Events By Quarter
Race & Religion
Altering our Commitments: How to Defeat Islamophobia in the United States Moustafa Bayoumi
MCC Theater
In today’s United States, Muslims—who have been here since before the nation’s founding—are routinely and repeatedly considered to be outsiders, dangerous newcomers who must tirelessly and continuously prove their loyalty to the country. Not only does this fiction that American Muslims are new members of American society distort our national history, but it also enables a way of thinking about Islam that reinforces decades of disastrous American foreign policy. In this lecture, Moustafa Bayoumi—author of This Muslim American Life, among other works—will describe the little-known Muslim past of the United States, how the Islamophobic present functions to buttress traditional American power and racism, and the surprising opportunity created by this moment to forge a new, more equitable future. Moustafa Bayoumi is a Professor of English at Brooklyn College, City University of New York (CUNY) and the author of the critically acclaimed How Does It Feel To Be a Problem?: Being Young and Arab in America.
Race and Literature
A Student of History Sharon Hoshida
MCC Meeting Room
A Student of History is a contemporary Los Angeles story of uncrossable social lines, allegiance and betrayal, immeasurable power, and the ways the present is continuously shaped by the past. It explores both the beginnings of Los Angeles and the present-day dynamics of race and class, offering a window into the usually hidden world of high society, and the influence of historic families on current events. Sharon Hoshida has been involved in organizing work within the larger Santa Barbara community since 1970. She was honored by the California Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus in May 2013 for excellence in Public Service. At UCSB, she is a founding member of the Asian American Faculty/Staff Association, a diversity trainer, advisor to various student groups, a planning committee member for First Year Women’s Program, and served on the Chancellor’s Advisory Council on the Status of Women.
Cup of Culture
Say Her Name: The Life and Death of Sandra Bland
MCC Theater
This documentary explores the death of Sandra Bland, a politically active 28-year-old African American who, after being arrested for a traffic violation in a small Texas town, was found hanging in her jail cell three days later. Dashcam footage revealing her arrest went viral, leading to national protests. The film team followed the two-year case beginning shortly after Bland's death, exploring the questions of what really happened to her, and what we may learn from her tragedy. 1h 43m
MCC in I.V
Open Mic and an Evening of Self Expression with Sy Stokes
Biko Garage 6612 Sueno Rd. Isla Vista
The MCC hosts a quarterly open mic for anyone to artistically express themselves using all creative outlets including spoken word, poetry, music, and dance. The MCC welcomes Sy Stokes, who has travelled the nation performing his spoken word poetry that touches on various topics including social justice, student activism, race and racism, education, love, family, and mental health, to act as this quarter’s MC. Sy is currently a second year Ph.D. student in the Urban Education Policy program at USC's Rossier School of Education.
