2025 RIM Research Forum
January 7 - January 9, 2025
University of Cape Town
South Africa
Description
RIM held its 2025 Research Forum in Cape Town, South Africa. The biennial event brought together scholars, practitioners, and thought leaders from the US, Brazil, Europe, and multiple African countries to advance scholarly and practical understandings of race across diverse markets.
The 2025 Forum explored the theme Past in Present - Pathways to the Future, namely the multifaceted histories and dynamics of how race has influenced, and been influenced by, the functioning of markets.
The Forum's location in Cape Town provided a unique backdrop for examining the intersection of race and the marketplace, given the city's rich history and ethnoracial diversity.
The call for papers and participations (in pdf) is available here
Full Program Available Here
Agenda
The Forum started before attendee arrival with RIM’s Stairway to South Africa, a year-long series of talks to prepare conference attendees and other interested participants with a baseline understanding of racial dynamics in South Africa.
The conference began with a public event that included forum attendees and local community members. The event featured a provocative film about women working in wine vineyards, followed by an esteemed panel that prompted discussions on intersectional issues surrounding workers’ rights, gender inequality, marketing, and the environmental and social costs of the products we consume.
Over the course of the remaining two days, participants engaged in a dialogue around scholarly presentations, poster exhibitions and Artistic presentations. Sessions focused on Mythmaking, Finance, Colorism, Technology, Misinformation, Health Disparities etc.
A Meet the Editors session allowed participants to discuss potential projects with the editorial team of the RIM upcoming special journal issue in the Journal of Historical Research in Marketing.
Comments
“RIM provides a safe, encouraging and professional space for scholars and practitioners who are committed to truth-telling and socioeconomic justice for the historically marginalized. You can find "your people" in the RIM Community!”
“Great experience to meet scholar from the Black Atlantic!”
“It was interesting to hear different perspectives from different countries. The fact that the presentations were based on academic research also appealed to me. the networking was great and generally the whole event was awesome. I will attend again.”
“Kudos! Everything was absolutely wonderful. OUTSTANDING Job planning committee.”
“Inspirational to network with other scholars who also research race and marketplace diversity!”
“This conference is an amazing opportunity for scholars focused on the global issue of race to come together. Learning about the issues in South Africa made being in that space so much more potent.”
“Race in the Marketplace is being recognized for its many contributions to research. This forum creates opportunities for scholars and practitioners to collaborate and learn from each other about some of the most relevant and important topics. It is wonderful to see this Forum welcome in new scholars to a community of support, growth, and learning!”
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