Summary
The Aspen Institute Symposium on the State of Race in America explores new attitudes, opportunities, and challenges for and about people of color in 21st century America. The 2013 panels included topics on:
The annual event is presented by the Communications and Society Program in association with Comcast Corporation. |
Highlights from the 2013 Symposium on The State of Race. |
| SPEAKERS |
| Charles M. Firestone Executive Director, Aspen Institute Communications and Society Program |
| David L. Cohen Executive Vice President, Comcast Corporation Political Contributor, CNN |
| Paul Taylor Executive Vice-President and Director of Social and Demographic Trends Project, Pew Research Center |
| Taylor Branch Historian and Author, The King Years: Historic Moments in the Civil Rights Movement |
| PANELISTS |
| Abed Awad Attorney, Specialist in Islamic Law |
| Ralph Reed Founder and Chairman, Faith and Freedom Coalition |
| Jasjit Singh Executive Director, Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund |
| Juan Williams Political Analyst, Fox News (MODERATOR) |
| Christina Downs Editor-in-Chief, The Hilltop, Howard University |
| Kristal High Editor-in-Chief, Politic365 |
| Victor Rios Author of Punished: Policing the Lives of Black and Latino Boys |
| Lisa Wong Mayor of Fitchburg, Massachusetts |
| Ray Suarez Senior Correspondent, PBS NewsHour (MODERATOR) |
| Anna Deavere Smith Actress and Playwright |
| Thomas Chatterton Williams Author, Losing My Cool: How a Father’s Love and 15,000 Books Beat Hip-Hop |
| Brian Yang Actor, “Hawaii Five-0” |
| José Díaz-Balart News Anchor, Telemundo (MODERATOR) |
| AGENDA |
| 8:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. | Light Continental Breakfast |
| 9:00 a.m. - 9:10 a.m. | Welcome and Introduction by Charles M. Firestone, Executive Director, Aspen Institute Communications and Society Program |
| 9:10 a.m. - 9:15 a.m. | Remarks by David L. Cohen, Executive Vice President, Comcast Corporation |
| 9:15 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. | Presentation on the Demographics of Race |
| 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. | Panel 1: The Impact of Faith-based Communities on Race Relations |
Churches have played an insurmountable role in race issues since the 1960’s. Religious leaders are now taking platforms on issues like immigration and inequality in the criminal justice system, among others. How citizens view their faith and are practicing it continues to serve as a catalyst for the major changes that are happening in society. What type of involvement should churches have in advancing the cause for improved race relations? |
| 10:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. | Break |
| 10:45 a.m. - 11:45 p.m. | Panel 2: Youth |
Present-day race relations in the United States have had a large impact on the youth and next generation of Americans. How has the national dialogue on race shaped the perspective of America’s youth? Are young men and women of the United States prepared for a society where minorities (people of color) are the majority? |
| 11:45 p.m. - 12:45 p.m. | Panel 3: Media and Popular Culture |
Racial and cultural attitudes are often formed more from entertainment media than the news. Hip-Hop music, movies, YouTube videos and television sitcoms and dramas bring current attitudes to the public consciousness nearly instantaneously. Sports and entertainment icons become role models for all youth whether intentional or not. |
| 12:45 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. | Concluding Presentation and Remarks by Taylor Branch, Historian and Author, The King Years: Historic Moments in the Civil Rights Movement |
