The Boston Globe: Forum discussion examines bias against Islam
An article from the Boston Globe, entitled “BU students are told to ‘speak out against Islamophobia,’”covers a panel discussion featuring Pamela Lightsey, associate dean for community life and lifelong learning and clinical assistant professor of contextual theology and practice at the School of Theology. The panel is organized by Jennifer Wright Knust, associate professor of New Testament and Christian origins at the School of Theology, as well as Kecia Ali, associate professor of religion in the College of Arts & Sciences. The event was also covered by BU Today with more than 100 BU students in attendance.
The forum, held in the Boston University GSU, gave students and professors an opportunity to converse about instances of ‘Islamophobia’ in the wake of the Paris terrorist attacks. Dean Lightsey mentions the connections between racism and religious intolerance through the scope of the presidential campaign to which she says, “I think we’re repeating history, or we’re on the cusp of repeating history.” She also discusses the similarities between racism against of African Americans and bigotry against Muslims, “since many Muslims are people of color.”
The panelists urge students to combat the current discourse about Islam in the United States. To the students, Dean Lightsey says, “This is racism 101 that we’re dealing with here.” She offers solutions in the form of cultural competence as well as being informed and then speaking out about certain issues.
Read more at Boston Globe and BU Today.