Gender, Race and Money
One of America’s great stories is that anyone can work hard and become wealthy. We love tales of triumph over adversity. However, many people work hard to meet basic needs and feel as though they are somehow personally to blame for their lack of prosperity. The gap between rich and poor in the United States has been widening and this is particularly pronounced in communities of color and for women. During this engaging and interactive lecture, Dark teaches participants about trends — both historical and current day — in the distribution of wealth in America and how those trends affect all Americans. Participants come to understand "the 1%" and how to make connections to work toward a more just economy.
Reviews
In games that asked attendees to visualize steep income inequality, Dark demonstrated how rules governing gender, race and wealth function in the U.S. She showed how people of color are affected by the history of segregated housing in New York City and how women are economically destabilized by being in long-term relationships.
- The Washington Square News
Dark refused to end on a pessimistic note; rather, she gave insight on how to fix these issues. This can be done, Dark said, by encouraging people to educate themselves about these topics, recognizing their privileges and continuing to learn.
- The Carolinian
Read the Carolinian's review of 'Gender, Race and Money' for a thorough description of this lecture.
The Gender, Race and Money Flyer |
Audience Responses
I thought this [Gender, Race and Money] was a fantastic event. What I most appreciated was how you made this all observable for students through activities and participation. In particular, the exercise with the couple, which demonstrated the gendered dynamics surrounding reproductive labor within a heterosexual couple, was fantastic. I also genuinely appreciated the discussion on income inequality, especially when you asked the crowd if people could name a TV show that focuses on a family from that income bracket... I saw that students were really engaged and learning a lot through your use of exercises and participation.
– Dr. Cesar Rodriguez, Cal State San Marcos
Our students absolutely loved Kimberly’s Dark lecture on 'Gender, Race and Money.' Our audience ranged from students who had studied this issue in depth to others who were hearing this information for the first time, and they all came away with a deeper understanding of the implications of race and gender on people’s income and wealth. They particularly appreciated the interactive nature of the presentation. If your university is looking for someone who will go beyond simply explaining graphs and throwing out overwhelming statistics, then consider Dark. She makes the material real and relatable to students, and she keeps them engaged with a series of interactive activities.
– Dr. Melissa Ooten, University of Richmond