20th Annual Ray Warren Symposium on Race and Ethnic Studies
Future Forward
November 8–10, 2023
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RWS 2023 -
Keynote speaker Aya de León, presenting “The Apocalypse Is Not Coming: Afrofuturism vs. the Climate Crisis”Credit: Alina Cruz -
Co-chairs Lucinda Law and Mithila Tambe with members of the Warren family at the opening receptionCredit: Alina Cruz -
Keynote speaker Aya de León reads from one of her booksCredit: Alina Cruz -
Keynote speaker Ingrid LaFleur presenting “Preparing for Afrotopia”Credit: Alina Cruz -
Keynote speaker Ingrid LaFleur with 2023 co-chairs Lucinda Law and Mithila Tambe -
L&C professors Diana Leonard, Joel Martinez, and Mitch Reyes discuss race, ethnicity, and labor in the rise of artificial intelligenceCredit: Alina Cruz -
Cochairs Mithila Tambe and Lucinda Law share remarks at the opening reception celebrating the 20th annual symposiumCredit: Alina Cruz -
An L&C student sharing a personal narrative in the Agnes Flanagan Chapel for Race MonologuesCredit: Suhail Akram -
An L&C student addresses the audience at Race MonologuesCredit: Suhail Akram -
2023 Race Monologues presentersCredit: Suhail Akram -
2023 Race MonologuesCredit: Suhail Akram -
Alina Cruz, Bantfu Dlamini, Azucena Morales Santos and Lucinda Law share their work at “Race Across Disciplinary Boundaries: Student Research Showcase”Credit: Colin Blume -
L&C professors Diana Leonard, Joel Martinez, and Mitch Reyes discuss race, ethnicity, and labor in the rise of artificial intelligenceCredit: Alina Cruz -
JT Flowers of Albina Vision Trust, along with L&C Professor Reiko Hillyer and Alisa Kajikawa of APANO, at “Visions of a Future Portland”Credit: Lucinda Law
Studying our history provides more than an insight into the past. It also helps us navigate the present and shape a future, too. As we celebrate the 20th year of the Ray Warren Symposium on Race and Ethnic Studies, we consider not only how we arrived here but also this vital question: what lies ahead?
This year’s symposium revolves around reimagining society to build a liberating and just future. Inspired by Afrofuturism and BIPOC traditions of speculation and imagination, we explore what it means to integrate BIPOC futurism(s) into the world we create, whether fantastical or real. We hope to generate conversations that invite a reimagining of our futures, free from hegemonic and oppressive realities.
What defines BIPOC futurism as an idea, aesthetic, and framework? How are utopian and/or dystopian futures expressed in literature, art, music, media, and technology? In what ways do urban planning, public policy, and decolonial movements for social justice articulate and manifest these visions of a world to come?
2023-24 student co-chairs:
Lucinda Law ’24 and Mithila Tambe ’25
Lucinda Law BA ’24More about LucindaAt my first symposium, I was so inspired to see other students of color work and coordinate such a transformative event, and I knew following the first keynote speech I wanted to become more involved.
Mithila Tambe BA ’25More about MithilaI applied for the Ray Warren Symposium cochair position because I wanted to give back and contribute to the one initiative, community, and space on campus that has made me feel the most seen and heard in all my time here.
