Author’s Lectures Inspire Students to Reflect on Their Personal Narrative
By: Satinder Rehal
Staff Writer
Published January 23, 2019
Green River College held their One Book lectures and workshops in the Student Union lead by Dr. C. Nicole Mason on the topics of intersectional feminism and how it connects with sharing narratives.
Mason is the author of Born Bright: A Young Girl’s Journey from Nothing to Something in America, in the book she shares her narrative of being an African American woman who grew up in poverty and writes about what it is like to live a life like hers. She hopes to describe the lives of countless others who are not given a chance to share how it is like to grow up in poverty.
During the three day event, Mason started the first day with a lecture called My (Our) Reality v. A Changing World. She leads a talk on intersectional feminism, the #MeToo movement, men’s behavior, and complicit women. Later, she introduced a powerful discussion with the audience about solidarity and how to continue talking even when conversations get uncomfortable.
On the second day, Dr. C. Nicole Mason shares her own story and has a discussion on how people can create relationships between each other from the power of sharing their stories, which helps to create a narrative and open discussion for understanding and change. Later after the discussion Dr. C Nicole Mason lead a Q&A followed by a meet and greet.
On the last day of the event, Dr. C. Nicole Mason discussed The Power of Your Story: Claiming Your Narrative and Finding Your Voice, on how individuals must claim their personal narratives and use them to develop a connection and help inspire others to do the same. During the two hour session, participants interacted in a workshop to reflect on the idea of what makes them unique.
When talking to one of the audience members about what lead them to listen to the lectures, Yara Bautista, who works with the Office of Diversity Equity and Inclusion (ODEI), took part in the educational series.
Bautista welcomed people on the second day of the event, and according to statistics for attendance, welcomed over 100 audience members. “The students have been giving amazing feedback thus far, so my hope is that more people continue to come to our ODEI diversity series events,” said Bautista. When asked about what she took away from the event, Bautista replied: “Never give up, and make your story be heard. Don’t be scared.”
Anmol Sekhon, an employee from ODEI, attended the event because of his interest in Mason’s book. “I took away the lessons of her resilience during her childhood and resolve to pursue a better life for herself, even if her mother didn’t support her. Despite the differences outside of the classroom, she accomplished the goals she set for herself within the classroom,”said Anmol. He continued to say he was inspired by Mason’s life, and from one person of color to another—he appreciates her confidence to occupy spaces as a person of color in higher education.
Throughout the lectures and workshops, Mason spoke to the staff and students about claiming their identity and encouraged sharing it with others to create an open conversation. By developing a society in which diversity is not just what is seen but what can be understood, individuals may discover solidarity in a world where they may be themselves.
