facilitated by Sadia Shad with Anastasia Zhuravleva, Serikbolsyn Tastanbek
ARC Co-facilitators: Drs. Meike Wernicke and Harini Rajagopal
In this online meeting of LLED Antiracist Caucuses (IBPOC/Racialized Caucus & White Caucus), we will discuss misidentification of racialized people in White spaces. We will reflect on experiencing and/or witnessing cases of misidentification in predominantly White spaces, their impact on IBPOCs, and the ways we can contribute to fostering more inclusive spaces by addressing these issues (please see discussion questions below).
Stimulus texts:
- Article (Approx. 10 mins read): Why people of color are misidentified so often
- Article (Approx. 10 mins read): Elijah Anderson on the burden of being Black in white spaces | YaleNews
- Video (2:06 mins): Impact vs Intent by Nyanga Uuka
Optional Texts:
- Article (Approx. 5 mins read): What’s the big deal? Here’s why microaggressions matter – Beyond
- Article (Approx. 10 mins read) Handcuffing of retired Black judge mirrors brother’s false imprisonment 46 years ago | CBC News
- Article (Approx. 5 mins read): There’s A Thin Line Between Confusing Two People of the Same Race, and Bigotry | The Swaddle
Discussion Questions
During the caucus discussion, we will focus on the following questions:
- What aspect(s) of the stimulus texts resonated with you the most?
- Have you experienced misidentification as a racialized person or have seen a racialized person being misidentified in academic settings or beyond? If you feel comfortable, please share how you felt. And if/what steps were taken by the responsible person/institution to make up for it?
- How does the repeated misidentification of people of color reflect a broader issue of systemic racism?
- Based on your experience, in what subtle ways predominantly White spaces can position IBPOCs as “outsiders”?
- In what ways can someone’s words or actions still cause harm, even if they meant well? How should microaggressions be addressed in personal and professional settings?
- What specific steps can we take, both individually and institutionally, to foster the recognition of individual differences and create more inclusive spaces for everyone? How can we, as language teachers and/or graduate students, contribute to this effort?