The Diversity Monologues: The Beauty of Voice
The Diversity Monologues
The Beauty of Voice
The Unity Multicultural Education Center in collaboration with GSBA brings the Gonzaga community the first ever Diversity Monologues! With a focus on this year’s theme of beauty, students are asked to create a unique monologue addressing their understanding of beauty based on their cultural upbringing and background. The purpose of this event is to foster the development of our students’ voices as well as motivating them to tap into their creative imaginations. The top three finalists who present their monologues will be awarded cash prizes and all Diversity Monologue participants will have the opportunity to get their work published in the Culture Shock journal. This event is scheduled for March 31, 2011 in Jepson Wolff Auditorium at 7PM. Mark your calendars now and do not miss your chance to see our students shine!
Unity Multicultural Education Center:
A Review of Fall 2010 Programming
Identity Politics & Whiteness in Latino/a Culture:
Deconstructing Conditions of Race in ‘Pero Somos Latino/as’
With more than 200 students, faculty and community members packed inside Jepson Wolff Auditorium, social justice educator, Michael Benitez Jr. exposed all to issues on how we engage in identity politics and dominant ideologies. In simpler words, Benitez challenged the community to think of race and race relations in terms of ideologies that cross ethnic, racial, and class lines. “What does it mean to be white when you are not white?” and “what does it mean to be a white person of color?” were questions that he posed to all and that many left engaged to seek multiple truths to. This was a strong program that encouraged all students to think critically about what influences and shapes their identities.
Trick or Treat? Deconstructing Halloween
How do you practice costuming during Halloween? This was a question that Dr. Almeida, Dr. Ciasullo, Dr. Carter-Jackson, and Dr. Maucione deconstructed in front of a jam packed classroom in College Hall. The panelists discussed how people in our society select costumes that are informed by race, ethnicity, class, and gender. What are the implications of dressing up as a person that belongs to a historically marginalized community? This was a key question that many students were able to make more sense of after the panel discussion. Students left the discussion with a better understanding of the necessity to think critically about what we choose to dress up as every year.
La Mission Film Screening
Discussion with film Director, Peter Bratt
The Gonzaga and greater Spokane community came together to view, La Mission, a film that captures family dynamics, race relations, and the difficulty of a gay teenager growing up in a ultra-macho community. Che Rivera (played by Benjamin Bratt) has had to overcome many hardships and struggles, but learning that his son is gay and working towards embracing his son’s sexual identity is the toughest situation he has ever had to face. With discussion facilitated by the film’s director, Peter Bratt, students were able to explore in depth the challenges that our communities face in living in a patriarchal society. This program was headed by GSBA and co-sponsored by Modern Languages, LGBT Resource Center, the Northwest Alliance for Responsible Media, and the Unity Multicultural Education Center.
For information on how to get involved in multicultural and diversity programming, please contact:
Rudy Mondragón
Intercultural Relations Specialist
509-313-4105