In our world you can't call the cops on someone because they "don't belong"

Sheryll Cashin speaking on stage with john a powell seated next to her.

'If you have a white space, anyone who's not white is suspect'

Earlier this month we hosted Georgetown Law Professor Sheryll Cashin to present her new book, White Space, Black Hood: Opportunity Hoarding and Segregation in the Age of Inequality. In it she explains how elites use their influence to create affluent white spaces at the expense of poor neighborhoods of color. She says:

"Anti-black fear is what animates almost all of the policies that shape what gets built. ... We devalue and fear black people, but frankly, the story is more about overvaluing the interest and demands of elites."

In a conversation with OBI Director john a. powell following her presentation, john revealed that he was once arrested at UC Berkeley as a student for being "a black body on a white campus." He says:

"In our world that we're trying to construct ... everybody belongs. ... So it's not saying one group over the other, but it's saying that everybody belongs and no one can call the government because those people are here in a white space where they don't belong."

Check out a recording of the talk.

Check out our Bridging to Belonging podcast series!

Podcast player image grab which includes a thumbnail of Byb Bibene

Be sure to check out some of our new podcast episodes recently released as part of our Bridging to Belonging Case series launched last month. In this third episode of a dozen podcasts associated with this series, dance performer Byb Bibene shares his experience as a participant in the African Diaspora Dialogues, and how he’s incorporated bridging into his professional work.

Podcast player image grab which includes a thumbnail of four black women in yellow dress

In the fourth episode of the series, we hear from two of the founding members of The Wind & The Warrior, Ife Afriye Kilimanjaro and Nana Korantema. In 2020, The Wind & The Warrior led a Sacred Waters Pilgrimage to connect Black and Native culture-bearers and advocacy leaders working to address the climate crisis for ritual and conversation.

Check out more episodes and other work from our Bridging to Belonging case series.

cover of the spanish version of the climate refugee report

We recently released a Spanish translation of our 2019 report, "Climate Refugees: The Climate Crisis and Rights Denied."

Download the Spanish version here.

Summer fellowship applications open Dec. 1!

We'll soon be announcing the details for our 2022 Summer Fellowship program, which will run May 16 - August 16. Applications will open on Dec. 1. Check our summer fellowship page for updates.

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