Swarthmore College

“Race, Racism, and the Liberal Arts” explores and assembles work on underrepresented histories of how Black people, institutions, and ideas have existed outside of, pushed against, or reshaped from within the ideas and institutions of the liberal arts. This project investigates curricular, epistemological, and institutional genealogies that challenge how or whether the term liberal arts has silenced histories and ways of knowing developed by Black people, indigenous people, and people of color.

Recent Events

Abolitionist University Studies Residency
As part of our project on “Race, Racism, and Liberal Arts,” the Aydelotte Foundation hosted Abigail BoggsEli MeyerhoffNick Mitchell, and Zach Schwartz-Weinstein for a week-long residency, beginning April 10, 2023. These scholars are the authors of “Abolitionist University Studies: An Invitation” and while on  campus participated in a keynote conversation on abolitionist university studies, held office hours open to students and faculty, and visited classes and seminars. A full schedule of events that were open to the Swarthmore community and the public related to the visit can be found here.

A Conversation with Tristan Ahtone and Robert Lee, moderated by Adrienne Benally
A webinar conversation on extractive industries and higher education held on October 26, 2022. The recording of the conversation is available here. For more information on “Land Grab Universities” visit www.landgrabu.org.

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