The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (OVCDEI); the Office of Inclusion and Intercultural Relations (OIIR); and Illinois Human Resources (IHR) present:
Racializing COVID-19:
A 3-Part Series About the Intersections of Race and COVID-19
Thursdays June 11, 18, & 25 from 2-3pm
Register to attend by following this link. Space is limited.
COVID-19 has dominated the national and international discourse for the last six months. Fears of contracting the virus, state-mandated safety precautions, and an economy in peril are issues that are at the fore for most Americans. However, for some Americans, these issues are exacerbated. This multi-part series explores racism, fear, xenophobia, and scapegoating during pandemics and times of wide-spread uncertainty. It will also discuss how structures and practices perpetuate inequities and why already marginalized groups are at greater risk of further marginalization as the COVID-19 fight rages on. The series will bring together a multi-disciplinary group of experts to explore these issues, their origins, and the societal implications if these issues continue unabated.
Session Information
Scapegoating During a Global Pandemic:
Issues of Coronavirus-Fueled Racism, Discrimination, and Harassment in the U.S. and Across the Globe
Thursday, June 11, 2020
2 p.m. – 3 p.m. CST
Zoom Meeting
The coronavirus has brought with it an increase in anti-Asian rhetoric and reported hate crimes targeting Asian/Asian American people and businesses in the U.S. Similarly, Africans in parts of China and Muslims in parts of India have been accused of spreading the virus and subjected to discriminatory practices and violence. This seminar will briefly discuss the history of scapegoating minority groups during periods of unrest and how the coronavirus has fueled a resurgence of targeted racism, xenophobia, and Islamophobia. The seminar will also discuss how language, such as repeated use of “the China virus,” perpetuates misinformation about how the virus spreads.
Is Inequality Making Us Sick?:
COVID-19’s Disproportionate Impact on African American, Latinx, and Indigenous Communities
Thursday, June 18, 2020
2 p.m. – 3 p.m. CST
Zoom Meeting
Early data indicate that members of indigenous, African American, and Latinx communities are disproportionately represented in positive COVID-19 cases and deaths. This session discusses the role of structural inequities in health care, employment, and housing and its impact on minoritized communities in the age of COVID-19.
When Choosing to Wear a Face Covering Is a Lose-Lose Situation:
State Mandates and African Americans’ Fears of Profiling and Policing During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Thursday, June 25, 2020
2 p.m. – 3 p.m. CST
Zoom Meeting
A number of people of color fear that wearing facial coverings could exacerbate racial profiling and place Black and Latinx people in danger. However, with African Americans, Latinx, and Indigenous people contracting COVID-19 at higher rates than other segments of the population, not wearing a facial covering puts them at a greater risk of contracting the virus. This discussion will center around the realities of these fears. It will also look at some of the emerging data in cities like New York that show that African American and Latinx residents are being policed more aggressively and cited more regularly than others for mask and social distancing violations.
Registration
Pre-registration is required. To register follow the REGISTRATION LINK here.
Questions and Accommodations
To request disability-related accommodations for this event or for questions about the content, please contact the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (OVCDEI) at diversity@illinois.edu.
If you have any questions regarding your registration or need to cancel your registration for one or more sessions, please contact Employee Development and Learning at edl@illinois.edu or (217) 333-8342.
