Center the voices and leadership of Black people, Indigenous people, and People of Color. It is especially important
for those of us in predominantly white institutions to listen, learn, and take the
lead from communities of color. It is about more than just surveys, or token committee
positions, or asking for input just to dismiss it when real decisions are made. It
is about hiring, promoting, and certifying People of Color as vital professionals.
It is about supporting organizations and businesses run by People of Color. It is
about working in true partnership — humbly, bravely, and with an open heart — to share
knowledge and create solutions together.
Have honest conversations about structural racism with our colleagues, friends, children, students, and relatives. We may feel uncomfortable,
or afraid, or unable to find the right words. We might make mistakes. But we cannot
be silent. We have to face the uncomfortable truths inside us. We have to equip the
next generation to deal honestly and effectively with the reality of racism. Too often,
the burden of speaking the truth of racism is left only to People of Color. It is
everyone’s responsibility.
Educate ourselves about anti-racist work in Utah and around the world. While this moment of protest began very suddenly, the
work of anti-racism has been going on for a long time. Those of us who are new can
begin by supporting and learning from experienced educators, organizers, artists,
and others who have been doing this work. This way, we avoid harming or hijacking
the very efforts we seek to support. There are numerous resources, educational materials,
proposals, and calls to action that can help us get started. We have listed some below.
In this country we have the hard-won right to protest and criticize those in power
— we protect that right when we exercise it.
Investigate our institutions and how they reproduce structural racism. For UNP, that means understanding that
the history of the university system is intertwined with the history of colonialism
and slavery. It means questioning how and whom we hire, contract with, and accept
into academic programs. It means questioning which kinds of knowledge we legitimize
in classrooms and which we do not. It means ending extractive research on communities
of color and engaging in equitable research with and by communities of color. Whether
we are teachers or police officers, social workers or business people, we have the
power to start these conversations in our institutions.
Center the voices and leadership of Black people, Indigenous people, and People of Color. It is especially important
for those of us in predominantly white institutions to listen, learn, and take the
lead from communities of color. It is about more than just surveys, or token committee
positions, or asking for input just to dismiss it when real decisions are made. It
is about hiring, promoting, and certifying People of Color as vital professionals.
It is about supporting organizations and businesses run by People of Color. It is
about working in true partnership — humbly, bravely, and with an open heart — to share
knowledge and create solutions together.