Conversation On Race At Seton Hall Wednesday

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ - The South Orange/Maplewood Community Coalition on Race's annual Conversations on Race event is back at Seton Hall Wednesday and features Dr. Nell Irvin Painter.

Conversations on Race: The Invention of Race & Its Implications is set for 7:30 p.m. at University Hall.

This year’s conversation will be led by Painter, who is professor emerita at Princeton and author of The New York Times bestseller "The History of White People." The book discusses both the invention of race and also the frequent praise of “whiteness” for economic, scientific, and political ends.

According to organizers, Painter is a distinguished and award-winning scholar and writer. A graduate of Harvard University, Painter went on to become the Edwards Professor Emeritus of American History at Princeton University. She is the author of seven books and countless articles relating to the history of the American South.

Organizers said conversations on race often center on people of color and that Painter will give the opportunity to understand "whiteness" and the creation of "blackness" in the context of historical racism and the ideologies of race.
"A belief in the supremacy of white people remains persistent and pernicious in some quarters — an invention, just as race, including the white race, was an invention," Painter said.

After Painter’s talk, attendees will participate in facilitated small group conversations in order to consider the implications of the historical creations of race on the community and the efforts to be truly integrated and inclusive.

The Community Coalition on Race is excited to partner this year with Seton Hall University on this important community conversation.

This event is free and open to the public. Learn more about the South Orange/Maplewood Community Coalition on Race by going to communitycoalitiononrace.org.

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