May 4 · 1:00pm – 4:00pm
Hunter College
695 Park Avenue, New York, New York
Race. It’s a complex subject — especially with comments like those floating around in our everyday discourse. Despite the “post-racial” age we’re supposedly living in, the contradictions found in these remarks indicate to many of us that we’re definitely not past race, and that issues of power and privilege related to race are still relevant. Subtle, covert forms of racism, or microaggressions, permeate our everyday interactions to the point where they’ve become naturalized — giving the illusion of a society that’s so accepting that it feels comfortable enough to make light of racial differences…because after all, we’re all the same, aren’t we?
Whether you agree with this premise or not, come join us on Wednesday, May 4th from 1-4 PM as we discuss how microaggressions operate in both the private and public spheres of society. How does the internalization of and/or the sensitivity to microaggressions shape people’s consciousness? How do microaggressions manifest themselves into mass media and public policy? How does that translate to the state of student activism? And perhaps more interestingly, why does any of this matter to me?
About the Panelists:
DR. KEVIN NADAL is a professor, psychologist, performer, activist, and author, who received his doctorate in counseling psychology from Columbia University. As an assistant professor of psychology and mental health counseling at John Jay College of Criminal Justice- City University of New York, he has published several works focusing on Filipino American, ethnic minority, and LGBTQ issues in the fields of psychology and education. He has also done extensive work on microaggressions.
VIVIAN LU is a co-founder of microaggressions.com, a blog open to public submissions of microaggressions encountered in people’s everyday lives. It makes visible the ways in which social difference is produced and policed, as well as showing how these comments create and enforce uncomfortable, violent and unsafe realities onto peoples’ workplace, home, school, childhood/adolescence/adulthood, and public transportation/space environments.
CAROLINE HUGH is a former Hunter student and graduate from Cornell University. While attending Cornell, she was a leader in organizing for the Asian/Asian American Center (A3C). She also served as Communications Chair on the National Board of the East Coast Asian American Student Union (ECAASU). As a former student activist, Caroline is familiar with racial microaggressions on campuses and how they affect Asian American students.
JEN KWOK is a ukulele comedian with a unique performance style that flips stereotypes and takes a twisted spin on everyday life. She has been profiled by The New York Times, PBS, and MTV. A prominient member of the Asian American performing community, Jen hosts PBS’ Asian America and the Asian-American Writer’s Workshop’s Open Mic series.