Tim Wise, anti-racist activist, to speak at Fairfield University March 23 | Press Releases

Tim Wise, one of the most prominent anti-racist writers and activists in the United States, will speak at Fairfield University on Monday, March 23 at 7 p.m., on "Between Barack and a Hard Place: Challenging Racism, Privilege and Denial in the Age of Obama." His talk takes place in the Egan Chapel of St. Ignatius Loyola with a discussion following in the downstairs McGrath Commons at 8:30. The public is invited to attend.

Wise is the author of "White Like Me: Reflections on Race from a Privileged Son" and "Affirmative Action: Racial Preference in Black and White." Just published last September was his highly anticipated collection of essays, "Speaking Treason Fluently: Anti-Racist Reflections From an Angry White Male" which examines the way in which institutional racism continues to shape the contours of daily life in the United States, and the ways in which white Americans reap enormous privileges from it.

Wise's work on racism has been recognized globally and he has appeared on hundreds of radio and television programs. His anti-apartheid work, done as an undergraduate student at Tulane University, received the acknowledgement and thanks of Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

In addition to his writings, Wise has trained teachers, as well as corporate, government, media and law enforcement officials on methods for uprooting institutional racism. His speaking engagements have taken him to 48 states and more than 400 college campuses. At Fairfield he will spend the day conducting student workshops with students in the Ignatian Residential College, the Fairfield University Student Association (FUSA), Resident Assistants, and students for Diversity and Social Justice.

The event is sponsored by the Humanities Institute in the College of Arts and Sciences; and co-sponsored by the Peace and Justice Studies Program, the Offices of Institutional Diversity Initiatives, the Dean of Students, Residence Life, Dean of Student Development, Mission and Identity, New Student Programs and Student Diversity Programs; the Center for Academic Excellence, Core Integration; Just-Us Residential College, the Departments of Philosophy, Politics and History; The Program in Black Studies and the Dolan School of Business.

For more information, please contact Dr. Kris Sealey (203) 254-4000, ext. 3020.