Activist Group Leads Transformation via Speaker Seminars on Countering Racism
The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music's "Still Waiting" speaker series, launched in January 2021, is a program aimed at exploring and addressing racial justice issues within the arts and music. This series facilitates conversations about how race intersects with artistic expression and the broader music industry, with the goal of promoting equity and inclusion in these fields.
The "Still Waiting" speaker series was created through the work of the School of Music's Anti-Racism Action Committee (ARAC), formed in June 2020. The ARAC is a coalition of faculty, staff, administration, and students working together to examine and address issues related to systemic racism.
Arturo O'Farrill, associate dean for equity, diversity, and inclusion, came up with the name "Still Waiting" as a reference to the long wait for racial justice. The inaugural season of the series had seven talks, with the first being a conversation between O'Farrill and Dr. Cornel West.
Dr. West set the tone for the series by emphasizing the role of arts and culture in encouraging clearer, deeper, and more profound feelings, leading to more courageous and compassionate action. Other presenters included Chloe Swindler, a doctoral student studying trumpet and one of the co-chairs of the ARAC, who stated, "I'm hoping students will see that by getting involved, they can make actionable changes happen."
The issues addressed by the series ranged from relationships with campus police and issues of representation in the school's curricula, to examining the legacy of racism in the orchestral world, as explored by Simon Woods from the League of American Orchestras.
Ayodele Casel, Noelle Scaggs, and Dr. Isrea Butler represented diverse fields within performance, while Dr. Phillip Ewell and Dr. Danielle Brown gave presentations examining issues of race facing academic music studies. Each presenter provided engaging, first-hand insight into their experiences within the industry.
As the School of Music prepares for a new academic year, O'Farrill plans to continue the "Still Waiting" Speaker Series. To view past and future events of the series, please visit the Equity, Diversity & Inclusion website. O'Farrill also plans to bring in speakers who will challenge students and faculty to examine their teaching methods and practices.
Swindler hopes that more students will join the ARAC and engage in the work being led by the committee. She stated, "I'm hoping students will see that by getting involved, they can make actionable changes happen." The "Still Waiting" speaker series is a testament to the school's commitment to fostering dialogue about racial justice and promoting equity and inclusion in the arts and music.
The "Still Waiting" speaker series, facilitated by the School of Music's Anti-Racism Action Committee (ARAC), not only delves into racial justice issues within the arts and music but also serves as a platform for personal growth and education-and-self-development. With engaging, first-hand insights from diverse presenters, the series encourages participants to examine their practices and roles in fostering equity and inclusion in the arts and music, fostering a sense of collective responsibility for personal growth and systemic change.
