Creating Race in America

If you have been surprised at the resurgence of white supremacy groups after a seemingly successful Civil Rights movement that even resulted in the election of a black president, this two-part series will help explain the tenacity of these ideas and practices. In an interactive discussion, we will examine a series of laws passed between 1639 and 1705 in colonial Virginia to understand how ideas about race were created and woven into the very fabric of our legal systems. Our discussion will link these long-ago laws with frequent examples of the persistence of white supremacist attitudes and practices today. Handouts will be provided. Presenter Catherine Kerrison is a St. Peter’s parishioner who teaches courses in early American history, race, and gender at Villanova University.