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alma mater, Anti-Asian Racism, Invisible, lecture, racism, University of St. Michael's College, University of Toronto

I was so honored and thrilled to be invited to speak at University of St. Michael’s College. It is my alma mater and to be invited back was a huge honor.

It was wonderful to be back on campus and meet old classmates, former professors and new faculty. It was an honor to give a talk on one of my latest book, Invisible. I shared about the long history of Asian immigration and the racism, xenophobia and discrimination which followed. It is so crucial that we all fight systemic racism and work towards building a new kin-dom of God. I closed the lecture with a Theology of Visibility which welcomes all people into the kin-dom of God. I hope you get a chance to read my book, Invisible.

I was thrilled that the University of St. Michael’s College President, Dr. David Sylvester was able to come to welcome and introduce me. I also had a doctoral student, Fiona Li introduce me which was very moving. I was her master’s thesis external examiner, so it was nice to meet her in person.

My talk was followed by a book signing and reception. I had a tremendous time meeting people, signing books and taking pictures.

I was thrilled that my old professor, Dr. Wehn In Ng came to my talk. She mentored me and then we were able to co-teach a course when I was a doctoral student. It was also wonderful to see my WCC friend, Joy Kennedy, Laura Alary’s son, and several professors, Drs. Michelle Voss Roberts, Nestor Medina and Henry Shiu from Emmanuel College.

I am so grateful to Drs. Hilda Koster and Reid Blackmer Locklin for the invitation. They did alot of work to make my stay enjoyable and memorable.

Dr. Grace Ji-Sun Kim Lecture — Invisible: Towards A Theology of Visibility

September 23 @ 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm

“Invisible: Towards A Theology of Visibility.”

Invisibility persists throughout the Asian North American story. On the one hand, xenophobia has long contributed to racism and discrimination toward Asian Americans. On the other hand, terms such as perpetual foreigner and honorific whites have been thrust upon Asian Americans, minimizing their plight with racism, and erasing their experience as racial minorities. Invisibility is not only a racial and cultural issue, but also a profound spiritual issue. The Western church—and its theology—has historically obscured the concerns of Asian North Americans. Their experiences provide a window to understand how other groups and individuals are also made invisible and marginalized. This lecture will explore Invisibility as a theological and spiritual concept and see how we can work towards inclusion, liberation and embrace through a Theology of Visibility.

The in-person lecture by Dr. Kim will be followed by a reception and book signing.

About the Speaker

Dr. Grace Ji-Sun Kim is a Korean-American liberation theologian, who serves as Professor of Theology on the faculty of the Earlham School of Religion in Richmond, Indiana (USA). She is the author and editor of 20 books and is a much sought-after lecturer. Among her most recent publications are Invisible: Theology and the Experience of Asian American Women (2021); Hope in Disarray: Piecing our Lives Together in Faith (2020), and Intersectional Theology: An Introductory Guide, co-authored with Susan Shaw (2018) and Planetary Solidarity: Global Women’s Voices on Gender and Climate Justice, co-edited with Hilda P. Koster (2017).

Dr. Kim regularly writes for Baptist News Global, Sojourners, Faith and Leadership and Wabash Center and have published in TIME, The Huffington Post, Christian Century, US Catholic Magazine and The Nation. She is the host of Madang podcast which is hosted by the Christian Century and an ordained Presbyterian Church (USA) minister.

Born in Korea, Dr. Kim is a graduate from University of St. Michael’s Faculty of Theology (PhD, 2001) and Knox College (MDiv, 1995). For further information on Dr. Kim see https://esr.earlham.edu/faculty-staff/grace-kim/