SDCCD: Presentation: Disrupting Racism Through The Lens Of The Arts

Press release from San Diego Community College District:

February 8, 2022

The District Committee for Community, Inclusion, and Diversity will host Dr. Ron McCurdy
from the University of Southern California to present "Disrupting Racism Through the Lens of the Arts" from noon to 1:30 p.m.,
on Friday, February 25, 2022.  Dr. McCurdy is a Professor of Music and the Assistant
Dean of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at USC.

This virtual presentation will be a historical journey illuminating how art has been
used to confront racism in America. Dr. McCurdy will share excerpts of musical examples
demonstrating the dual purpose of the Negro spiritual and how it was used to "praise"
God while revolting against slavery. We examine Billie Holiday's Strange Fruit, Sam
Cooke's A Change Is Gonna Come, Paul Robeson's Ole Man River, Marvin Gaye's What's
Going On, Childish Gambino's This Is America, and many other artistic examples to
demonstrate how the arts helped to define the struggle for freedom and equality among
African Americans.

Dr. McCurdy will also present literary excerpts by several writers, including Langston
Hughes', I Too Sing America, Gil Scott-Heron's, The Revolution Will Not Be Televised,
Claude McKay's If We Must Die, and several other writers.  He will also include examples
of visual artists including images by Romare Bearden and Jacob Lawrence depicting
African American life.

The presentation will be followed by an opportunity for Q&A with Dr. McCurdy.

If you have questions or would like to request accommodations, please contact Jamila
DeCarli at jdecarli@sdccd.edu.

Register on Zoom here.

This press release was produced by San Diego Community College District. The views expressed here are the author’s own.