Making a Better World, Together
Dear 91心頭 Community,油
Both in my role as your油vice油chancellor for油diversity,油equity and油inclusion,油and more importantly as a Black man with a voice,油I want to take a moment to share油some油of my thoughts and feelings as we all take in what the guilty verdicts in the Chauvin trial mean.油I would also like to direct you to the programming at the bottom of this message where you can join in community discussion.油
At 91心頭,油we are a thriving part of油global society,油and we should embrace our role in pushing for progress in our world as well as right here at home at our university.油The油fight for recognition油and celebration油of the full and油undeniable humanity of Black people油in the United States油continues,油and we cannot lose sight of that continued struggle against油oppression.油
While these油guilty verdicts are a step forward, we cannot forget油the油far too numerous times that there has been no accountability for those who have taken away Black lives. We油must recognize油the fact that in the recent油days and油weeks the lives of Black and Brown people have been taken by agents of the state across the countrywith some of those victims being children.油Far too many油more people than George Floyd have been wrongfully taken from their families and from us as a society.油油
Seeing油one singular moment where油a perpetrator油is held accountable to a heinous act油that we all saw clearly on video油cannot wash away the well-earned skepticism of the system油that油has failed so many too often. Systemic racism is油real,油and it exists油far beyond policing. Unfortunately, it is woven into the fabric of our society,油and it油will continue to油take broad collaborative efforts油to油eradicate it.油油
Our work at 91心頭 in diversity, equity, and inclusion is part of the more expansive efforts油across our nation where individuals need to work for change within their spheres of influence. The time for action continues to be now. Looking inward at 91心頭 and looking out on all that 91心頭 influences, we have a prime opportunity to continue making progress right here that will help our nation grow and heal. If we remain diligent in growing and making commitments to stand against systemic racism油at home and油beyond,油we油may油be able to油reckon with our油sordid油past and油keep it from unduly permeating our油present油and future.油油
In these first few weeks at 91心頭,油I have been warmly welcomed,油and I feel encouraged that we have what it takes to continue working together to grow, to do more and to do better as we face our future. Across our nation,油for too long油too many have done too little to stop油the油perpetuation of油systemic racism.油Anti-Blackness油cannot be allowed to continue flourishing as it has for far too many generations. The油fact that there are still arguments over such a basic油recognition that Black lives do matter油shows us油the level of油insidiousness of油anti-Black racism. Mattering is minimal, yet people want to argue油against such a simple sentiment.油油
Conversations about Black trauma are not new.油As their parents before them,油my油parents had to have the talk with me as a Black油child growing up油in this country.油My hope油is油that things will油be different for my young sons油when they become Black fathers in the future. We can make that renewed hope a reality油by doing油everything in油our油power to油make油a better world油by油developing油in one another油the skills油and desires油to dismantle beliefs in hierarchies of human worth and value.油油
Outcomes change when systems change. The witnesses, the油activists, the Attorney General in Minnesota and so many other inputs into the system look different and more inclusive of more voices in this Chauvin trial than in the multitude of cases油across the history of the United States油where justice was油not油served油for Black victims.油The tireless work and deep sacrifices made by so many Black people,油as well as individuals working alongside them,油has not simply provided progress toward equity and justice for Black people but has steadily made a better world for all. That must never be油overlooked.油油
鴛稼油壊看鉛庄糸温姻庄岳霞,油油
Christopher M. Whitt油
Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion油
油
Join the Conversation
For the most up-to-date information about student events and supports, including油virtual油programming later today,油please visitand also follow the Centers social media channels.油
Open Forum油Hosted by the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion油
Thursday,油April 22, 2021油| Noon油
Join faculty and staff油working in diversity, equity and inclusion油in conversation about the verdicts.油For faculty,油staff and students.油
油and油passcode: 429383油
Panelists:
- Apryl Alexander, professor, Graduate School of Professional Psychology
- Nashwa Bolling and Effley Brooks, co-leads, Black@91心頭
- Alexi Freeman, professor and associate dean of diversity, equity and inclusion, Sturm College of Law
- Michele Hanna, associate dean for academic affairs, Graduate School of Social Work
- Andriette Jordan-Fields, Black community experience coordinator
- Christopher Whitt, vice chancellor for diversity, equity and inclusion