Karson Institute partners with the Reginald F. Lewis Museum and MPT to host series to address policing
“We are in a moment where we must take up and answer the persistent questions around the intersection of American policing with equity and justice,” said Karsonya “Kaye” Wise Whitehead, Ph.D., founding executive director of the Karson Institute for Race, Peace & Social Justice and professor of communication and African American Studies. “For far too long in this country—from the tragic 1955 murder of Emmett Till to the recent police shootings of unarmed Black and Brown people—there is a sense that the legal system is not a place for either fairness or accountability. With the recent verdict in the murder trial of Derek Chauvin and the renewed conversations around either defunding, demilitarizing, or abolishing the police, this is a pivotal moment when the Karson Institute must step into this space to help facilitate these difficult and emotional conversations.”
On Thursday, April 22, 2021, the Karson Institute for Race, Peace & Social Justice hosted a special community-wide COMloquium, “How We Can ReThink Policing, Equity, and Justice in the Black and Brown Communities.” Whitehead led the conversation with civil rights attorney Kobie Flowers, Esq.; Adam Jackson, the CEO of Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle; Rev Scott Adams, assistant director of Loyola University Maryland's Campus Ministry; and Nishaun Battle, Ph.D., associate professor of criminal justice, VSU.
Part Two of the virtual event series will be held on Wednesday, April 28, from 7-8 p.m. The Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture and the Karson Institute will co-host “Living While Black – A Town Hall Discussion,” a virtual town hall to discuss the state of the Black community as it relates to policing, racial, and social justice. This virtual discussion will review the facts, facilitate your questions, and provide next steps to address these issues here in Baltimore and beyond. For more information visit the Lewis Museum website.
On Thursday, May 20, and Thursday, May 27, MPT and the Karson Institute will co-host parts three and four, "Conversations for Change"—two virtual events focusing on important conversations regarding national unrest and police brutality. Additional details about these events can be found on the MPT website.
More about the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture
The Lewis Museum, the largest African American museum in Maryland, has been the authentic voice of Maryland African American history and culture since it opened in 2005. The museum tells that story through its permanent collection, special exhibitions, educational programs, and public events.