Hollinger addresses color, culture
Campus Times
October 10, 1997
photo by Laura Ambriz
President Stephen Morgan and Dr. Richard Rose, assistant professor
of religion (seated), observe University of La Verne alumnus Dr. David Hollinger,
professor of history at the University of California at Berkeley, the featured
speaker at the bi-annual Fasnacht Lecture Series in Religion and Society
last Friday. Internationally respected, Dr. Hollinger was chosen a year
in advance by the Fasnacht Lecture Committee, because of his expertise in
multicultural and ethnic issues.
As part of the Fasnacht Lecture Series, Dr. David Hollinger spoke to
the University of La Verne last Friday morning addressing race and culture
issues.
Dr. Hollinger, who is an alumnus of the University, entitled his speech
"The Will to Descend: Color, Culture and Genealogy."
In his lecture, he addressed issues of mixed race, racial issues stemming
from physical appearance, multiculturalism, affirmative action and color
categories.
Explaining the problems associated with color and culture, Dr. Hollinger
touched on the factors that have bound multiculturalism and affirmative
action together. In this, he explained the five cultural groups by which
most people are known -- Caucasian, Hispanic, African American, Native American
and Asian.
Culture and biological decent also entered into Dr. Hollinger's lecture
as he explained that culture is defined by many facotrs including color,
physical appearance and genealogy.
In explaining mixed races, Dr. Hollinger described racial mixtures still
as being an uncomfortable topic in society. He further explained both the
pros and cons of racial mixing. He then determined that both sides fail
in distinguishing color from culture.
According to Dr. John Gingrich, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences,
Dr. Hollinger's lecture was about the shift from identifying with the culture
one is born with to the culture one chooses to be a part of. This is because
of the mixtures of the races, which is making the definition of race and
culture very different.
Dr. Gingrich felt the important question Dr. Hollinger proposed was,
"How do we deal with all of these groups coming together."
Dr. Hollinger received his doctorate from the University of California
at Berkeley, was a professor there and has received many awards including
the Distinguished Teacher Award from Phi Beta Kappa.
The Fasnacht Lecture Series was made in memory of Dr. Harold Fasnacht,
former president of the University.
In his introduction, President Stephen Morgan described the series as
one that would cause people to wrestle with religious issues, making it
an appropriate gesture in Dr. Fasnacht's memory.
