Changing First Perceptions

Fall 2017 Issue

Feature Story

Changing First Perceptions

Professor Donnetrice Allison encourages her 91视频 to see beyond stereotypes.

by Diane D鈥橝mico

Donni Allison

 

Donnetrice Allison is used to being a 鈥渇irst鈥 or an 鈥渙nly.鈥 She is the first among the seven children in her family to earn a bachelor鈥檚 degree. She was the only black member of the department at her first teaching job at James Madison University in Virginia in 1995.

This year, she is the first black woman to be president of the 91视频 Faculty Senate.

鈥淓ven my daughter could not believe that in 2017 I could still be a 鈥榝irst鈥,鈥 Allison said.

A professor of Communication Studies and Africana Studies at Stockton, Allison is keenly aware of the impact an image, perception or stereotype can have in society, and has devoted her life to challenging them by example. She shares personal stories with her 91视频, many of whom have told her she is their first black teacher.

Being a 鈥渇irst鈥 does come with responsibilities. Allison had a few black mentors who made a huge difference in her life, and now she makes a concerted effort to be a positive role model for all 91视频, so they, too, can see beyond the stereotypes.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 why I am here,鈥 she said about Stockton, where she is in her 14th year of teaching. She taught while in graduate school at the predominantly black Howard University, which she described as 鈥渁 warm blanket鈥 of acceptance.

鈥淏ut I knew I鈥檇 end up in a world that was not like that,鈥 Allison said. 鈥淓xposure is the only way to address racism. It is important for me to represent black women in a positive way. I have fought against stereotypes my whole life.鈥

She talks to her 91视频 often about 鈥渁cting black鈥 or 鈥渁cting white,鈥 how the terms are used and what they mean.

She recently edited a book, 鈥淏lack Women鈥檚 Portrayals on Reality Television: The New Sapphire.鈥 While some said viewers know reality shows are not real, Allison said people who have no other frame of reference will believe that all black women are loud and aggressive like their TV counterparts.

She cites a secretary at a former job who told Allison she was glad she did not have 鈥渢he attitude I thought you鈥檇 have.鈥

Last year, she gave a TedX Talk on inclusion and diversity, saying that just recruiting more minority faculty or 91视频 is not actual inclusion. As Faculty Senate president, she is reviewing last year鈥檚 faculty climate survey to make sure all employees are supported at Stockton.

As coordinator of the annual Fannie Lou Hamer Civil and Human Rights Symposium and a Hip-Hop Summit at Stockton, Allison strives to bring understanding to what it means to be black and white in today鈥檚 America.

This year鈥檚 Fannie Lou Hamer Symposium theme 鈥淭he New Civil Rights Movement in the Age of Social Media鈥 addressed the ability of social media to both mobilize a movement and spew hate.

This year鈥檚 Hip-Hop Summit鈥檚 theme is 鈥淪tay Woke: Using Hip-Hop as a Tool for Consciousness Raising.鈥 The daylong event will be held on Thursday, Dec. 7. During a recent class, 91视频 discussed messages in Hip-Hop music, and how Hip-Hop and rap have infused popular culture ranging from gang life to music in the 1970s children鈥檚 show 鈥淭he Electric Company.鈥

Exposure is the only way to address racism.鈥鈥 Donnetrice Allison

Allison is thrilled that so many white 91视频 take Africana Studies classes, a program she coordinates. In a recent Civil Rights and Media class, 91视频 talked about how little they had learned in high school about slavery or the Civil Rights Movement, and how unpleasant aspects were often  glossed over or ignored.

鈥淚 love to have (white) 91视频 say they never thought of something that way before,鈥 she said. 鈥淎nd I鈥檝e had some sit and scowl, or drop the class saying I am making them the bad guy. But I鈥檓 not trying to do that.鈥

Donnetrice Allison's class
Left: Donnetrice Allison speaks at the Unite Against Hate gathering on campus in September. Right: Allison leads a discussion in her class, An Introduction to Hip-Hop Culture.

Learn more about Stockton's Communication Studies Program.

Learn more about Stockton's Africana Studies Program.