March 24, 2021 Rethinking the approach to structural racism
In the wake of the murder of George Floyd last summer, there appeared to be a moment of new consensus – a crystallization in public understanding of the reality of systemic racism and the political will to do something about it. Local governments initiated unprecedented reforms and top tier candidates for the presidency were speaking unabashedly about racial inequality and offering bold policy proposals. With a new congress and president the federal government will once again become the focus of advocacy and attention for advancing a racial equity agenda. The question before us is simple yet profound: What can the new congress and Biden administration do? Perhaps more importantly, what should be done?
Q&A with Denise Herd on equity-based vaccine distribution
We just published a Q&A with OBI Associate Director Denise Herd, who is also a Professor of Public Health, about what an equity-based vaccine distribution plan could look like. She explains how age-based distributions could leave out groups that are more at risk of contracting Covid-19. Denise explains: "One of the most basic problems with prioritizing vaccination based on age is that Black people, Native people, and other people of color generally have shorter lifespans than other Americans. That's a result of systemic racism, but it means that racial disparities will exist when prioritizing age without taking into account other factors, like race and geography." Check out this Q&A along with two short video excerpts of the interview here.
Blog: A solution to Africa's food insecurity Global Justice Program director Elsadig Elsheikh published a new piece that looks at the causes of food insecurity in Africa and offers a set of recommendations for fair trade practices and support for local farmers. He writes: "[African nations] have been forced to accept loan restrictions, unjustified high interest rates for such loans, and unfair regulatory systems that have made their agricultural products very costly. As a result, African countries have lost one opportunity after another to advance their sovereign national agricultural sectors." Read Elsadig's article here.
ICYMI: Berkeley scholars dissect Trumpism
Watch a replay of a panel discussion earlier this month featuring OBI Director john a. powell and other Berkeley scholars who contributed to a recent volume we published, titled, Trumpism and its Discontents. The panelists discussed the rise and implications of Trumpism in the contexts of racial anxiety, gender inequality, science denial, and answered questions as to what should be done to bolster democracy. Click for a video recording and summary in Berkeley News. Also see coverage of the event in the DailyCal. And check out the Trumpism volume here.
O&B summit less than a month away!
Our 2021 Othering & Belonging Summit on April 21 is quickly approaching! The virtual summit will be a day of connection and big ideas for building a world based on belonging, and a learning and caring space, where we can together share all that we are working towards. The summit is designed as a focused space to gather people across the social change landscape together to engage in remembrance, orientation-setting, and visioning for our shared future. The summit is free and open to the public. Click here to register!
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