I CAN'T BREATHE: Unmasked Dialogue in the Era of Black Lives Matter-Creating Safe Spaces for Students to Explore Complex Themes

Participants will engage in activities, readings, and discussions stemming from the rebellion and the current movement for social justice that erupted after the murder of George Floyd at the hands of the Minneapolis police. Student Learning Outcomes * Students will engage in discussions on the topic of race and power in the United States as a means to develop their own understanding of the political structures that affect social systems. * Students will develop an action plan for engaging in anti-racist work in their chosen fields. Critical authors included Ibram X. Kendi, Robin DiAngelo, and others whose work focuses on anti-racism, white privilege, and the need for hard conversations around race and social injustice in the United States. Class Norms * Share responsibility for including all voices in the conversation. * Understand that others will come to these discussions with different experiences from yours. * Be open to changing your perspectives based on what you learn from others. * Understand that we are bound to make mistakes in this space, as anyone does when approaching complex tasks or learning new skills.