Symposium to showcase inspiring conversations about gender, race issues

Beginning Monday, William Woods University will host a week-long symposium in Fulton that encourages dialogue on the intersection of racism and sexism and how those two societal dynamics can work together to impair the achievement of the American Dream.

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AP

Sen. Kim Hendren, R-Gravette, who is seeking his party's nomination in the race for U.S. Senate, speaks at a candidate forum held by the Arkansas Farm Bureau in North Little Rock, Ark.

The Equality Matters: Conversations on Gender and Race Symposium will showcase academic speakers, activists, artists and writers from across the Midwest with the hope of inspiring conversation about issues that have caused sometimes violent upheaval in surrounding communities and across the nation.

"Everyone must ask themselves what they can do," said William Woods University Assistant Professor of Spanish Mary Mosley, who funded the event. "I realized there isn't much that I can do about a lot of things, but I can do this."

Mosley said that she remembered being a student at the University of Puget Sound in Washington and hearing speakers who came to her university and inspired the students with their words. She said she wanted to be able to provide that experience to today's students.

"Recognition of the problem is the first step," she said of the "isms," racism, sexism, ageism and the rest. "We hope that this will help people understand how the "isms" work together, how the separate issues are part of the whole."

"It's hard for people to understand that segments of the population do not feel equal," Mosley said.

After discussing her thoughts about WWU hosting a symposium, Mosley said that her colleagues were supportive and willing to get involved to make the event happen.

"We wanted the students to hear about these issues in a responsible way," said Shawn Hull, director of advancement at WWU.

Hull said that since the staging of "Occupy Wall Street," there had been an awareness on campus that an open dialogue was needed and the conversation could have taken many forms. He said it made sense to focus on racism and sexism, especially after Ferguson and similar events.

Both Hull and Mosley stressed, however, that by focusing on just the two issues does not mean that the university isn't aware that there are many other such societal concerns out there. They hope that these dialogues are just the beginning. Mosley said that she has already begun looking for funding for future symposiums.

There are multiple events scheduled throughout the week including Tuesday night's keynote speaker Danielle McGuire, author of "At the Dark End of the Street: Black Women, Rape, and Resistance-A New History of the Civil Rights Movement from Rosa Parks to the Rise of Black Power."

Wednesday brings Steve Hageman's discussion, "From Jackie to Black Lives Matter: Civil Rights, Race, and Sports in America and an interactive theatre program entitled "Difficult Dialogues." A concert by Theo Peoples will close out Wednesday's events.

Thursday, an afternoon panel discussion entitled, "Stories Along the Way" will feature three advocates for equality who will discuss their experiences and social changes they have witnessed throughout their lifetimes.

The symposium will conclude Friday night with the play, "In His Service" by C.A. Neilson, which is a fictionalized account of the real 1855 trial in Callaway County of a young African-American slave named Celia.

Hull said that they decided to take this event off campus to the First Christian Church with the hope of engaging the entire community, especially as it is a local story. A reception for the playwright will be held at the Playhouse Bistro immediately following the production.

University officials encourage the public to attend any and all events as they are free and open to the public. A complete schedule for the symposium is available via the school at www.williamwoods.edu.