A grey-haired, White woman, Jane Elliott might take you off guard. But your disbelief in her ability to really deliver on prejudice plays into her nearly 50-year history of exposing all kinds of prejudice, be it racism, sexism, ageism and many other isms.
Elliott is best known for the “Blue Eyes/Brown Eyes” experiences, she initially conducted on her 3rd grade students the day after Martin Luther King was assassinated. The anatomy of prejudice that was quickly exposed when she divided the two groups based on eye color and gave one group unfounded privileges based solely on their eye color, has helped enlighten groups and individuals across the world.
Elliott will exposes prejudice and bigotry for what it is, an irrational class system based upon purely arbitrary factors at two Kansas City events Black History events.
On Friday evening, Feb. 17, Elliott will speak at a free and informative lecture themed, “Anatomy of Prejudice.” Elliott will explore with the audience the problems of racism, sexism, ageism, homophobia, and ethnocentrism and the responsibility shared by all of us for illuminating them in and eliminating them from ourselves and our environment. This lecture is open to the public and will be given at Memorial Hall, 600 N. 7th St, 6 – 8 p.m.
On Sat., Feb. 18, Elliott will deliver the keynote presentation “Power, Perception, and Prejudice” at the 25th Annual Unified Government Black History Scholarship Banquet. The banquet begins at 6 p.m. at the Jack Reardon Convention Center, 500 Minnesota Ave. Tickets are $50 per person. Among the highlights of the program will be the presentation of scholarships to local college students and award presentations to individuals who have made an impact of our community and to a local entrepreneur. This year’s business award recipient is Wilson’s Pizza.
The Banquet will be hosted by Shay Moore, Hot 103 Jamz host of The Morning Grind with Shay and Shyne. The highlight of the program will be the presentation of scholarships to local college students and award presentations to local minority business and individuals who have made an impact of our community. The annual event is sponsored by the Unified Government as part of ongoing efforts to celebrate the county’s diverse cultural heritage through community events.
This is the 25th year for this event sponsored by the Unified Government’ as part of their ongoing efforts to celebrate the county’s diverse cultural heritage through community events. This year, as part of this celebratory milestone, the Black History Committee partnered with the Kansas City, Kansas Public Library and Kansas City Kansas Community College to make Elliott a part of the program.
To purchase tickets to the banquet contact Deasiray Norris, Black History Committee Chair, at 913-573-5110 or blackhistorycommittee@hotmail.com.