Just Call Me Lawrence Project

As part of our efforts to support a community that celebrates and promotes the importance of diversity, Fairmont State University, the Center for Multicultural Affairs, and the School of Education, Health and Human Performance have created the “Just Call Me Lawrence” project.       

Why “Just Call Me Lawrence”? The School of Education, Health and Human Performance has established a work group to look at issues of diversity, how we integrate diversity into our academic programs, and how we engage with the community on issues of diversity. During a work group meeting, we discussed how references to people of color have changed over time, and that different people – usually based on their age and generation, used different references for people of color. In an open and honest conversation, the question arose, “What word should we use to refer to people of color?” The answer – from a community member (and a person of color) – said, “Just call me Lawrence.”