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Ivy Tech Community College
Contact: Amanda J. Billings
Phone: (812) 330-6222
E-mail: abillings7@ivytech.edu
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Contributions of African-Americans, Racism Topics
BLOOMINGTON, IN
– Guest speaker Elizabeth Mitchell of Bloomington informed the crowd of the multitude of contributions that African-Americans have made in the history of our country. As she discussed black inventors, she listed a number of inventions that came to be because of African-American ingenuity. “Ice cream, cell phones, traffic lights, air conditioning units, clothes dryers, and peanut butter – they are all part of the African-American contribution.” The forum also concentrated on the history of racism, both past and present. Artifacts from the Jim Crow era were displayed and speaker Jim Mitchell talked about racism being alive and well. “We see it all the time,” said Mr. Mitchell. “You see examples of racism throughout the country and right here in Indiana just about each time you pick up a newspaper or watch the evening news.” Both speakers, as well as Monroe County NAACP President William Vance, Jr. agreed that America had come along way from the Jim Crow era. “We have come through the struggles and the United States is an example for everyone else in the world,” said Elizabeth Mitchell. “The issue we face today is covert racism. It’s hard to describe covert racism to my son. You could see Jim Crow – but today’s racism often goes unseen.” Ivy Tech’s Director of Outreach, Debra Vance, explained that today’s event is part of Ivy Tech’s mission to give a whole education to local students. “It is important that our students discuss topics such as racism, both past and present, so they can leave Ivy Tech and be aware of such dangers in the global environment in which they will work. Part of changing the past is to understand it, and then to learn how to prevent it from ever happening again.” For more information about this program, please contact:
Debra Vance |