Institutional Antiracism & Accountability Project (IARA)

Since the U.S. election, newsfeeds have been filled with alarming — and at times, outright threatening — headlines. With rumors of mass deportations, department shutdowns and nation-wide DEI bans, it's easy to resign to the narrative before fully understanding it. John Palfrey, President of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, urges us to resist this impulse, and not to comply with rules before they exist. “That's how authoritarians win," he emphasized. At the recent #TruthandTransformation panel, Palfrey discussed the philanthropy sector as a key example. In the wake of last year’s SCOTUS decision against affirmative action — a ruling that applies specifically to educational institutions — many philanthropic leaders are already feeling the pressure to conform. This response, the panel agreed, stems from fear rather than necessity, and it's critical to know the difference. Tune in to the full discussion, moderated by Erica Jacqueline Licht, to hear more valuable insights on how to navigate the months leading up to the new administration. ?? Watch the full panel discussion on YouTube: https://lnkd.in/eRNfsZxV ?? Read six key takeaways from the event: https://lnkd.in/eKbvtgUe

Here's Professor Leah Wright Rigueur — explaining how Trump uses whiteness to scapegoat economic & social grievances onto people of color and immigrants. This clip shared by The Emancipator highlights a key moment from our webinar last week. Curious to hear more from Professor Rigueur & Professor Khalil Gibran Muhammad? Check out the full video via YouTube: https://lnkd.in/eRfsjP97

Join us on Tuesday, November 19th to celebrate the Center for Anti-Racism's second anniversary! This special event will feature Dr. Khalil Gibran Muhammad, a renowned professor from Harvard Kennedy School, in conversation with Center Director Timothy Welbeck. Together, they’ll explore key insights on history, race, and public policy. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with powerful voices working to advance anti-racism and social justice.

UPDATE: Please note this event will no longer take place. The event's cancellation is due to a scheduling error on IARA's part, at the end of a busy semester for our community. -------------------- How can leaders leverage their position to create lasting, institutional change? Join us for a book talk with lawyer, author, and antiracism ethicist Fatimah Gilliam exploring her new book ‘Race Rules: What Your Black Friend Won’t Tell You’. This one-on-one discussion with Professor Khalil Gibran Muhammad will examine strategies for individual change that can catalyze institutional transformation —?and vice versa. The event is hosted together with the Harvard Kennedy School Black Alumni Association (HKS BAA) and the Harvard Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation. Event details: ??? December 4 at 12:00-1:15PM ?? Elwood Democracy Lab (in-person only) ??? Free ? Harvard ID required

Two days after the 2024 U.S. presidential election,?Professor Khalil Gibran Muhammad?and?Professor Leah Wright Rigueur hosted an online conversation addressing the current political moment. Examining exit poll data, the two historians worked together to make sense of the election’s outcome, answering pressing questions on many minds: ?? Why did Harris' candidacy, historic as it was, ultimately fall short? ?? What is 'grievance populism', and how does it help explain the racist narratives used in this election? ?? Which communities of color broke historic loyalties this election, and why? ?? With so much at stake, where do we go from here? In case you missed it, this article covers the most salient points from the webinar hosted by the IARA Project & the Harvard Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation. ?? Read the recap: https://lnkd.in/en_r_2-W ?? Watch the full webinar: https://lnkd.in/eRfsjP97

Join us in welcoming Dr. Juhee Kang and Wingel Xue to the IARA Project team! ?? We are thrilled Juhee and Wingel will support the Truth, Reconciliation, Healing, and Transformation (TRHT) Archival Research Project — a landmark project in collaboration with the American Medical Association. The two exceptional researchers approach health equity research from distinct backgrounds: ?? Juhee's doctoral research has focused on healthcare and policy, ranging from the historical institutionalization of psychological testing in Japan, to the political influence of global epidemics on colonial governance and public health. ?? With a background in clinical research and a future in practicing medicine, Wingel is currently a medical student at Harvard Medical School and holds a B.S. in Molecular and Cellular Biology from Johns Hopkins University. Alongside Professor Khalil Gibran Muhammad, ángel Rodríguez, and Dr. Caroline Kao, Juhee and Wingel will conduct vital archival research in order to examine the historical roots of racial disparities in American healthcare. Learn more about the project here: https://lnkd.in/euSHwaH7

?? Reminder — Join us tonight at 6PM ET for a webinar on race, racism, and the 2024 election. Registration is free and open to all: https://lnkd.in/esR6ng38

Reminder: register now to join us online this Thursday at 6:00PM ET. ?? In this webinar, Professor Khalil Gibran Muhammad and Professor Leah Wright Rigueur will discuss exit polls — just two days after the election.

NEXT WEEK | Two days after the presidential election, join us for a timely conversation on race, racism and American democracy. Professors Leah Wright Rigueur and Khalil Gibran Muhammad will unpack exit poll data in order to understand how the weaponization of race and racism threaten U.S. democracy. This event will address a pressing question on many minds: no matter the outcome of the election, will the fundamental elements of U.S. democracy survive? ??? Thursday, November 7 ?? 6:00PM EST ?? Zoom webinar ?? Hosted by the Harvard Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation Learn more and register for free: https://lnkd.in/e4NxSPWZ

In this moment, is U.S. education paving the way for fascism — or is it rising to defend democracy? In this talk, acclaimed author and Yale Professor #JasonStanley and IARA Director Professor?Khalil Gibran Muhammad confronted the dual power of education: its potential for critical inquiry, versus its capacity to spread dangerous ideologies. "If you were to script background?ideological conditions for fascism, this would be it," warned Stanley at the 2024 #TruthandTransformation Conference. In assessing the risk of a fascist regime in the U.S., a key trend Stanley looks for is whether university systems are being described in nationalistic terms. Muhammad raised critical questions about the actions university administrations should be taking to defend democracy, amid mounting attacks against DEI on college campuses and a pivotal U.S. presidential election. Check out the full talk via the link below. The animated conversation features the two professors exploring parallels between historical fascism in Germany in the 1930s and current political trends in the U.S., Russia, India, and Hungary. As a timely example, they explore how university administrations might — whether knowingly or not — already be anticipating a fascist regime by restricting student dissent and protest. Watch via YouTube ?? https://lnkd.in/e9TjtzDM