Gamma Pi

“Working to Understand White Fragility”: In Preparation for and Reflection on Robin DiAngelo

Date: Feb 25, 2020 at 10:00am to Feb 26, 2020 at 12:00pm
This two-session course is designed as an accompaniment to the March 13th campus visit by Robin DiAngelo, author of “White Fragility”. Maren Oberman, who will offer a pre- and post- session course to prepare for and reflect on DiAngelo’s talk is a clinical assistant professor at the UM School of Education whose work focuses on anti-racist educational leadership and policy. The pre-session on February 25 will focus primarily on DiAngelo’s conceptualization of racism, with the aim being to reconsider our existing ideas and definitions. The dialogue will draw mainly from chapters 1 and 5 of “White Fragility”. In the post-session on March 17, participants will have an opportunity to reflect on DiAngelo’s talk, to pose further questions, and to articulate their own individual commitments to anti-racism. Participants are encouraged to read Peggy McIntosh’s seminal anti-racist article, “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack” prior to the first session. Both sessions will function as interactive dialogues with opportunities for participants to reflect individually, talk in small groups, and engage in large group discussion. Maren Oberman is clinical assistant professor at the University of Michigan School of Education. Oberman’s areas of expertise include: anti-oppressive pedagogy; anti-racism in education; cross-racial communication; understanding identity; leadership growth and development, teaching and teacher policy issues; and coaching, mentoring, and instructional leadership. Her goal is to increase the quality and effectiveness of the U.S. K-12 educator force through the development of anti-racist educational practice, self-awareness and reflection, inquiry-based improvement strategies, and strategic collaboration. Maren earned her doctorate in educational leadership (EdLD) at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, including a residency at the central office in the Los Angeles Unified School District. She has served as a K-12 teacher and instructional coach in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Illinois. Maren holds a BA in African-American Studies from Yale University and a master’s in Library Science from Simmons College. Leadership Event Survey: https://forms.gle/xeNPxeDJumgWdqnQ8