SGD statement of support and solidarity : Racism and the Death of George Floyd
Dear friends and colleagues,
We write to acknowledge and express our collective pain, anger, fear, and grief as we witness the most recent atrocities arising from the systemic racism that persists in our country. We stand in solidarity with our Black colleagues and communities and demand justice for George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and all the other victims of racialized state violence. We condemn the long history of systemic oppression, racism, institutional violence and police brutality that continue to disproportionately impact our Black colleagues, other minority groups, and peoples of color. We reaffirm our School's commitment to creating and defending safe and inclusive environments for all. The shared mission of our School calls us to investigate, understand, and confront these injustices in our research, teaching, practice, and activism.
As one first tangible step toward this goal, we are proposing that the School create, support, and offer a new course on the Geographies of Race and Ethnicity. This would serve as a starting point for the development of a larger curriculum designed to help instructors and students alike understand and value the presence of all minority groups and the geographies of difference within our local and global society. We will continue to strive to make real and concrete steps over the coming months to realize our mission and our commitment to anti-racism and inclusion.
In support and solidarity,
Director, School of Geography and Development and the members of the SGD Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee
Kevin Anchukaitis
Tony Colella
Diana Liverman
Sehdia Mansaray
Jenny Mason
Orhon Myadar
A Few Resources
Podcasts:Code Switch 9
Podcasts That Don't Whitewash Race - Yes! Magazine
Books: Black Faces White Spaces , The Color of Law , Between the World and Me
Resources for health