Video: MSU Diversity Conference

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STARKVILLE, Miss.(WCBI)–For the next two days on the Mississippi State University Campus, conference goers are taking pathways to diversity. A conference in Bill Foster Ballroom at Colvard Student Union Building, seems to be creating a better understanding of differences among people.

A self proclaimed anti-racist educator Tim Wise is traveling across the nation, hoping what he calls objective dialogue will lead to having a positive impact on race and equality.

“You know 50 years after the voting rights act, we are still struggling with people not having full access to the vote or having it made more difficult for them to vote by folks who apparently would rather them not do so,” said Tim Wise/Diversity Conference Guest.

Wise says a racial divide continues in the U.S. He believes 60 years after Brown versus Board of Education, public schools seem to be more segregated now than in the 1970’s.

“Why is it that in so many ways the progress that has been made which is quite real is non-the-less sort of being chipped away at in a lot of ways and we are talking about it because its still with us,” said Wise.

Many people attending this conference believe the path to acceptance and racial harmony will be a bumpy road.

Tim Wise says although the desired goal is unity……some may consider unity a threat.

“And now what we’re facing right now is within 30 years half the country according to the data will be folks of color. Half will be white and I believe there are some people who feel that this is their country and they are going to by God take it back. Because they have been led to believe that its theirs,” said Wise.

Many colleges and universities want to close an apparent racial and cultural divide, discussing and debating the issues, but Wise says it will take time.

Wise spoke on the topic of “White Privilege” and is author of such books as “White Like Me: Reflections of Race From A Privileged Son”, and “Dear White America: Letter To A New Minority”.