Black Lives Matter

A goal of the University of Kansas Staff Senate Diversity & Inclusion Committee is to create change at our Predominantly White Institution (PWI), actively working to dismantle the ways that we have historically upheld white supremacy culture and have continued to do so. We believe that it is imperative to understand the ways in which we are complicit in discriminatory systems, to unlearn all supremacist behaviors, and to take a clear stand against the brutal murders of Black, Brown and Transgender Americans. The recent killings of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Tony McDade, Nina Pop, David McAtee, Rayshard Brooks, and Elijah McClain (whether at the hands of police or other individuals) must be acknowledged as unacceptable along with so many others as we work for justice in the spirit of global protests against anti‐black violence.

In the coming weeks, the Staff Senate Diversity & Inclusion Committee will be drafting an action plan for addressing white supremacy culture within our own organization and more broadly at KU. If you would like to join us in that effort, please contact Jeff Severin, committee co‐chair, at jseverin@ku.edu.

Resources for Learning

• On June 3, Kimberlé Crenshaw, Executive Director of the African American Policy Forum (AAPF), hosted “The Fire This Time,” an urgent discussion (accessible here) of systemic anti‐black racism and recent killings of Black people by police that included guests Devon Carbado, Alicia Garza, Robin D.G. Kelley, Maria Moore (sister of Kayla Moore & member of #SayHerName Campaign), and special guest Attorney General Keith Ellison.
• Crenshaw also hosted a June 17 discussion (accessible here), “Say Her Name: Telling Stories of State Violence and Public Silence,” which, like “The Fire This Time,” was part of the AAPF’s series “Under the Blacklight.” The participants were mothers and sisters of Black women killed by the police including Sandra Bland, Michelle Cusseaux, Shelly Frey, Korryn Gaines, India Kager, and Kayla Moore. Find more information about the #SayHerName Campaign here & search their names to learn more about each of these women.
• Support Black authors who have written about racism and what constitutes anti-racism by buying from Black‐owned independent book stores.
• Understand that learning about what constitutes anti‐racism must be a part of taking action to dismantle racist systems.
• An expanded list on how to support marginalized communities and Lawrence specific resources in response to protests against institutional racism & police brutality, and COVID‐19 is available here.