Understanding racial regimes in U.S. history

Paula C. Austin, assistant professor of history and African American studies at Boston University, will be guest speaker in the first event of the Patriot League Anti-Racism Speaker Series on Wednesday at 7 p.m. Register.

Her talk description: Despite the evolution of our scientific knowledge about “race,” structural racism continues to harm and to be reified in the United States. This session traces the development of racial hierarchies from the colonial period through the 20th century. How, why, and when were racist ideologies, racist “science,” and racially discriminatory policies and practices deployed and ultimately embedded into our foundational institutions? By looking at key moments in history, we examine relations of power and the ways in which ideas were in formation, were mobilized, and/or used to reinforce racial hierarchies based on white supremacy.

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