By Kassel Pierre-Jean
This past week, the University held a series of lectures and conferences in commemoration of Brown v. Board of Education, the landmark case 50 years ago that recognized “separate but equal” was unconstitutional.
The conference began during common hour yesterday with former teacher Jane Elliott speaking on “The Anatomy of Prejudice.” Elliott created the Blue Eyes, Brown Eyes exercise, which identified how a person can be prejudiced based on someone else’s involuntary physical characteristics.
Dr. Jonathan Becker, one of the conference organizers and an assistant professor in the School of Education and Allied Human Services, attended the lecture.
“It was wonderful to listen to her speak. She was powerful and straightforward and great to listen to,” Becker said.
Athelene Collins, associate director of the Cultural Center, had not planned to stay for the entire lecture, but found that Elliott captured her interest.
“Jane Elliott was very good. The discussion was very interactive,” Collins said. “She mentioned that we are all part of the ‘human’ race. You can’t define race as a color or ethnicity.”
Later that evening, keynote speaker Minnijean Brown Trickey presented her experience as part of being the “Little Rock Nine,” a group of nine young African-American teenagers who helped desegregate Little Rock Central High School in Arkansas.
Dr. Kimberly Scott, also an assistant professor in the School of Education and conference organizer, believes that Brown v. Board of Education is a 50-year-old case that can be applied to Long Islanders and students alike in the 21st century.
“We’ve made numerous gains, but more issues need to be addressed, issues that require change and further discourse,” Scott said.
Becker, whose background includes law, politics, and education, cited that Long Island is the third most segregated suburban area in the country.
“The issues that are raised in the conference are unresolved,” Becker said. “There is overrepresentation of minority students in special education, a disproportionate number of minority students being suspended and expelled, and a low number of students in talented and gifted programs.”
Collins said, “Racism on Long Island is very subtle and silent. It’s not really spoken, it’s not really expected. Down South, you expect those things to happen. You know what the boundaries are and what lines not to cross.”
Scott hopes that the conferences will draw attention to subtle racial issues.
“I hope that [these conferences] will initiate more discourse on issues of segregation, desegregation, and integration,” Scott said. “Hopefully, there will be real conversation that will lead to action.”