Can We Talk About How Race Affects Our Classrooms? Fourth Event in an OSI-Baltimore Yearlong Series

What: Fourth in the series "Talking About Race," with Beverly Daniel Tatum, president of Spelman College and author of Can We Talk About Race? And Other Conversations in an Era of School Resegregation, and David Hornbeck, former Philadelphia superintendent of schools and author of Choosing Excellence in Public Schools: Where There's a Will, There's a Way

When: 7 p.m., Monday, November 2

Where: Enoch Pratt Free Library
Wheeler Auditorium
400 Cathedral Street, Baltimore

BALTIMORE—More than 50 years after Brown v. Board of Education, many of the nation's school systems -- including Baltimore's -- remain extremely segregated. Beverly Daniel Tatum, president of Spelman College and David Hornbeck, former Philadelphia superintendent of schools and author of Choosing Excellence in Public Schools: Where There's a Will, There's a Way, will examine the many ways that racial attitudes and segregation affect our nation's classrooms—and why we all should care.

In a panel discussion at the central branch of the Enoch Pratt Free Library, the two educators will talk honestly about such issues as the impact of continued segregation in public schools on classroom achievement and how unexamined racial attitudes can negatively affect minority-student achievement.

The free, open-to-the-public conversation is the fourth event in OSI-Baltimore's year-long series, "Talking About Race," addressing how we talk (or do not talk) about race from different perspectives, and why it is important to discuss the topic openly and intelligently. The event and series are co-sponsored by the Enoch Pratt Free Library.

Since the historic election of the nation's first African-American president, individuals, groups and even officials at the highest levels are engaging the subject of race more often than ever before. But in Baltimore, race is rarely easily discussed.

In April, OSI-Baltimore boldly began that conversation, adding "race" to its agenda of important topics to tackle by sponsoring the series.

"Many of the areas of reform on which we focus have been shaped by race and discrimination, said Diana Morris, director of OSI-Baltimore. "And education, particularly in a city like Baltimore with a majority African-American population, is no different.   We know that children in segregated classrooms often receive fewer resources than those in more diverse settings, and that unchecked attitudes toward race can adversely affect expectations of minority students, and consequently, their achievement. That is why it is so important that we all become skilled and comfortable talking about race, so that we can address the practices and policies that perpetuate inequity."

In addition to being an accomplished administrator, Tatum is widely recognized as a scholar, teacher, race relations expert and leader in higher education. A clinical psychologist by training, Tatum has focused her research on racial identity development, and the role of race in the classroom. The recipient of numerous honorary degrees, Tatum was awarded the prestigious Brock International Prize in Education in 2005 for her innovative leadership in the field. Her best-selling titles include Can We Talk About Race? And Other Conversations in an Era of School Resegregation (2007) and Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? And Other Conversations About Race (1997). She is also the author of Assimilation Blues: Black Families in a White Community (1987).

David Hornbeck was Philadelphia's superintendent of schools for six years, a long term for any urban school system head. During his tenure, he was vocal about how decisions about resource allocations corresponding to students' race and class led to inequitable treatment and unequal results..

In his book, Choosing Excellence in Public Schools: Where There's a Will, There's a Way (2009), Hornbeck outlines the role of expectations in the education of children and the components of a successful education system.

The evening discussion, on November 2nd, will be held at the central branch of the Enoch Pratt Free Library, the co-sponsor of the series.

The next installment in the series will take place on December 1. Entitled "How Does White America Talk About Race?" the event explores why race still is such an uncomfortable subject to talk about in the United States. At the 7 p.m. event, Rich Benjamin, author of Searching for Whitopia: An Improbable Journey to the Heart of White America, and Tim Wise, author of Between Barack & A Hard Place: Racism & White Denial in the Age of Obama, will discuss white America's struggle to talk about race.

In addition, as part of the year-long series, WYPR-FM's Maryland Morning and The Stoop Storytelling Series are collecting personal stories about race. They're looking for events or moments in life that taught something about race, laid a foundation for how race factors in life, or caused a shift in understanding of race in major or subtle ways. The idea is to break a hugely complicated subject into life-size pieces by sharing stories of how race is learned and lived in our community.

Individuals are encouraged to submit their personal stories about enlightening, moving or thought-changing encounters with race to storiesaboutrace.org.

###

OSI-Baltimore was started in 1998 by philanthropist George Soros as a laboratory to better understand and solve the most intractable problems facing urban America. OSI-Baltimore is a private operating foundation that focuses its work exclusively on the root causes of three intertwined problems - drug addiction, an overreliance on incarceration and the obstacles that keep youth from succeeding inside and outside of the classroom. OSI-Baltimore also sponsors the Baltimore Community Fellows, now over 100 members strong, who work to create opportunity and bring justice to people in the city's most underserved neighborhoods.