The Race and the American Story Summer Engagement Program reflects our conviction that education should translate into informed action.
The knowledge and understanding that our students pursue in the classroom should have an opportunity to contribute to the transformation of American society. Throughout these unique summer months, as our nation continues its struggle both with Covid and with the ever present specter of systemic racism and injustice, some of our most outstanding students will lead series of Zoom discussions on the treatment of race in American popular culture.
Kiessence Basset
I am Kiessence Bassett I am from Columbia, Missouri and currently studying at the University of Missouri-Columbia. I am a sophomore double-majoring in Political Science and Black Studies with a minor in Constitutional Democracy. For my project this summer, Queer, Black, and Invisible I want to look deep into the intersecting identities of being Queer and Black through a series of modern films.
Queer.Black.Invisible
Andrea Brown
Andrea Brown was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, graduating from Ruskin High School. She just completed her freshman year at the University of Missouri where she is currently studying Political Science and Black Studies. From a young age, Andrea developed an interest in racial inequalities and the history that came along with it.
Race & American Prisons: The Soledad Brother
Cormac Doebbeling
Cormac recently graduated from Arizona State University’s Barrett, Honors College with one major in political science and a second major in civic and economic thought and leadership. In addition to graduating summa cum laude, Cormac received the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences’ Dean’s Medal and the Moeur Award for academic excellence.
Sketches of Race and the American Story
Danyris Dominguez
My name is Danyris Dominguez, and I am from Lowell, Massachusetts. I have recently graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with my bachelor’s in African American Studies and a minor in Education. I have always had a passion for helping others in whatever way I can. It’s just something that makes me feel full in life. After realizing I was robbed of such large portions of knowledge in high school, thanks to my amazing professors in the AfroAm department at UMass, I decided on my path of wanting to become an educator. I plan to hopefully teach Black studies within middle schools and high schools because I truly love working with children and young adults. Also because I am determined to make sure that people finally know the correct version of history. I have worked at my local YMCA for four years now as a group leader and site coordinator. It has made me realize that making a positive impact on the communities I exist in and providing safe spaces for Black and Brown children are two things that are extremely important to me. Overall, I am just working on this path towards making changes in this world. Hopefully starting with our corrupt education systems.
Shades of Black
AJ Foster
My name is Allisa Foster and I am from Saint Louis, MO. I’m a 5th year senior studying Black Studies with double minors in Psychology and Criminal and Juvenile Justice with a Multicultural Certificate at the University of Missouri. I will matriculate to law school in the Fall of 2021 and obtain my Masters in Educational Policy and JD simultaneously.
Get Out: Going B(l)ack to America
Jacqueline Hale
Hi everyone! My name is Jaqui Hale, I recently graduated from UMass Amherst with a degree in Public Health and a Certificate in Spanish and Health. I was a member of the Race and the American Story seminar in my final semester of my undergraduate career, and felt that what we were learning in the course sparked a lot of conversations with myself, but also with fellow classmates, and wanted to continue the conversation this summer.
Feminism and Race in America
Anusha Natarajan
Anusha Natarajan is currently a sophomore at Arizona State University’s honor’s college, majoring in sociology and history with minors in Justice Studies and. School of Civic Economic Thought and Leadership. Passionate for law, Anusha currently serves as a research aide for the Arizona Constitution Project by transcribing minutes for the public to learn more.
The His-Her Story of America
Terrell Redwood
I am a rising Junior at UMass Amherst studying African American Studies and Biology, on a premedical track. I am interested in racial health disparities in health care, as well as how the black lived experience is portrayed in both media and film.
Streaming Black
Leslie Roman
Hi! My name is Leslie Roman and I am a rising Sophomore at UMass Amherst majoring in Political Science. I began my activism work in high school when I joined the Massachusetts based organization Student Immigrant Movement (S.I.M).
Race, Politics, and Women’s Rights
Lauren Tackett
My name is Lauren Tackett and I am going into my junior year at Arizona State University this fall. I have spent my entire life in sunshiney Arizona, growing up in Tucson and moving to Tempe for college. My favorite thing about living in Arizona has to be the beautiful sunsets, especially the ones that we get during the summer months. At ASU, I am working towards a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology, with a minor in Justice Studies as well. The way people interact within society intrigues me, and I am curious to how this interaction coincides with the concepts of justice and injustice in society. I would like to further explore these interactions by becoming a social worker or a counselor, through which I can directly help people within the community.
A Picture is Worth 1,000 Words: How African American Artists Saw American in Times of Chaos and Calm
Upcoming Engagements
Start times are listed for the Eastern timezone. Please adjust according to your location. (e.g., 3:00pm ET | 2:00pm CT | 1:00pm MT | 12:00pm PT/AZ)
There are no upcoming events at this time.
