The presentation is part of the "RESPECT" campaign, a student-led educational outreach initiative coordinated by the Associated Students Diversity Office, and is one of the university's many events recognizing Black History Month. Wise comes to campus as the university makes strides to build a welcoming community that acknowledges and respects the diversity of each student.
According to Emelyn de la Peña, coordinator of the event and director UC San Diego's Women's Center, "Wise's powerful conversation with our students continues our dialogue around social justice and racial equity and examines our society's assumptions about living in a ‘post-racial' environment," de la Peña said. "These conversations are crucial as we prepare students to be in an interdependent, diverse, global society."
Wise is a prominent anti-racist writer and educator who has earned accolades from academics throughout the United States. Best-selling author and professor at Georgetown University Michael Eric Dyson called Wise, "one of the most brilliant, articulate and courageous critics of white privilege in the nation."
He was recently named one of "25 Visionaries Who are Changing Your World" by Utne Reader. In 2001, he received the British Diversity Award for best feature essay on race issues; he has also appeared on hundreds of radio and television programs.
This event is co-sponsored and supported by a number of organizations and departments at UC San Diego, including Associated Students (AS) Diversity Office, the Chancellor's Diversity Office and Chief Diversity Officer, Thurgood Marshall College, Office of the Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs, the Center for Student Involvement and Greek Life, Student Promoted Access Center for Education and Service, the Women's Center, the Cross-Cultural Center, the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) Resource Center, the UC San Diego 50th Anniversary and many committed individuals throughout the university community.