Published January 6 2017
Citywide events honor Martin Luther King, Jr.
Author Robin DiAngelo will appear at City Hall's council chamber on Thursday, Jan. 12, noon-1 p.m., for a communitywide discussion on what it means to be white, often a missing piece in conversations about race.
The presentation is fitting given that Bellevue's population is now evenly split between non-Hispanic whites and people of a minority race or ethnicity, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
DiAngelo, a lecturer at the University of Washington and author of "What Does it Mean to be White?: Developing White Racial Literacy," will explore the way race shapes the lives of white people, explain what makes racism so hard for white people to see and identify common racial patterns that prevent us from moving towards greater racial equity.
"We're excited to have Dr. DiAngelo come to Bellevue for a frank discussion on race," said Mayor John Stokes. "We welcome the opportunity to challenge our assumptions and explore how we as a city can improve access, opportunity and inclusion for our residents, workers and visitors."
The celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. continues on Monday, Jan. 16, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., at Crossroads Mall, 15600 NE Eighth St., with a health fair, live entertainment and guest speakers.
Real-time captioning will be provided at both events. For more information or accommodation needs, please contact Mark Manuel, diversity outreach and engagement coordinator, at mmanuel@bellevuewa.gov or 425-452-7886.
DiAngelo's event is made possible through a partnership between the city, the King County Library System and Bellevue Friends of the Library.
The Crossroads celebration is co-sponsored by the Bellevue alumnae chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., City of Bellevue and Crossroads Bellevue.
In late 2014, the city launched the Diversity Advantage initiative, a plan with 60 recommendations to improve services and experiences for Bellevue's growing -- and increasingly diverse -- population.