show him what a great job policing could be, it doesnt make sense. That is not the black experience with law enforcement.

When people get defensive of the Black Lives Matter movement and respond with all lives matter, Wise said that isnt acceptable because, in our country, all lives have not historically mattered. Our country has said all lives matter, but actions have told people of color that all does not include them.

When people say black lives matter we get defensive and say, Well what about us? Dont our lives matter? Dont all lives matter, Wise said. We have a long history in white America of saying all but not meaning it. Thomas Jefferson said, All men are created equal and endowed by their creator to certain inalienable rights among these including life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, but when he said it he owned over 200 human beings, so we know he did not mean it. In the 1880s when the first version of the Pledge of Allegiance was written and updated again in 1920 and 1954 every version ended with liberty and justice for all. That was written at a time when we didnt mean it. So when we say all lives matter and we have a history of not really believing our own hype and our own rhetoric saying all while marginalizing millions we are going to have to forgive black folks for reminding us all meant something else for a couple hundred years.

Wise ended his presentation by taking questions from the audience. During that time he encouraged those in attendance to continue having the discussions and to continue to advocate for change.

Earlier in the day, ESU released the recently approved Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Plan for the university. Work on the plan began in the fall of 2015 when the University Diversity and Inclusion Alliance was formed. The alliance consists of more than 50 students, faculty, staff and community members.

The alliance was guided by co-chairs Gary Wyatt, associate provost and director of the Honors College and Jason Brooks, assistant dean of students for diversity, equity and inclusion. The alliance was charged with reviewing university practices and organization structures as well as analyzing data and researching best practices.

By April 2016, the draft plan was completed and shared throughout the university and community. Input was requested and incorporated into the final plan published on Thursday.

The process for gathering input on the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Plan was comprehensive and provided many opportunities for discussion and feedback, ESU President Allison D. Garrett said in her letter to campus.

ESU administrators have already implemented the following elements of the plan.

Appointed a Title IX investigator;

Created and filled the Assistant Dean of Students for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion position;

Increased diversity initiatives within the curricular and co-curricular experiences;

Created thematic learning communities in residence halls;

Enhanced marketing materials; and

Signed the NCAA diversity pledge.

A next step, Garrett said, is to incorporate the new University Diversity and Inclusion Alliance into the universitys governance structure. A work team also will develop core cultural competencies to ensure our students graduate with the skills necessary to live and work effectively as members of a diverse, global community.

ESUs Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Plan is available online at http://www.emporia.edu/president/diversity-and-inclusion.

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'Wise' words | ESU | emporiagazette.com - Emporia Gazette

Emporia State Universitys first Social Justice & Equity Lecture will take place at 6 p.m. Thursday in Albert Taylor Hall.

Tim Wise, one of the nations most prominent antiracist activists and educators, will speak at the event, which is free and open to the public. No ticket is required. The lecture is hosted by Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and in collaboration with Special Events.

Referred to as a vanilla brother in the tradition of (abolitionist) John Brown by scholar and philosopher Cornel West, Wise has spent the last 25 years speaking to audiences about racism and equality. His lectures have brought him to all 50 states, to Canada and Bermuda, and to over 1,000 high school and college campuses, hundreds of professional and academic conferences and numerous community groups. In addition to lecturing, Wise has trained corporate, government, law enforcement and medical industry professionals on methods for dismantling racism in their institutions.

Wise is the author of seven books, including his highly-acclaimed memoir, White Like Me: Reflections on Race from a Privileged Son, which was adapted into a 2013 documentary. His latest book, Under the Affluence: Shaming the Poor, Praising the Rich and Sacrificing the Future of America, was published in 2015.

He has also contributed to over 25 books, and his writings are taught in colleges and universities across the nation. His essays have appeared in publications such as Alternet, Salon, Huffington Post, Counterpunch, Black Commentator, BK Nation, Z Magazine and The Root, which recently named Wise one of the 8 Wokest White People We Know.

His media presence includes dozens of appearances on CNN, MSNBC and NPR, feature interviews on ABCs 20/20 and CBSs 48 Hours, along with videos posted on YouTube, Facebook and other social media platforms that have received over 20 million views.

For more information, please contact Jason Brooks of Emporia State University at 341-5269.

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Prominent antiracist to speak at ESU - Emporia Gazette