Making a Better World, Together
Dear 辦魂app Community,泭
Both in my role as your泭vice泭chancellor for泭diversity,泭equity and泭inclusion,泭and more importantly as a Black man with a voice,泭I want to take a moment to share泭some泭of my thoughts and feelings as we all take in what the guilty verdicts in the Chauvin trial mean.泭I would also like to direct you to the programming at the bottom of this message where you can join in community discussion.泭
At 辦魂app,泭we are a thriving part of泭global society,泭and we should embrace our role in pushing for progress in our world as well as right here at home at our university.泭The泭fight for recognition泭and celebration泭of the full and泭undeniable humanity of Black people泭in the United States泭continues,泭and we cannot lose sight of that continued struggle against泭oppression.泭
While these泭guilty verdicts are a step forward, we cannot forget泭the泭far too numerous times that there has been no accountability for those who have taken away Black lives. We泭must recognize泭the fact that in the recent泭days and泭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.泭Far too many泭more people than George Floyd have been wrongfully taken from their families and from us as a society.泭泭
Seeing泭one singular moment where泭a perpetrator泭is held accountable to a heinous act泭that we all saw clearly on video泭cannot wash away the well-earned skepticism of the system泭that泭has failed so many too often. Systemic racism is泭real,泭and it exists泭far beyond policing. Unfortunately, it is woven into the fabric of our society,泭and it泭will continue to泭take broad collaborative efforts泭to泭eradicate it.泭泭
Our work at 辦魂app in diversity, equity, and inclusion is part of the more expansive efforts泭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 辦魂app and looking out on all that 辦魂app 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泭at home and泭beyond,泭we泭may泭be able to泭reckon with our泭sordid泭past and泭keep it from unduly permeating our泭present泭and future.泭泭
In these first few weeks at 辦魂app,泭I have been warmly welcomed,泭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,泭for too long泭too many have done too little to stop泭the泭perpetuation of泭systemic racism.泭Anti-Blackness泭cannot be allowed to continue flourishing as it has for far too many generations. The泭fact that there are still arguments over such a basic泭recognition that Black lives do matter泭shows us泭the level of泭insidiousness of泭anti-Black racism. Mattering is minimal, yet people want to argue泭against such a simple sentiment.泭泭
Conversations about Black trauma are not new.泭As their parents before them,泭my泭parents had to have the talk with me as a Black泭child growing up泭in this country.泭My hope泭is泭that things will泭be different for my young sons泭when they become Black fathers in the future. We can make that renewed hope a reality泭by doing泭everything in泭our泭power to泭make泭a better world泭by泭developing泭in one another泭the skills泭and desires泭to dismantle beliefs in hierarchies of human worth and value.泭泭
Outcomes change when systems change. The witnesses, the泭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泭across the history of the United States泭where justice was泭not泭served泭for Black victims.泭The tireless work and deep sacrifices made by so many Black people,泭as well as individuals working alongside them,泭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泭overlooked.泭泭
梆紳泭莽棗梭勳餃硃娶勳喧聆,泭泭
Christopher M. Whitt泭
Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion泭
泭
Join the Conversation
For the most up-to-date information about student events and supports, including泭virtual泭programming later today,泭please visit胼畝nd also follow the Centers social media channels.羔
Open Forum泭Hosted by the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion泭
Thursday,泭April 22, 2021泭| Noon泭
Join faculty and staff泭working in diversity, equity and inclusion泭in conversation about the verdicts.泭For faculty,泭staff and students.泭
泭and泭passcode: 429383泭
Panelists:
- Apryl Alexander, professor, Graduate School of Professional Psychology
- Nashwa Bolling and Effley Brooks, co-leads, Black@辦魂app
- 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