Keynote Speaker and Black & Jewish Educator
Raven Schwam-Curtis
Speaking Fee: Varies.
Travels From: Available Upon Request
Raven Schwam-Curtis At A Glance:
Raven Schwam-Curtis (shh-wahm) is a full-time content creator, keynote speaker, and recent Northwestern University graduate. Her research explores Afro-Asian solidarities and coalition building as well as Black and Jewish relationality. Bringing the expertise of academia to life in digital spaces allows Raven to serve the communities she loves and cherishes. As Gen Z increasingly turns to digital methods of learning educators need to adapt. And as a member of Gen Z themselves, Raven is up for the challenge!
Raven Schwam-Curtis (shh-wahm) is a graduate student at Northwestern University finishing her master’s degree in Black Studies. Her research explores Afro-Asian solidarities and coalition building as well as Black and Jewish relationality. Before her studies at Northwestern, Raven was an undergraduate student at Cornell University. They graduated in May 2020 summa cum laude with double majors in Feminist, Gender & Sexuality Studies and Asian Studies with a concentration in China and double minors in Inequality Studies and Africana Studies. In addition to her academic endeavors, Raven also works as a content creator and keynote speaker. Bringing the expertise of academia to life in digital spaces allows Raven to serve the communities she loves and cherishes. Her work online unpacks the possibilities of the digital humanities and the exciting ways it allows us to learn. As Gen Z increasingly turns to digital methods of learning educators need to adapt. And as a member of Gen Z themselves, Raven is up for the challenge!
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True Care V.S. Performative Allyship
In the wake of the summer of 2020 calls for true allyship rang louder than ever before. Some corporations answered the call with grace, consideration, and positivity. Other corporations, unfortunately, missed the mark. So what is the difference between true care for the Black community versus performative allyship? And what can corporations do to make sure they’re showing up in loving, authentic, and impactful ways for Black folks who have been historically pushed to the margins? It’s possible to be a true corporate ally.
Learning Outcomes:
•Understand the difference between truly caring for communities on the margins versus engaging in performative allyship
•Unpacking the harmful impact of virtue signaling through examples of what not to do
•Discuss the role of intersectionality in exercising care for community -
Black and Jewish Relationality
What is the historical context of Black and Jewish relationality in the U.S.? How, and WHY, has the nature of that relationship shifted across time and space? During this 45 minute keynote speech, I will explore the historical contours of our relationship with an eye towards collective liberation. Participants will walk away with a better understanding of our shared histories and tools to combat antisemitism and anti-Blackness. We will explore how to create true care, solidarity, and coalition between Black and Jewish communities as we strive towards a better world, together.
Learning Outcomes:
•Develop a consciousness about the immense diversity of the Jewish community
•Explore the historical relationship between Black and Jewish people in the U.S.
•Unpack the ways that both antisemitism and anti-Black racism undergird white supremacy -
Afro-Asian Solidarity and Discontents
How have the Asian (American) and Black communities historically been in solidarity with one another? And what are the myriad ways we have been at odds? These are questions that seldom get addressed in classrooms dedicated to underlining Eurocentric histories. What would it mean to decenter Europe and whiteness and, instead, place communities of color in conversation with one another? This keynote explores precisely this inquiry. And unpacks the ways that anti-Asian racism and anti-Black racism are deeply intertwined modes of oppression. And as such, we cannot get free without one another.
Learning Outcomes:
•Unpack the relationship between anti-Asian racism and anti-Black racism
•Explore the importance of solidarity and intentional coalition building between Black and Asian communities
•Discuss Afro-Asian histories of solidarity that seldom get discussed -
Juneteenth
Why do we celebrate Juneteenth every year? What are its historical origins? And what significance does this monumental holiday have for members of the Black community? In this keynote we’ll explore the historical significance of Juneteenth as well as best practices for corporations and individuals to honor these histories without exploiting Black trauma. Attendees will walk away with a more nuanced understanding of the end of chattel slavery in the United States and a firm grasp on how that truth impacts the lives of Black folks today.
Learning Outcomes:
•Understand the history of Juneteenth
•Grasp the difference between honoring Black history and exploiting it
•Discuss best practices for corporations during Juneteenth
We had the pleasure of having the amazing Raven Schwam-Curtis lead a team learning and development session on antisemitism and diversity in the Jewish community. Raven shared a wealth of information with our team on the history of Jews in Canada and US, the Jewish assimilation into whiteness including "conditional whiteness," the Israel-Palestine conflict and the rich diversity within the Jewish community.— Marcie Hawranik, President of Canadian Equality Consulting
