(PDF) (DOC) (JPG)February 9, 2012

(MAHWAH, NJ) – Ramapo College, in association with the College’s Living Learning Communities, presents “What is Black? – Deconstructing the Scientific and social Concept of Race” on Wednesday, February 22 from 2:45 to 4:45 p.m. in the H-Wing Auditorium.  The event is funded by the Schomberg Scholars Program and is part of the African American Heritage Month. 

The event features guest speakers Alondra Nelson of Columbia University and Monique Scott of the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.

Nelson is appointed in both the Department of Sociology and the Institute for Research on Women and Gender at Columbia University.  She has written several books concerning the treatment of race in medicine and research.  Her latest book, “The Social Life of DNA,” explores race, ethnicity, ancestry and genetic analysis in various social ventures, including family history projects, reparations politics, economic development schemes and transnational philanthropy. 

Scott is the Assistant Director of Cultural Education in the Education Department and a Research Associate in the Department of Anthropology at the American Museum of Natural History  She is author of the book “Evolution in the Museum: Envisioning African Origins,” which considers Kenyan, British and American perceptions of human evolution exhibitions.

The lectures will address the concept of race from a scientific and social point of view.  The event will also explore humanity’s predisposition of race in genetic testing, genealogy of African Americans, and human evolution.  Nelson will discuss how the geneticization of  race and ethnicity is often the prevailing outcome of DNA testing. Scott will address modern human origins and variation and how human evolution in popular culture communicates racially encoded messages. 

The event is free and open to the public.

For more information about the event, please contact Assistant Professor of Biology Sandra Suarez via email at ssuarez@ramapo.edu.  

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About Ramapo College

Ramapo College of New Jersey is the state’s premier public liberal arts college and is committed to academic excellence through interdisciplinary and experiential learning, and international and intercultural understanding. The comprehensive college is situated among the beautiful Ramapo Mountains, is within commuting distance to New York City, was named one of the 50 Most Beautiful College Campuses in America by CondeNast Traveler, and boasts the best on-campus housing in New Jersey per Niche.com. Established in 1969, Ramapo College offers bachelor’s degrees in the arts, business, data science, humanities, social sciences and the sciences, as well as in professional studies, which include business, education, nursing and social work. In addition, the College offers courses leading to teacher certification at the elementary and secondary levels, and offers graduate programs leading to master’s degrees in Accounting, Applied Mathematics, Business Administration, Contemporary Instructional Design, Computer Science, Creative Music Technology, Data Science, Educational Leadership, Nursing, Social Work and Special Education, as well as a Doctor of Nursing Practice.

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