Description

This course explores the work by presenters and attendees to all seven World Conferences on Remedies to Racial and Ethnic Economic Inequality hosted by the Roy Wilkins Center, with a focus on the 5th World Conference in Brazil, the 6th World Conference in South Africa, and the upcoming 7th World Conference in Minneapolis in August 2026. The focus will be on the ways that policy makers, academics, civic leaders, advocates, and activists explore, examine, challenge, reveal, and seek to reduce racial inequalities through public policy. In particular, the goal will be for students to explore how the focus and themes of the World Conferences have changed over time. Students will have the opportunity to read and review papers and presentations from the 5th, 6th, and 7th World Conferences, to study World Conference archival materials, and trace the collaborations and coalitions that have emerged. Special attention will be given to the ongoing collaborations between and among the Brazilian, South African, and Minnesota delegations.

Course will be led by Professor Dr. Samuel L. Myers, Jr. and Sharon Sayles Belton.

 

Outline

This workshop will meet once each week to review and discuss the papers and presentations from the 5th, 6th, and 7th World Conferences. Students will also have access to archival materials from the 1st-4th World Conferences. Student teams will identify common themes over time and track how the coalitions formed during the 5th 1
World Conference contributed to the 6th World Conference and the plans for continued collaboration during the upcoming 7th World Conference.
During the first part of the course, students will utilize the archives and papers from the World Conferences. During the second part of the course, students will meet (virtually and in-person) with conference attendees from the Brazilian, South African, and Minnesota delegations to document the work of the coalitions that have arisen out of the World Conferences.
For the final project of the course student teams will select one of the following options:
a) Prepare and deliver a summary report and presentation on papers for the 7th World Conference
b) Prepare and deliver a summary report and presentation on the work and contributions of one of the conference coalitions
c) Produce a documentary of the previous six conferences.
Students will present their final project at a penultimate plenary session of the 7th World Conference.
Student products are expected to be of publishable quality.

Objectives

Learning Objectives
Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able:
● To understand conceptions of the common good, acknowledge normative and ethical viewpoints, and promote social justice and sustainability
● To communicate and interact productively within diverse and changing cultures and communities
● To understand global interdependencies and their implications for governance, policy-making, and implementation

Key Benefits

Upon successful completion of the course earn digital badge: Certificate in Advanced Studies of Remedies to Racial Inequality which is issued through a Credly account.