Tracy P. Beard
Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity Training Facilitator
Research
I conducted field research on the ethnic minorities in the Yunnan Province in China. The focus of my research was on the Transmission of the Naxi Culture in the Arts and a comparative study of the Transmission of Minority Cultures (The Naxi & African/African American) in the Arts. My field research was overseen by Dr. Ronnie Littlejohn, Director of Asian Studies at Belmont University.
Currently, my thesis research will concentrate on majority/minority identity as a social and power construct. My research will explore majority/minority relations in the United States (White/African American) and China (Han/Naxi) to demonstrate the effects of identity as a social construct in power relationships within the context of principle issues faced by minority groups (African American in the United States and the Naxi in China) which include: dual identity, civil rights, discrimination and prejudice, language use, educational opportunities, affirmative action, implementation of government policy and laws related to minorities, and interaction with the dominant culture (White in the United States and Han in China).
Below is a brief presentation given to students about Minority Groups, specifically The Naxi in China and African Americans in the United States.
Art Exploration
The photographs below were taken during my trips to China and Chicago in 2015. The artwork photographed in Chicago are from the Chicago Art Insitute's African Art Collection. The artwork in China were taken at various locations including the 798 Art District in Beijing,