CAS CONNECT 2015

PHOTO / THE CENTER FOR AFRICANA STUDIES / A&S 11 “All of a sudden, random people would come up to me and ask, ‘What are you?’,” Wingate says. “People would call me ‘Red,’ referring to my skin color. It’s part of the culture in the South, but I didn’t grow up with that, so I didn’t know.” Interest in her racial identity led Wingate to learn more about African- American history, literature and psychol- ogy. She began exploring multiculturalism from a new perspective. In her class- rooms in Florida, there were a large number of people of color. Fewer such students at OSU made talking about race in her Multicultural Psychology course an emotionally charged topic, and many of her students believed racism didn’t exist anymore. Wingate also noticed students were uncomfortable attending events such as Black Student Orientation because they thought white people wouldn’t be welcome. That wasn’t the case, as her students learned. The same applies to the center’s activities where it’s not just “I hope the center helps to add more of a cultural, inclusive feel ing to the university, and people won’t feel as left out.” — Dr. LaRicka Wingate, director, OSU Center for Africana Studies CONTINUES African or African-American people who are encouraged to attend. Many of the center’s events have featured speak- ers of all ethnicities. Once people attend the events, they will see an inclusive environment. “I want our students to learn about these systems so, if they have a concern, they can speak up,” Wingate says. “I hope the center helps to add more of a cultural, inclusive feeling to the university, and people won’t feel as left out.” The Center for Africana Studies staff meets performers from Cirque Zuma Zuma. OSU Al l ied Arts helped bring the African-style dance troupe to campus