Wise’s appearance is co-sponsored by School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management and Fox School of Business; virtual event is free and open to the public
PHILADELPHIA, April 21, 2021 — When it comes to combating racism in America, an important first step is recognizing the role systemic racism has played in the county’s history. That’s part of the message that Tim Wise continually delivers.
Wise is one of the most prominent anti-racist writers and educators in the United States and has spent the past 25 years speaking to audiences in all 50 states, on more than 1,500 college and high school campuses. On Friday, April 30, from 2 to 3 p.m., Wise will share his message with the Temple University community as part of a special presentation.
Diversity Speaks Community Edition: Anti-Racism Action & Commitment featuring Wise is free and open to the public. Register here.
Wise’s talk, which is co-sponsored by the School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management (STHM) Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (ODEI) and the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Council at the Fox School of Business, is the fourth edition of the Diversity Speaks series. The special speaker series is dedicated to the enrichment of STHM students and alumni as it provides them with an opportunity to engage in real conversations with real DEI experts around relevant, timely and critical DEI topics.
“The conversation about anti-racism is a conversation that everyone needs to be having at some level,” said Naima Hall, director of Student Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Programs at STHM. “We look at bringing in outside voices to really provide a variety of different perspectives to our faculty, our staff and our students.”
Wise was an appealing speaker choice because of how long he has been working toward the anti-racism cause. From 1999-2003, he was an advisor to the Fisk University Race Relations Institute in Nashville. He is also the author of nine books, including “Dispatches from the Race War,” “Under the Affluence” and “Dear White America: Letter to a New Minority.” Most recently, he appeared in Chelsea Handler’s Netflix documentary “Hello, Privilege. It’s Me, Chelsea” on white privilege and racism in the United States.
“For the ODEI to be successful, I think it’s important for us to bring in some of the individuals who have laid the foundation for the conversations that are being had now. Tim Wise has been doing this for a substantial amount of time, and that’s important,” said Debra Blair, associate professor and director of ODEI.
The Diversity Speaks series is one of the first initiatives to come out of the ODEI, which was founded in October 2020 in response to the launch of STHM’s first-ever Strategic Plan.
“We’re doing this work because we are all dedicated to change and being changemakers and letting STHM be catalysts for change. It was prioritized within our Strategic Plan, and it was prioritized within our STHM community,” Hall said. “This is a provocative reflection, and these are not easy conversations but they’re important ones. There is a need and a thirst for an understanding of why DEI is important and needed, not just for our industries but within society. We think that this series and ODEI can help with that.
For more information on the Wise’s appearance and the Diversity Speaks series, visit the ODEI website.
About the School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management
Established in 1998, the School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management (STHM) at Temple University has a distinguished tradition preparing leaders in the sport, recreation, tourism and hospitality industries.
Thoroughly committed to providing student-centered education and professional development relevant to today’s thriving sport, tourism and hospitality industry — STHM integrates applicable, real-world experience into the curriculum and classroom through its global network of industry partners and well-connected alumni network. Our award-winning faculty and cutting-edge research institutes engage in pioneering research, informing business practices and providing students with the knowledge and skills to succeed in these fast-growing industries.
The School offers undergraduate degree programs in sport and recreation management and tourism and hospitality management; traditional graduate degree programs in sport business, and hospitality management; and two online graduate degree programs in executive sport business and travel and tourism. STHM also offers a PhD program in business administration with a concentration in tourism and sport.