*The Institute for Comparative Literature and Society at Columbia University presents in conjunction with our Ambedkar Initiative*
*Understanding Systemic Racism:* *Race, Caste, and Democracy* <https://icls.columbia.edu/events/understanding-systemic-racism/> Date: November 6, 2020 Time: 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm Nico Slate <https://www.cmu.edu/dietrich/history/people/faculty/slate.html> (Carnegie Mellon University) response by Sonali Perera <http://www.hunter.cuny.edu/english/sonali-perera/sonali-perera> (Hunter College) moderated by Anupama Rao, ICLS Associate Director Register for this event here <https://www.eventbrite.com/e/understanding-systemic-racism-with-nico-slate-tickets-123382651833> About the Series: The Institute for Comparative Literature and Society is committed to the goal of social justice through education and critical scholarship. To address the urgent need to combat racism in our times, we introduce a new 2020-2021 conversation/lecture series called "Understanding Systemic Racism" to reflect on the roots of racial discrimination, class oppression, colonial injustice, and other institutionalized oppression and sanction for violence against Black people and peoples of color. We stress the importance of opening the U.S. centered conversations surrounding race and identity toward a broad and comparative reckoning with racism and its violent histories around the world. This webinar series is programmed in conjunction with our Ambedkar Initiative that links Columbia University with the anti-caste legacy of B. R. Ambedkar to reflect on his continued relevance to discussions about social justice, affirmative action, and democratic thinking in a global frame.