Engaging in Dialogue About Race: A Student Facilitator's Perspective

Mariama Sidibe, UW senior and FIUTS Education Programs Assistant

FIUTS’ new virtual Discussion Series on Race and Racism in the U.S. is an opportunity for international students, U.S. students, and other members of the UW and FIUTS communities to talk about racial justice in the United States. Participants learn about the historical context of current events and share personal experiences.

Mariama Sidibe, a student staff member at FIUTS, was one of three student facilitators who led the dialogue in the August/September round of the series. Read on for Mariama’s reflections on the experience and what it means to be a peer facilitator!

The discussion series was split into 5 sessions that all focused on different topics relating to race: Race and Immigration, Race and Assimilation, Race and Class, Race and Protest, and finally Race and Solidarity. Each of these sessions included videos that highlighted specific examples of race in America and was followed by reflection over our own experiences with the topics at hand. During these discussions there was a lot of diversity in responses, as participants represented various nationalities, races, and age groups. Over the course of 5 weeks, we were able to hold space for difficult conversations while respecting each other’s viewpoints and perspectives. 

Mariama Sidibe

The participation of those in the discussion series far exceeded my expectations as a peer facilitator. Although I often engage in race conversations through the community organizing that I am a part of, the Race Discussion Series was the first opportunity I’ve had to educate other people on the topic of race. I loved how much of a hands-on role I was able to have in selecting videos for the series as well as leading discussions within breakout rooms. My favorite part of the weekly meetings was seeing how comfortable participants’ felt with sharing their stories. Oftentimes, conversations surrounding race can be uncomfortable because we fear that we will be judged for our perspectives or what we do not know. The ground rules that were set up for the discussion series fostered an environment where we were focused on educating each other and holding space for everyone to feel heard. 

My favorite sessions were on the topics of assimilation and solidarity. The session on assimilation opened the door for conversations around immigration, racial dynamics within America, and diaspora. As someone who struggles with their national identity, I resonated with participants who described themselves as between cultures. It was also interesting to hear about Americans who reflected on the impacts that race has on one’s feeling of belonging to the states. The session on solidarity was an important session to me because I saw folks stepping back and listening to the people of color and Black people in the room when they expressed how they want to be supported. Framing the conversation around solidarity allowed for us to delve into the topics of mutual aid, privilege, and advocacy. 

For the next Race Discussion Series, we will be going over some new topics relating to race including gender and criminal justice. As a facilitator, I am especially excited to discuss intersectionality and reflect on how it impacts one’s experience of race.  In this upcoming series, some of my goals are to get to know participants’ more on a personal level and promote a welcoming environment for folks who are less comfortable discussing race. I’m also very excited to find videos relating to the next set of topics, and to work with my wonderful co-facilitators.

Mariama Sidibe has been a student staff member at FIUTS since summer 2019. She is currently a senior at UW studying International Studies with a concentration in human rights. She is originally from Guinea, West Africa but has mostly grown up in Seattle.

Thank you to Mariama and our other incredible students facilitators, Christian Love and Wintana Dawit! If you are interested in the October/November discussion series, which begins on October 7, learn more and sign up here.