Conference will look at race in America

"The national dialogue on race initiated by President Clinton is an example of the ability of race to surface, fade, and reemerge in the nation's political consciousness," said Fredrick Harris, assistant professor of political science and conference planner.

Often lacking in discussions about race, Harris believes, are the links that connect historical factors to contemporary forces in American politics.

The conference, "Race in the Development of American Politics and Society: The Origins of Discontent," will feature 14 speakers who will tackle such topics as race and citizenship; black nationalism; race and institutional change in Britain, France and the United States; racial meaning in America; and the development of ethnic communities.

"Race has left its imprint on the framing of the Constitution, the nation's legal doctrines, the strategies of presidents and political parties, social policies, the allocation of government benefits, and the common understandings of what it means to be an American," Harris said.

The historical study of race and politics is an emerging field for political scientists and historians. Harris pointed out that an important goal of the sessions is to expose students to the depth of scholarship on the issue of race.

Besides Harris, University political science professors Stanley Engerman and Gerald Gamm will participate. Speakers from other universities will include: Cary Fraser, Penn State University; Melissa Harris, Duke University; Victoria Hattam, New School for Social Research; Desmond King, Oxford University; Robert Lieberman, Columbia University; Ian Haney Lopez, University of California, Berkeley School of Law; Michele Mitchell, University of Michigan; Darrell Moore, DePaul University; Dean Robinson, University of Massachusetts; Drew Smith, Butler University; and Rogers Smith, Yale University.

The conference is dedicated to the late Sam Nolutshungu, professor of political science and African politics at the University, who died last year. It is sponsored by the Dean of Faculty, the Dean's Office of the College, the Department of Political Science, and the Susan B. Anthony Institute for Gender and Women's Studies. Sessions will be held in the Meliora.

For more information, call x5-4735 or e-mail fchs@troi.cc.rochester.edu.