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NEWS
Conference to address racism in politics
HUNTINGTON -- "Does racism play a part in West Virginia politics?"
Scholars, statewide media representatives and community leaders will try to answer that question during a conference hosted by Marshall University called "Race, Politics, and Stereotypes in West Virginia" from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 20, at the Don Morris Room of the Memorial Student Center.
Marshall joined with West Virginia Wesleyan College and West Virginia State University to sponsor the conference in response to the media's portrayal of West Virginia and the role race played in the Democratic primary election in May. Panelists will discuss whether or not race could affect the outcome of West Virginia's presidential vote in November.
Following lunch at noon, Joe Trotter, Department of History chairman at Carnegie Mellon University, will give the keynote address. Trotter is a specialist in U.S. urban, labor and African-American history.
Scholars, community leaders and media representatives will lead discussions in a panel format.
The first panel discussion will begin at 1:30 p.m. and is titled "Does Racism Play a Part in West Virginia Politics? Where, What and Why: An Assessment of Whether and What Forms of Racism Exist in West Virginia."
Panelists include Terri Bauer of the West Virginia ACLU, Dr. Gerald Beller and Professor Denise Giardina of West Virginia State, Jim Haught, editor of The Charleston Gazette, Simon Perry of Marshall, former state Sen. Marie Redd, and Jim White of Concord University.
The second panel will begin at 3 p.m. and will discuss "If Racism is a Part of West Virginia Politics, What Can be Done?" Panelists include Shari Clarke and Keelon Hinton of Marshall, former state Delegate Arley Johnson, and Robert Rupp, professor of history at Wesleyan.
Lunch will be provided for to all registered participants. E-mail Conference Coordinator Marybeth Beller at beller@ marshall.edu to register by Sept. 15.
