In recent years, issues-related mass incarceration, police violence, racial profiling, sentencing disparities, and criminal justice reform are front page news throughout the country, and a major concern in many communities.
Join the Department of Sociology and Criminology and Honors Program for the Fall Guest Lecture Series on Thursday, Nov. 3, from 6–8 p.m. in the Kotska room. We’ll explore these issues and their impact on South Florida's communities of color.
The evening begins with a screening of Dr. Fernando Perez’s film, “The Crucifixion of Colored Town: Mass Incarceration and the Continued Legacy of Racial Injustice in Black Miami.” This film presents a thought-provoking, sociological analysis of mass incarceration, racial identity and politics and social injustice within the context of Miami's history. The film highlights the impact of one of the most important civil rights issues of our times — mass incarceration — on Miami’s two predominantly black historic communities: Overtown and Liberty City.
Through interviews with local community leaders, activists and academia, the film chronicles the history of Black Miami, highlighting the various forms of institutional discrimination that have affected the development of these communities since the city’s inception, and how these historic forms of institutional oppression are currently manifested within policies of mass criminalization and incarceration.
A panel discussion will follow the film. The three panelists include:
- Brother Lyle Grandison — The Circle of Brotherhood
- Saliha Nelson, vice president — URGENT Inc.
- Captain Adrian Cummings — Miami-Dade Police Department
Introductory remarks will be made by Dr. Fernando Perez and Dr. Luigi Esposito, and the panel will be moderated by Dr. Victor Romano.