Aggie Conversations: Forum To Talk Openly About Race

A Texas A&M former student is organizing a series of weekly online panel discussions for Aggies, with the goal of increasing understanding. 

Ken Robinson ’93 of Grand Prairie, Texas, conceived the event, and he or Rodney Pennywell ’86 will serve as host for each event. Robinson said the discussions are primarily intended for non-black Aggies who are "seeking to understand the Black Experience in America and Texas A&M."

Each episode of Aggie Conversations is recorded, and the recordings are made available for on-demand viewing:

• Aggie Conversation of Sept. 22, 2020, Lunch Edition features Kevin Johnson ’88, Ray Person, Jr. ’10, and Traci A. Gibson ’14.
• Aggie Conversation of Sept. 22, 2020, Dinner Edition > features Kevin Johnson ’88, Ray Person, Jr. ’10, and Traci A. Gibson ’14.
• Aggie Conversation of Sept. 8, 2020, Lunch Edition featured Dr. Dana Wells ’93, Dr. David K. Butler ’94, and Phillip Polk ’92.
• Aggie Conversation of Sept. 8, 2020, Dinner Edition featured Dr. Dana Wells ’93, Dr. Charles McPherson ’92, and Phillip Polk ’92.
• Aggie Conversation of Sept. 1, 2020, Lunch Edition featured Chibuike "Chibby" Imo ’20, Dr. Felicia Scott ’87, Maco Faniel ’02 and Llewellyn Derry ’88.
• Aggie Conversation of Sept. 1, 2020, Dinner Edition featured Chibuike "Chibby" Imo ’20, Dr. Felicia Scott ’87, Maco Faniel ’02 and Llewellyn Derry ’88.
• Aggie Conversation of Aug. 25, 2020, Lunch Edition featured Kasandra Phillips ’92, Eric Watson ’99, and Danielle Harris ’00. Runtime: 1:50:41
• Aggie Conversation of Aug. 25, 2020, Dinner Edition featured Kasandra Phillips ’92, Eric Watson ’99, and Danielle Harris ’00. Runtime: 2:11:58 
• Aggie Conversation of Aug. 18, 2020, Lunch Edition featured Col. Kenneth Allison ’85, Robin Means Coleman, Adrian Cornelius ’93, and Jeffrey Miller ’98, PhD. Runtime: 2:06:33
• Aggie Conversation of Aug. 18, 2020, Dinner Edition featured Col. Kenneth Allison ’85, Robin Means Coleman, Adrian Cornelius ’93, and Jeffrey Miller ’98, PhD. Runtime: 2:02:28
• Aggie Conversation of Aug. 11, 2020, Lunch Edition featured Kevin Carruthers, Dr. Eli Jones ’82, and Wanda Watson ’96. Runtime: 2:04:35
• Aggie Conversation of Aug. 11, 2020, Dinner Edition featured Kevin Carruthers, Dr. Eli Jones ’82, and Wanda Watson ’96. Runtime: 2:01:29
• Aggie Conversation of Aug. 4, 2020, Lunch Edition featured Paula McCann-Harris ’87, Mark Boudreaux ’91 and Kafi Carter-Slaughter ’94. Runtime: 2:03:06
• Aggie Conversation of Aug. 4, 2020, Dinner Edition featured Paula McCann-Harris ’87, Mark Boudreaux ’91 and Kafi Carter-Slaughter ’94. Runtime: 2:00:35
• Aggie Conversation of July 28, 2020, Lunch Edition featured Shanedria Wagner ’92, Donavan Wheatfall ’96 and Travonte Bodwin '13. Runtime: 2:01:01
• Aggie Conversation of July 28, 2020, Dinner Edition featured Shanedria Wagner ’92, Donavan Wheatfall ’96 and Travonte Bodwin '13. Runtime: 2:04:57
• Aggie Conversation of July 21, 2020, Lunch Edition featuring Paul K. Stafford ’90, Erica Rouse ’95 and Dimitri Caver ’90. Runtime: 2:01:50.
• Aggie Conversation of July 21, 2020, Dinner Edition featuring Paul K. Stafford ’90, Erica Rouse ’95 and Dimitri Caver ’90. Runtime: 2:07:15.
• Aggie Conversation of July 14, 2020, Lunch Edition featuring Rodney Pennywell ’86, Shaquille Gould ‘15, Nyanza Davis Moore ‘94, Shawn Williams ‘96 and Don Scott ‘87. Runtime: 1:48:19.
• Aggie Conversation of July 14, 2020, Dinner Edition featuring Rodney Pennywell ’86, Shaquille Gould ‘15, Nyanza Davis Moore ’94, Shawn Williams ’96 and Don Scott ’87. Runtime: 2:05:49.
• Aggie Conversation of July 7, 2020, Lunch Edition featuring Rodney Pennywell ’86, Kenneth Robinson ’93, Pastor Darron Edwards ’92 and Elizabeth Barnes ’21. Runtime: 2:03:55.
• Aggie Conversation of July 7, 2020, Dinner Edition featuring Rodney Pennywell ’86, Kenneth Robinson ’93, Pastor Darron Edwards ’92 and Elizabeth Barnes ’21. Runtime: 2:08:44.
• Aggie Conversation of June 30, 2020, Lunch Edition featuring Tommy Duncan ’89, Iman Ahmed ’22, Sherman Wright ’92 and Tiana Sanford ’04. Runtime: 2:02:02.
• Aggie Conversation of June 30, 2020, Dinner Edition featuring Tommy Duncan ’89, Iman Ahmed ’22, Sherman Wright ’92 and Tiana Sanford ’04. Runtime: 2:02:26.
• Aggie Conversation of June 23, 2020, Lunch Edition featuring Roland Martin ’92, Jennifer Thibeaux ’96, Josiah Caver ’19 Chibuike Imo ’20. Runtime: 43:23 (note: about 1:15 at the beginning of this episode failed to record).
• Aggie Conversation of June 23, 2020, Dinner Edition featuring Brian Williams ’93, Jennifer Thibeaux ’96, Josiah Caver ’19 Chibuike Imo ’20. Runtime: 2:08:19.

Robinson is a 1994 graduate of Texas A&M with a bachelor’s degree in computer science. He is the founder and CEO of CIS-Computer Innovation Services Inc., a software solutions and consulting organization that is a past Aggie 100 honoree. He is highly involved as an A&M former student, serving as a current board member of The Association of Former Students and as one of the founders of the Black Former Student Network, a chartered constituent network of The Association. He is a past board member of the Greek Former Student Network and has also served as a member of the Texas A&M University Aggie Spirit Development Council and the Texas A&M Department of Computer Science Strategic Development Committee in College of Engineering. He and his wife, Ann-Marie, have six children.

Below is more information on the series as provided by Robinson, including links for registration:

Register in advance for the Lunch Edition:
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJAqcOihqDspG9Et7-11OKM3dxfo4Bb318vL

Register in advance for the Dinner Edition:
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMufuioqDoqGN1JFC-aSWcq5VvY2I5KWezQ

No judging. No critique. Ask tough questions. Get sincere and real answers from a fellow Aggie.

Format:
Moderator
Aggie Participants
Black and White Aggie Guest Speakers

Remember: Do not seek to make a POINT, seek to UNDERSTAND.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Both editions are recurring meetings for every Tuesday.

You are not required to attend all the meetings and registration (for each edition) will only be required once.

*Important* - Rules of Engagement:

1. Forum to talk openly about race and the Black Experience in America and Texas A&M
2. For all Aggies (only); former and current students (max 100 participants)
3. Questions submitted before the call. Send to ken.robinson@aggienetwork.com
4. Two or three questions will be discussed each time.
5. NOTES:
a. The forum is for all Aggies.
b. Any question related to the Black experience historically or today can be asked.
c. The questions can be seeking to understand various scenarios, statements, opinions, etc.
d. For the first hour, all participants will be on mute, except for the moderator and guest speaker. Chat will be available.  In the second hour, ALL participants will be unmuted and encouraged to comment and participate in the discussions.
e. Participants must enable video for the call.
f. The moderator and/or host will have the ability to mute anyone who is not abiding by the guidelines or who is trying to make a point, versus seeking to understand.
g. The meeting will be recorded and available for publishing on any Texas A&M affiliate website or social media outlet.