Arts and culture is a powerful vehicle that can be used to advance racial justice and belonging, however it can also be used to seed distrust, hate, and fear.
All throughout history we’ve seen art, culture, and narrative used as tools to advance and amplify systemic racism. Confederate statues, novels and stories upholding white supremacist values, imagery and popular media depicting negative stereotypes of people of color and immigrants, etc. - these are just a few examples of how arts & culture frequently upholds institutional and systemic racism.
And yet we’ve also seen the reverse: arts & culture as tools to advance racial justice. Think about music, images, and stories that dismantle stereotypes of people of color and uplift the complexity, brilliance, beauty, and thriving of those most impacted by racism. Think about art that elevates the role of institutions and systems in dismantling racism. As they say, culture is the water we swim in and shapes are daily existence and and interactions, and so it’s critical that we actively and intentionally work to transform our culture in a racially just one.
Beyond dismantling racist narratives, images, and stereotypes, arts and culture have an opportunity, and the critical responsibility to help build a shared vision for a racially just, multiracial democratic society where all groups belong and thrive.
Join Race Forward for this timely conversation exploring the role of narrative, arts, and culture in this political moment. Artists and practitioners will discuss how movements for justice have used these tools effectively in the past, and outline a long-term vision that can guide our strategy and move us towards the just, multiracial democracy we’re trying to build.
Webinar attendees will leave with a shared understanding of the role of narrative, arts, and culture in advancing racial justice in our institutions and communities. Speakers will also be sharing case studies, examples and tools for arts, culture, and narrative practitioners seeking to infuse their work with racial equity strategies.
This webinar is open to all narrative, arts, and culture practitioners and leaders, as well as individuals in government and social justice spaces working to advance racial equity.
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