Five faculty members confronted the altered role of the black intellectual in the post-Sept. 11th era yesterday evening in an interdisciplinary discussion organized by the Woodson Public Policy Forum.
The five faculty members were drawn from separate disciplines in order to tap the broadest possible range of ideas.
"This forum is designed to bring faculty from across the University together to discuss issues that are pertinent to each of their fields," said Corey D. Walker, scholar-in-residence at the Carter G. Woodson Institute, who helped organize the event. "We're looking for the variety of faculty to be as diverse as possible."
During the course of the discussion, the participating faculty often touched on how an altered sense of American identity has redefined the role of blacks in American society.
"It's interesting that we seem to feel that, in the post-Sept. 11th era, American identity has surged," Psychology Prof. Stacey Sinclair said in her opening remarks. Sinclair went on to cite research, which suggested that, for European-Americans, American identity often exacerbates feelings of racism and inequality.
"For European-Americans, the more American you feel, the more conservative you are, the more racist you are, the more you support a social hierarchy and the more you oppose affirmative action," Sinclair said.
Law Prof. Mildred Robinson added to Sinclair's evidence that nationalism can contribute to racism, citing the Supreme Court's decision to support Japanese internment camps during WWII as evidence.
Though there were periods of debate, the participants had no trouble finding common ground to bring each of their fields into play.
"These are issues that traverse those boundaries," Walker said. "We want to bring a disciplinary agenda to the dialogue."
Personal identity as a black American was another issue that received attention during the course of the forum.
"I don't agree that there is one philosophical sense of blackness that all of us should sign on to," said Matthew Holden Jr., professor of government and foreign affairs.
Anthropology Prof. George Mentore disagreed with Holden's position.
"When you go out into the world, blackness hits you in the face," he said.
Since the forum was intended to entertain a variety of ideas and raise important questions rather than find concrete solutions, the participants did not reach any consensus on what the responsibility of black intellectuals is in the post-Sept. 11 world.
A common sentiment, however, was that black intellectuals, more than ever, are needed to address exactly the sorts of issues that were discussed at the forum.
"Black people who are active are not just sitting around and thinking," Darden Prof. Martin Davidson said. "They're acting."
Robinson agreed that blacks should not be passively patriotic, but recognize that racism remains a real concern in America.
"It's not about my country, right or wrong," Robinson said. "It's about my country as I hope it will be"
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