"Disposable Men"

My name is Brian Harkin, and I am the Supervisor of the Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) Program here at the UMD Women's Resource Center. MVP is very excited about an upcoming event, "Disposable Men", on this coming Tuesday, March 3, at 6:30 in the Woodland Commons.

"Disposable Men" is a performance piece incorporating a strong multimedia presentation, and deals with the "disposable" nature of African-American males in both society and the media. The piece was created by a New York City-based artist named James Scruggs. Using excerpts from television and movies. Mr. Scruggs paints a portrait of the way in which the blatant, "old-fashioned" racism characterizing the first half of the 20th century and the pre-civil rights era has transformed into systemic, symbolic racism today.

America sits at a crossroads in history. The past year has seen a number of firsts, including what some see as a sign of the future - an African-American male being elected to the most powerful position in this country, President of the United States. But at the same time, the old establishment still exists - racism, discrimination, and prejudice are intertwined with our culture. In order to ensure we stay on the path we have chosen, a path that will hopefully lead to the end of racism and racial-based conflict, we must come together as a group and decide how to pursue this most important of goals.

The Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) Program exists to educate students about ways they can prevent or diffuse potentially violent situations they encounter in their day-to-day lives. One of the most dangerous types of situation that can arise is one fueled by racial tension or racial stereotypes. As such, I would like to use this event as a way to channel people’s thoughts and feelings on the role race plays in our culture today. While the MVP program is effective at educating college students, the task of educating and reshaping the perceptions and thoughts of the world as a whole are well beyond our scope; in fact, some would say it is an impossible task. However, that does not mean we should not at least attempt to bring about positive change. Thus, the overarching theme for the discussion panel will be, “How can we work to change cultural perceptions of race beyond the college campus?”

I must warn you that some of the material contained in this performance will most certainly be seen as controversial or offensive. However, remember that it is included for a very specific purpose: to encourage the audience to honestly reflect on the topic of racial injustice, and to serve as a call to action for society as a whole.

If you have any questions about this event, please feel free to contact me at the Women's Resource Center at 910.4584. We are all looking forward to this event, and hope that you decide to join us!

~ Brian