The Scholars of Black Communication club at Sinclair Community College focuses on establishing dialogue between people of different races and cultures.
“It’s an academic focus group,” Pamela Cone, president of the Scholars of Black Communication club said. “What we are reaching to do is to apply the theories, concepts and principles of communication to one focus group, and it just happens to be the black experience or black community.”
The club started forming in a Communication Theory class that Dr. Robert Leonard taught.
“A particular theory we learned that stood out was the standpoint theory and how you’re only able to see things from your own perspective,” she said. “We were exploring topics that were above an introductory class level and from that, he (Dr. Leonard) got the idea and wanted to form this group — he saw the spark, the beginning of something.”
Cone said that some of the main goals of the group are to establish dialogue from a standpoint of social science.
“We are hoping to engage other students who are probably communication majors, African American Studies or even Sociology majors,” she said. “Because it’s going to be approached from a point of a social science.”
Cone said she believes diversity takes effort, but if people are willing to put forth the effort, they will see results.
“Diversity takes effort, because you could have diversity and still everyone remains separated in their little pockets,” she said. “But if we learn how to effectively communicate, learn how to embrace other cultures, we can realize it can make the world more innovative and diverse.”
The thought and putting forth effort is something Cone said is a long-term goal that the group hopes to achieve. Along with that, the group wants to study other black scholars.
“Black scholars who have studied in the field of communication, whether they’re old, starting with W.E.B Du Bios, who has passed away, to current scholars, even within the area.”
A Sinclair Talks on Oct. 10 will be about the book “Unlikely Allies in the Academy: Women of Color and White Women in Conversation.”
Presenting at the talk will be Dr. Karen Dace, who edited the book and is seen as an expert in the field of diversity, according to Cone.
The book features narratives of 10 women of color and 10 white women who come together to talk about race. “The talk is about interracial relationships, or … interracial relationships that are different from your culture,” Cone said. “The hope is that you will build unlikely relationships, since the talk is about diversity.”
The Sinclair Talks will be in the Library Loggia from 1 to 2 p.m.
For those who want more information or are interested in joining the club, contact Pamela Cone at Pamela.cone@my.sinclair.edu.
“It’s a chance to learn more about yourself personally and an academic challenge,” Cone said. “It’s a chance for personal growth.”