College Council’s (CC) second annual Social Justice Week kicked off this Monday and will feature the 14th annual State of Race speaker, Spelman College President Beverly Daniel Tatum, a race relations scholar.

Tatum’s State of Race speech is titled “Diversity, Democracy and Leadership: The Challenge of the 21st Century” and will cover issues of racial identity and psychology. It will occur in Cox Hall Ballroom on Thursday at 7 p.m.

Tatum also gave the 2008 State of Race speech.

CNN reporter and anchor Soledad O’Brien, Emmy-award winning director Spike Lee and anti-racist activist and author Tim Wise have given speeches at State of Race in past years.

In addition to holding psychology teaching positions at Spelman, Mount Holyoke College (Mass.) and the University of California at Santa Barbara, Tatum has researched black families in white communities, teenage racial identities and race in the classroom, according to the Spelman website.

She is also the author of the book Why Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?: A Psychologist Explains the Development of Racial Identity, which Emory residential advisors read as a part of training, according to CC Vice President of Programming Daniel Lim.

Social Justice Week covers issues of racism, sexual assault and health disparity. The year’s events include Monday’s screening of the documentary “Girl Rising,” a slam poetry showcase and a presentation about health disparity on Tuesday, a social justice themed Wonderful Wednesday, a discussion about Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) life and an alumni networking night for people interested in social justice careers.

Lim said ever since CC expanded to a week of events, it has been focused on “picking a speaker that is affordable” and “bringing in true academics.”

CC also considered bringing Cornel West and Melissa Harris-Perry as potential State of Race speakers, according to Lim.

“My approach to social justice week is to collaborate with student groups on campus,” Lim said.

He noted that the documentary screening brought in the presidents of Feminists in Action, Sexual Assault Peer Advocates and Amnesty International for a panel discussion about the film.

He added that the film was well-received by students.

“We have a strong lineup this week compared to last year,” Lim said.

Social Justice Week was introduced last year as a way of raising awareness about inequalities on campus and society, the Wheel reported last spring.

CC decided to create a week focused around the State of Race speech to expand on these issues.

“The most challenging part for me is to really think critically about what is best for Emory,” Lim said.

Lim said he is most looking forward to participating in the programs as an audience member.

– By Rupsha Basu

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