The Center for “Race,” Culture and Social Justice at Hofstra University

The Racialization of Islam: Islamophobia in the United States by Maryam Qureshi “Islamophobia” is discriminatory behavior with racial, political, and historic underpinnings towards Muslims or “look like Muslims” in the United States. A discriminatory reality created by politically motivated rhetoric and imaginations, Muslims across this nation suffer from racial profiling and hate crimes in increasing numbers in our society (Considine). At the forefront of combatting Islamophobia, Nihad Awad, the Executive Director of Council of American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), published in a 2016 report stating that anti-Muslim racism and Islamophobia has “moved from the fringes of American society to the mainstream” (CAIR 2016, 5). During the 2016 presidential campaign, comments against Muslims were made on national television such as, “Islam hates us,” “[Muslims are] uncorked animals,” and “I would not advocate that we put a Muslim in charge of this nation” (Considine). Undoubtedly, such rh...

Reflections on the American Dream by Tomeka M. Robinson The overarching question posted is: Is the American Dream alive for every race/ethnicity? I stand in firm negation of this question and will provide several reasons why throughout this case. But first, I would like to start with some definitions to ground my thoughts: American Dream (Merriam Webster Dictionary)- the ideal that every US citizen should have an equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative Alive- still in existence, force, or operation Race- social construct based on perceived phenotypical attributes, i.e. no biological basis   Ethnicity- belonging to a particular ethnic affiliation or group While the American Dream is the idea that every citizen SHOULD have equal opportunity, evidence proves that not every citizen DOES have equal opportunity. Contention 1: America’s history of structural, persistent, and infectiou...

Good Morning Hofstra! My name is Dr. Jonathan Lightfoot. I am the Director of the Center for “Race”, Culture and Social Justice. My remarks will be brief as I welcome you all to our second and final public lecture for the spring 2018 semester. Dr. Mustapha Masrour answered our call for faculty summer research grant proposals designed to promote campus inclusion and enhance the scholarship and research profile of the Center. His work explores ways to improve intercultural relationships among domestic and international students and faculty. I look forward to hearing his enlightened perspective on such a timely issue of critical concern at this juncture in American democratic society. But first, I would like to recognize this day, April 4, 2018, as the 50 th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the prime age of 39. His violent death was one of many high profile political murders that occurred during the 1960s, including voting rights advocate Medgar Evers...