Speakers

We welcomed Ada Maria Isasi-Diaz and Ewuare Osayande as keynote speakers.

 

Ada Maria Isasi-Diaz is professor of theology and ethics at Drew University. An activist theologian, she has elaborated a theology from the perspective of Latinas in the United States, known mujerista theology. Here childhood in Cuba, life-long concern for the oppressed, love of religious practices, and conversations with women around the world have all shaped her work. Her books include the recent La Lucha [The Struggle] Continues which is a sequel to Mujerista Theology.

Ada Maria spoke about "reconceptualizing difference." The problem is not that people differ, but that we place differences on a hierarchical scale, with white men receiving the greatest privileges and power to the detriment of others. Rather than separating us by defining power structures, difference rightly understood actually provides the space where we can come together: one can't come together with oneself, but only with a different person.

Ada Maria Isasi-Diaz Website

 

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Ewuare Osayande is a poet, political activist and author of several books including Black Anti-Ballistic Missives: Resisting War/Resisting Racism. He is co-founder of POWER (People Organized Working to Eradicate Racism), a grassroots initiative that educates and empowers persons and organizations engaged in the struggle to resist oppression. He has facilitated workshops across the country for a number of religious institutions including the United Methodist, Lutheran and African Methodist Episcopal churches. He currently resides in Philadelphia.

Ewuare gave a bold challenge for white people to give up superiority and for people of color to take control of the work of antiracism. The role of white people in antiracism is to take direction from people of color, because the ubiquity of privilege colors everything that even the most well-meaning white people see. He also discussed various issues with participants in a Q&A session later in the conference and led a workshop for People of Color.

Ewuare Osayande Website