What is the true cost of diversity, or the lack thereof? For students of color, their experiences in school can be affected by the obstacles of racism, colorism, and classism among other factors. Recently, staff at Spectrum 1 created a safe space for a deeper conversation about education, and heard from real students about their unique experiences. Learn more about the Spectrum conversation below.
Systemic racism has been a topic of conversation throughout 2020, as has the changes in education made due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Spectrum News 1 is hosting a half-hour special looking into the systemic issues Black students face on college campuses and the strategies universities are employing to bring fairness to higher education.
Glass Walls: Black Experiences in Higher Education will air Monday, Dec. 28 at 8 p.m. on Spectrum News 1 and the Spectrum News App.
Spectrum News 1 education reporter Tonisha Johnson will host a conversation with students at Ohio State University, as well as Ohio State professors and researchers and the president of Wilberforce University, a historical black college or university.
Students involved in the conversation include:
- Navo Emmanual – an honor student-athlete who grew up in a mostly white community and attended a school for gifted students
- Brenda Pearl – a native of Cleveland who grew up in a racially diverse neighborhood and attended schools that reflected the diversity of her community
- Mohamed Camara – a native of Guinea, West Africa who moved to the U.S. at a young age and grew up in a predominantly Black neighborhood
Educators and researchers involved include:
The mini-documentary will focus on the largest university in Ohio and will discuss what HBCUs can teach their non-HBCU counterparts regarding inclusion.
The Spectrum News App may be downloaded here.
The event will re-air Jan. 3 at 9 p.m.
