1. Guillermo Gallegos
Dr. Cappas-Toro
FSEM 100
October 18, 2014
Racial Discrimination
During the past days I attended a cultural event held by Dr. Kevin Quashie regarding African
American culture. Doctor Quashie is a professor of cultural studies at Smith College, he focuses
on African studies. The dynamic of the session was very interesting; he used a lot of images to
discuss the topic to maintain the audience engaged and also to make the public feel more
connected to the discussion in a certain way. He brought to the lecture several anecdotes that
served to the purpose of supporting his main point. The topic of the discussion was more
emphasize on the aspect of humanity and how everyone regarding of their skin color are human
beings. As soon as the lecture begun, I noticed Doctor Quashie was filled with passion about this
topic and how he felt so connected and identified as an African American, he explains how racial
discrimination and racism have marked his life in numerous ways. It was a very emotional
presentation.
At the beginning of the discussion, doctor Quashie, clearly stated that he was going to discuss
the idea of blackness and not black identity which are two completely different things. Dr.
Quashie presented several principles that surround segregation in today’s society and at the same
time how the term “negro” is a social and public term that has shaped racism. He referred to idea
of blackness as a conception of not being human, a violent notion that has given people a

2. different concept of the African American culture. People today look at the African American
culture as resistant and loud, having a wrong impression just because of their color of skin rather
than focusing on the issues and problems that embrace the idea of blackness. This term has also
shaped the way in how they are engaged and how they exist in the modern world.
Dr. Quashie argues that blackness is not a term of individuality, blackness consumes
individuality; Black people are human beings and every human thing is inside of every person
that is black. The public idea of blackness has to find another way into the conversation,
humanity has to prevail and be quieter than resistance could be allowed. Quiet can be seen as a
kind of expressiveness instead of silence. All black life is shaped by terror and drama but most
important, is marked by racialization and this idea defines every black person’s life by profanity
and vulgarity. Dr. Quashie emphasizes that society has to be capable of figuring black people’s
humanity.
Dr. Quashie used an image referred to it as the “The 1968 Olympics black power salute” in order
to demonstrate that the black prophetic tradition is a deep for love justice but also to show the
humanity inside blackness. Both athletes are showing a sign of vulnerability, a human act, a
mechanism of expression only capable within humanness.

3. This event was one of the most eye opening lectures I have attended; it kept me engaged from
the beginning until the end. After this lecture I realized the significance of racialization and how
the idea of blackness has created so many wrong interpretations and views about the African
American culture. I firmly believe that as human beings, our perception of blackness has to
change and be more focus towards humanity; the daily act of being human, is an act of grace.