A March 27 public symposium —“Islamophobia and Race”— will examine rising discrimination against Muslims in the United States as manifested in attacks on mosques, a travel ban and a growing number of anti-Muslim groups.
The free event will run from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. in Ekstrom Library’s Chao Auditorium.
UofL’s Middle East and Islamic Studies program organized the event with support from the Louisville-based Snowy Owl Foundation and UofL’s Liberal Studies Project, Commonwealth Center for the Humanities and Society and the anthropology department, all in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Scholars with expertise in law, sociology, anthropology and cultural studies will share their views on topics ranging from the increase in anti-Muslim fringe groups to the racialization of religion since 9/11.
Organizers intend for the discussions to appeal to the campus and community.
Three panel discussions, moderated by UofL professors, will focus on:
- “Race, Religion and Power: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives” (9:30 a.m. to noon), moderated by Brad Bowman, history. Speakers will be Sahar Aziz, law, Texas A&M University; Greg Hutcheson, Spanish, UofL; and Junaid Rana, Asian American studies, University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign.
- “Representations, Mobilizations and the Media” (1:30-3:30 p.m.), moderated by Gul Marshall, sociology. Speakers will be Christopher Bail, sociology, Duke University; and Evelyn Alsultany, Arab and Muslim American studies, University of Michigan.
- “Islamophobia and Racism on the Ground” (3:45-5:30 p.m.), moderated by Steven Brooke, political science. Speakers will be Donna Auston, anthropology, Rutgers University; and Louise Cainkar, sociology, Marquette University.
