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October 27, 2021

RESI-Week: Celebrating 30 Years of Hard Work and Research

In honor of its 30th anniversary, the Race and Ethnic Studies Institute is hosting RESI-Week to educate the community on race and ethnicity and showcase the work done by race scholars.

academic building

By Mia Mercer ‘23

Race has always played a significant role in history, especially here at Texas A&M University. In order to learn from the past and address current issues, many racial and ethnic studies scholars as well as the Race and Ethnic Studies Institute (RESI) at Texas A&M are working to foster an environment focused on better understanding the role of race and ethnicity throughout history. 

To commemorate its 30th anniversary, the director and assistants of RESI are hosting a week-long celebration called “RESI-Week.” Taking place on campus from Monday, Nov. 1, to Friday, Nov. 5, each day of RESI-Week is filled with activities and discussions from various racial and ethnic scholars in the hopes of not only educating the Aggieland community, but also creating a stronger community of racial and ethnic scholars at Texas A&M.

“We are excited for the opportunity to share with the larger Texas A&M community who we are and also celebrate the work being done and what we can do to create a better tomorrow,” RESI director Troy Harden said. “Attending and participating in RESI-Week will help the Texas A&M community be aware of contemporary issues involving race and ethnicity and participants will have the exciting opportunity to learn about the work being done by different scholars, the challenges with our own history here at Texas A&M, and how we plan to handle these issues in the future.”

Founded by Gale E. Thomas, RESI is an organization focused on supporting research related to race and ethnicity as well as students, faculty, staff and the community. According to second year Ph.D. RESI student assistant Vanessa Verner, RESI’s goal is to further the understanding of race and ethnic relations at an interdisciplinary scope.

“RESI-Week is a commemoration of the existence of the Race and Ethnic Studies Institute for the last 30 years at Texas A&M,” Verner explained. “This week is to commemorate RESI and to bring in former scholars that have been involved with the institute as well as important research focused on race and ethnicity. This goal is to give people who are not familiar with the institute the opportunity to know what RESI is and to bring some attention to the space in the hopes of enhancing partnerships and informing people it’s available as a resource.”  

Because RESI-Week is free to all and easily accessible, the members of RESI encourage everyone to participate in this celebratory and educational week-long event.

“I hope that people can take away the importance of scholarship around issues regarding race and ethnicity and what they mean for society as well as for the campus,” Harden said. “This week will be an overall celebration of hard work that’s happened over the last 30 years and will encourage us to think about what the next 30 years will look like. I hope RESI-Week will bring forth a sense of community around work and issues that are sometimes difficult for people to deal with, but nevertheless critical and important.”

 

Don’t miss any of the RESI-Week fun! Follow this link to register, and keep the following schedule handy and participate in RESI-Week activities all week long. 

Monday, Nov. 1:

  • TAMU Campus Race and Space Tour: 12-2pm
    • The TAMU Campus Race and Space Tour invites Aggieland on a tour to explore race on Texas A&M’s campus, visiting locations that invite us to explore the complex history of race at Texas A&M, highlighting both its glory and challenges. This is an hour and a half walking tour designed to be interactive, so space is limited. Physical distancing guidelines will be followed. Sign up quickly for a spot!  
  • Race and Science Fiction pop-up Exhibit-Cushing Library: 9am-4:30pm
    • Stop by the Cushing Library all week between the hours of 9-4:30pm to explore science fiction and fantasy authors who write about themes associated with race, ethnicity, and culture! Whether you are a sci-fi fan or exploring new titles from the genre by exciting new and long-time authors, you don’t want to miss this!

Tuesday, Nov. 2:

  • CLLA Center’s and Institute’s and RESI Open House:11am-2pm 
    • Join the College of Liberal Arts Center’s and Institute’s and RESI’s Open House event at Rudder Tower. Find out about RESI and the College’s great Center’s and Institute’s and hear mini-talks from the great scholars affiliated with us!
  • RESI Reception: 2:30pm- 4pm 
    • Join us for a post-Open House reception in our new space! Academic Building, fourth floor, food will be served plus a few surprises! 

Wednesday, Nov. 3:

  • RESI and Sociology Department Colloquium featuring Dr. Allegra Midgette: 12pm-1:30pm 
    • Join RESI and the Department of Sociology for our colloquium talk featuring Dr. Allegra Midgette, ACES Visiting Professor, Department of Psychology and Brain Science at her talk titled “Did you see that too?” Unpacking the Role of Reasoning about and Exposure to Microaggressions. 
  • TAMU Campus Race and Space Tour: 2pm-4pm
    • The TAMU Campus Race and Space Tour invites Aggieland on a tour to explore race on Texas A&M’s campus, visiting locations that invite us to explore the complex history of race at Texas A&M, highlighting both its glory and challenges. This is an hour and a half hour walking tour designed to be interactive, so space is limited, and we will adhere to physical distancing guidelines.
    • RESI Film Showing & Panel Discussion, Coded Bias; 6-9pm Join us and the TAMU Data Justice Group in Rudder Forum at 6pm for a screening of Coded Bias followed by a speaker panel composed of our talented faculty.

 Thursday, Nov. 4:

  • Lunch & Learn Panel: 12-2pm
    • Join us for a virtual discussion on researching race by renowned scholars at our lunch and learn event titled Thinking race and race scholarship: Where have we been, where do we go?. Panelists include Verna Keith, Rogelio Sanez, and Joe Feagin, Our panel moderator is  Steve Garner.
  • Awards Ceremony- Honoring Scholars and Activists doing work on behalf of Race & Ethnic Relations

Friday, Nov. 5:

  • Lunch & Learn Panel: Thinking race and race scholarship: Towards a future of race scholarship– 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm Online
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