In preparation for the screening of the documentary I’m Not Racist…Am I? at Ohio State University at 5:30pm on Monday, March 23rd, I had a great conversation with musical artist Yaves Ellis, a renaissance man who is also Director of Public Affairs at RadioOne. When he asked how listeners could learn more, I said I would use this space to keep people connected and informed. Please use these resources and share widely. The more people we reach, the more we will all benefit! (To listen to our conversation any time, visit Eye on the Community: I’m Not a Racist! Am I?)
For the most comprehensive information about the documentary, including how to bring the film to your school or organization, visit notracistmovie.com.
For details about Ohio State’s March 23rd event, visit Film Viewing or the Facebook event page. Also note that we are using the hashtag #NotRacistOSU to share information about this event and to generate conversation during and after the screening.
The documentary helps viewers acknowledge the role that whiteness plays in our society, so Yaves asked an important question about this concept. My answer was based on research such as legal scholar Cheryl Harris’s groundbreaking essay “Whiteness as Property” and George Lipsitz’s foundational study The Possessive Investment in Whiteness. However, for shorter discussions of these issues, see “The American Way: Mediocrity, When White, Looks Like Merit,” “Supreme Court Agrees with Michigan Voters: Affirmative Action Must Remain for Whites Only,” “Interpreting American Experience: Which Facts Command Your Attention?” and “What are You Speaking to Power?”
I also spoke in terms of know-your-place aggression. For a discussion of this concept as it relates to incidents on Ohio State’s campus, see “OSU Haters: Exposing Know-Your-Place Aggression.”
I hope that the OSU screening of I’m Not Racist…Am I? adds to ongoing diversity and inclusion efforts throughout Central Ohio. This event was inspired by my seeing the film at The Wellington School in September 2014, and Bexley Public Schools sponsored a screening in February 2015, so we are clearly not alone in working to make our institutions and our nation live up to their claims about valuing equality and justice. Also, sixteen OSU colleges, departments, and programs came together to sponsor this event—with especially strong support from the Office of Diversity and Inclusion—suggesting that many people understand the urgency of this work.
Whatever your position or location in Ohio, please feel free to reach out with information about your own efforts in the comments section and/or via email (mitchell.717@osu.edu). Let’s also use the hashtag #NotRacistOSU long after March 23rd to share resources and continue the conversation. Let’s keep our commitment to being the change we want to see!