June 5, 2020

Message to Neag Community from Neag School Equity and Social Justice Committee

Dear Neag School Community,

Our hearts ache. George Floyd’s life matters. Breonna Taylor’s life matters. Ahmaud Arbery’s life matters. Black lives matter.

Racist violence is killing Black people and destroying our community, nation, and larger world. The violence happens every day. Every single day. Racial violence happens in the streets, in prisons, at parks, in our schools and college campuses across the nation, in research that perpetuates racism, and online. It is systemic violence that is built into and normalized in the everyday policies and practices of social institutions, including our educational system. It is a violence that suffocates racially minoritized people literally and figuratively. It prevents racially minoritized people, particularly Black people, from fully thriving because nothing and no one can thrive without being able to breathe. 

As educators, leaders, coaches, and community activists, we know that one of the frontlines of this racial violence is in our domain: in our classrooms, schools, campuses, offices, and sport arenas; through our teaching, advising, coaching, support, and leadership; in the curricula we select, the research we do, the practices we engage in, and the policies we create and implement. We have the responsibility to confront this violence so that students and educators alike can be their authentic selves, thrive in their humanity, learn, and flourish. 

“Caring for myself is not self-indulgence. It is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.”

— Audre Lorde, poet

We support Black communities, organizations, and other activists who are participating in resistance against histories of brutality and specifically in response to the vicious killing of Black people. As John Lewis says, this is the kind of “good trouble; necessary trouble” that must be created by people of conscience so that those of power and privilege are forced to listen, to change. We call on our fellow educators and leaders, including ourselves, to make their own kind of “good trouble.” Change your classrooms, change your teachings, change your schools, change your policies, change your practices, change your hearts, change your minds, and embrace Black lives and each person’s full humanity. Educating and leading in this way means you will cause “good trouble,” but we must do so. In the words of James Baldwin, “Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.”

As a community, we can create anti-racist policies, engage in anti-racist practices and research, as well as offer equity-based leadership and teaching. To do this, however, we must start with ourselves, especially if we hold a privileged racial identity. We must engage in the process of learning and unlearning. We encourage you to educate yourself and seek resources that will help you to challenge racism and engage in anti-racist leadership and education. Lean into listening — listen to the voices of the people that are hurt and continuously harmed by racism. 

What is clear is that to do nothing is to be complicit in white supremacy. We abdicate our responsibilities as educators and leaders if we do not work hard toward anti-racist practices, policies, leadership, and research within our own schools, campuses, classrooms, and organizations.

A number of the Neag School Equity and Social Justice Committee members identify as racially minoritized, and the following message is to our fellow colleagues of color:

Leaning on the wisdom of Audre Lorde, “Caring for myself is not self-indulgence. It is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.” Our pain and trauma are real. And, taking care of ourselves and each other is necessary. Alongside this, our hope for humanity is our legacy. We come from people and communities who have been resisting oppression and advancing dignity for all, generation after generation. We are the change makers. We are gifted with a vision for a better society. That gift is also a burden, but one we can carry together. Let’s be in community with each other. Let’s love. Let’s hope. Let’s lead. And, let’s rest, when we need to rest.

Below, we provide a few resources that we have found helpful. This is not an exhaustive list, and we encourage you to seek other resources, to share and discuss them with others, and to work in a spirit of collaboration and solidarity to make sustainable, meaningful change. In addition, please note that the Equity and Social Justice Committee will be organizing a Community Reading Initiative during the upcoming academic year, which will have the option to join virtually. 

Learn more about this initiative, and if you are interested in joining, please complete this form. In addition, the Equity and Social Justice Committee will also continue efforts to strengthen community partnerships, advocate for equity and social justice practice and policies within the Neag School, and build community among Neag School constituents. 

We also encourage you to stay informed with initiatives led by Dean Kersaint as the Neag School develops its diversity and inclusion plan and its broader strategic plan. We encourage you to be in touch with the Neag School’s leadership to voice your ideas, concerns, and to support the Neag School in being a leading anti-racist school of education.