JACKSON, Tenn. — Sept. 19, 2023 — Colorblind, antiracist approaches and mandatory diversity training do not solve racial issues in society but further divide the nation, author and sociologist George Yancey said Sept. 14 as part of the Jones Lecture Series at 51社区.
Yancey is the author of 16 books and 40 journal articles and book chapters. His research focuses specifically on racism and bias against Christians in the United States. He teaches sociology and religious studies at Baylor University.
Jones discussed an approach to solving racial discrimination known as the 鈥渃ontact hypothesis.鈥�
鈥淲hat we have seen is that under the right conditions, interracial contact can alleviate bias,鈥� Yancey said. 鈥淚f we do it in the right way, the more we have contact with each other in a way that鈥檚 egalitarian, that鈥檚 healthy, that鈥檚 cooperative -- we have lower bias.鈥�
Yancey鈥檚 lecture, entitled 鈥淐an Christianity Teach Us Anything Unique About Racism?鈥� focused on how Christians should respond to racism.
鈥淲e live in a racialized society,鈥� Yancey said. 鈥淩ace matters in how we live our lives and our experiences.鈥�
Yancey began his lecture by talking about the different approaches to eliminating racism. He argued that any approach to racism that ignores the depravity of man fails to lead to long-term solutions. However, without addressing racial bias in the United States, the issue will only intensify.
鈥淲e have wounds in our society, and wounds do not go away unless you tend to them. They fester and they get worse,鈥� Yancey said.
Yancey explored the idea of productive conversations and 鈥渕oral suasion鈥� as solutions for racism in the United States. He believes people must have conversations about race with patience and humility if they want to see change.
鈥淢oral suasion, not power, is necessary to promote change,鈥� Yancey said. 鈥淢oral suasion builds community. Power builds compliance.鈥�
Yancey concluded his lecture by advocating for cooperative and collaborative conversations to promote change. He shared how entering racial conversations with humility and a desire to learn from the other person can lead to positive change.
鈥淣o one has all the right answers,鈥� Yancey said. 鈥淲e all get better answers by listening to each other.鈥�
The Jones Lecture Series was founded by H.C. Jones and exists to expose students and the Jackson community to meaningful lectures that challenge their academic thought.