Did any of you know that the day after Thanksgiving has been dubbed the "National Day of Listening?" Well neither did we! Started in 2008 by StoryCorps, the day asks us to forget about Black Friday and leftovers, and record an interview with a loved one. We love StoryCorps' mission: "Our mission is provide Americans of all backgrounds and beliefs with the opportunity to record, share, and preserve the stories of our lives." Each year StoryCorps picks a theme and this year it was "Thank  a Teacher." We love this theme, as we here at the ODI recognize the role that educators play in presenting our past history as part of our present. Teachers across the country have adopted Howard Zinn's A People's History of the United States curriculum, and supplemented their textbooks with material from his book. Teachers have the power to be "truth tellers" and we want you to join us in this effort to celebrate their work. By taking a few minutes to interview a favorite teacher, or one with an important story to tell, here is your opportunity to support us in our mission: giving voice to the silenced. 

National Day of Listening was covered by NPR. 
 
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Last week's New Yorker Thanksgiving Cover certainly stirred up some conversation about the very loaded national immigration debate. The Huffington Post article about the cover is a great starting point for conversation about the cover. We here at the ODI are fans of the cover. Through its ironic portrayal of pilgrims desperately crossing the border, it calls into question how we treat immigrants coming into this country today. America has always been a "land of opportunities" and we often take that for granted. So in the spirit of memories of our full bellies from last week's feast, take some time to think about who this cover is giving a voice to. Which story is it telling or trying to tell? And how does this cover and its connotations connect to your life? Happy (belated) Thanksgiving from all of us at ODI. 


Huffington Post Article

 
We want to thank everyone who came out to the VOTP's first event VINCENT WHO? Curtis Chin wowed the crowd and stimulated a lively conversation about his experience creating the documentary and the Asian American community nationally and activism on college campuses. We were very lucky to have him come to campus as look forward to following his work as he continues his activism for the Asian Pacific Americans for Progress (APAforprogress.org) organization, the Democratic political party, and more. The Office of Diversity Initiatives now owns a copy of the documentary. Please feel free to check it out of our library in Landis House. 
 
Welcome to the Voices of The People blog.  This blog will highlight upcoming VOTP events happening at Dickinson College and will be an interactive space to discuss issues pertaining to VOTP's mission. 
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For Vincent Chin, a bachelor party to celebrate his upcoming wedding turned into an ugly confrontation in a Detroit bar, and later into a fatal beating outside of a fast food restaurant.  This 1982 murder ignited a people and awakened an Asian-American civil rights movement.

On Wednesday November 16 at 7 P.M. in the Stern Great Room there will be a viewing of the film Vincent Who?, which documents this powerful story.  This 40 minute documentary will be followed by a discussion with the film's producer, Curtis Chin.  In addition to our program this event is also sponsored by Dickinson's Asian American Alliance.  Our community is being presented with an opportunity discover a deeply important story and the legacy that it leaves behind.

We encourage you to attend.  View the Vincent Who? trailer here