Four Shippensburg University professors held a public round table discussion in the Ceddia Union Building (CUB) on Nov. 16, about being black in the U.S.

The professors, Stephanie Jirard, professor of criminal justice; Cheryl Slattery, associate professor of teacher education; Raymond Janifer Sr., professor of English; and Jamonn Campbell, professor of psychology, gave their perspectives on race in America. The Orndorff Theater in the CUB was filled with faculty, local attendees and students who were mainly social work and criminal justice majors.

Jirard discussed her topic, “Youth Activism, 1955-2015,” and gave the audience an essential question at the beginning of her speech: “Are we tired of talking about race or is it necessary?” Jirard said there were many black power movements that increased the incarceration of black people in the 1970s and early 1980s. The Black Lives Matter movement was started by three women. At times, people criticize the term “black lives matter,” instead stating “all lives matter.” Jirard said that itthat is not the point of the movement.

Two SU students gave their opinions on Jirard’s take-home question.

"It is necessary. There is still a need to understand each other," senior Rachel Clichy said. "We need to talk about it in order to eliminate the term racism [and] acknowledge that there is a problem.”

“It is necessary," freshman Ahmad Branham said. "People are unaware of the effect it has on people.”

Slattery discussed her topic, “School-to-Prison Pipeline” and explained how negative school experiences can lead to the likelihood of dropping out. Dropping out of high school may increase the likelihood of criminal activity, which can lead more young people being processed through the juvenile justice system.

Social justice can be achieved through increased funding in education, offering wrap-around services, using conflict mediation and holding parenting classes, Slattery said.

Slattery encouraged the audience to interrupt the pipeline by getting involved, volunteering in schools and reading to children.

Janifer discussed his topic, “The 21st Century: Blackness Still Matters.” Janifer said that black students are graduating from high schools at much lower rates than white students and that blacks are getting expelled from high schools at higher rates than white students.

Campbell discussed his topic “Overt vs. Modern Racism.” Campbell said overt racism means that it is seen easily and visibly. The conscious mind controls the facial expressions but the unconscious mind controls inner thoughts. Any inner thoughts may accidentally slip out during a conversation and have the power to hurt a person’s feelings. Modern racism is when people become “color blind” to other people, which is also a problem because people should be able to talk about race, according to Campbell.

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