In Recognition of Black History Month, SC4’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is offering the following event for students, faculty, staff and community.
SC4’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion along with the SC4 Civic Democratic Learning Committee are sponsoring a special event to discuss A Continuing Series of Small Indignities, a film by Michael Pfaendtner. The event will take place at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 25, via Zoom.
Rodney Harris retired after nearly four decades in retail management. An African American growing up in mostly white Macomb County in the 1960s, he tells all to former classmate and filmmaker Michael Pfaendtner in a short documentary film about one man’s challenges because of his race over the past half century in Southeastern Michigan. Harris often hears, “Things are a lot better now, don’t you think?” While he’s found success professionally and his children are doing well, it’s his answer that many want to hear.
Harris will be participating in a chat discussion for student, staff and community moderated by SC4 professor of criminal justice Jim Jones that shares Rodney’s personal story dealing with a history of racism.
The film will be shown during the event, but you may watch it prior to the event on Vimeo.
Rodney and Michael discuss how the film came about in this clip from Detroit Public Television.
Dofonso Fernando, military veteran, SC4 Alumnus, and current Ferris State University student will also discuss his experiences and moving into the future. Fernando was born in Namibia and he moved to America with his family when he was just an infant. Raised in the southern part of Nevada, he called Las Vegas home and spent majority of his life there. He attended the University of Nevada Las Vegas, but after two years of being a student, he decided that a college education was not for him and went into the work force.
He worked in various casinos and the real estate industry. Once the 2008 recession happened, he knew that real estate and the nightlife industry were not suitable career paths for him. In 2010, he decided to join the United States Air Force as an Aerospace Medical Technician and purse a military career. His military career ended after various military assignments and almost seven years of honorable service.
After serving in the military, Dofonso and his wife Katherine decided to move their family back to Katherine’s hometown in the St. Clair County area. With Dofonso’s VA scholarship, he decided to take another try at a college education and started at SC4. He knew that the only way he could obtain a successful career was through pursuing his educational goals.
He graduated in 2019 with an Associate in General Education with Cum Laude honors. He immediately transferred to the Ferris State University Criminal Justice program that is located at SC4 and is finishing his final semester. He will be graduating this summer from Ferris State University and pursuing a career in corrections or continuing his educational goals.
To reserve your spot and receive login information, email dei@sc4.edu.
