Over the last several weeks and months we have witnessed an onslaught of heinous racial incidents and a disproportionate number of cases/deaths related to COVID-19 in communities of color – all of which are occurring within the context of day-to-day racism in our country.
On June 1, MSP President Fran Brown hosted a virtual discussion for students, staff, and faculty to process our collective grief and anger over recent incidents of racism and brutality toward the Black community.
More than 50 faculty, staff, and students participated in this virtual meeting, which marked the beginning of an ongoing dialogue where we, as a community, will grapple with our pain, outrage and loss. We are committed to examining ways in which we can actualize our stand against racism while honoring and respecting each other. This calls for showing up and being willing to stand together in our pain. Healing will come as we reflect, learn, and determine what we can do personally, as an academic community, and as a profession, to create and contribute to sustained change.
On the wall of Classroom 4 is Audre Lorde’s quote, “It is not our differences that divide. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences.” These profound words are at the very heart of the humanistic tradition.
As an institution we are committed to the difficult self-examination and resulting actions needed that allow us to truly celebrate the differences among us.
