Fresno State’s Henry Madden Library Diversity Committee will host the traveling exhibition, “Sorting Out Race: Examining Racial Identity and Stereotype in Thrift Store Donations” during normal library hours from Sept. 9 through Oct. 28. The free, public interactive exhibition will be on display in the Pete P. Peters Ellipse Balcony gallery on the third floor (north wing) of the library.

Designed to resemble a thrift-store front, the exhibition examines the relationship of cultural artifacts and racial identity as viewed through the framework of thrift store donations. It poses the question: should objects of stereotypical representation remain circulating in today’s society or should they be “sorted out” of the resale market and discarded?

A catered opening reception will be held at 6 p.m. Sept. 9 with a panel discussion at 7 p.m.

Panel members include Dr. Shane Moreman, professor of communication and intercultural communication; Desmond Davila, director of Hinds Hospice Thrift Stores; Dr. Melanie Hernandez, professor of English with emphasis on comparative African-American and Chicana/o studies; and Kathy Osterberg-Sobelman, owner of Osterberg’s Mercantile Antiques and Collectibles and Osterberg’s Estate Liquidations and Appraisals. The panel moderator will be Dr. Ida Jones, professor of finance and business law.

To RSVP for the opening reception, enter code LIBRACE at www.fresnostate.edu/libraryrsvp.

To extend the exhibition to the campus, the Madden Library will distribute a bibliography of titles addressing various topics raised by the exhibition and encourage their use as curriculum tie-in. The Arne Nixon Center for the Study of Children’s Literature will display two cases of analogous books and objects from its archives.

In collaboration with the exhibition, the President’s Forum on Inclusion, Respect and Equity will host “Self-Reflecting on Our Identities and Stereotypes” at 7 p.m. Sept. 28 and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 29 with Dr. David Pilgrim, vice president for diversity and inclusion at Ferris State University and the director of the Jim Crow Museum. Forum locations and additional information can be found at www.fresnostate.edu/president/pchre.
To bring the campus into healthy conversation about race, the National Coalition Building Institute will conduct a workshop centered on a related controversial question. The interactive workshop will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Oct. 4 in the Fresno State Vintage Room.

“Sorting Out Race: Examining Racial Identity and Stereotype in Thrift Store Donations” was designed and created by the Kauffman Museum at Bethel College in North Newton, Kansas.

The Madden Library Diversity Committee is dedicated to support the University’s mission of promoting and celebrating a culture of diversity, internationalization and inclusion in library services, resources and programs.

For more information, contact Jennifer Crow at 559.278.8116 or jcrow@csufresno.edu. Parking may be restricted. Visit a campus parking kiosk.

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