Over the last few weeks, many of us have witnessed the tragedies surrounding Black lives, resulting in the premature and egregious deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd, and countless others. The civil unrest that has stemmed from these unfortunate events further illuminates and iterates the presence of systemic racism and police brutality towards BIPOC in this country. We agree these unjust acts must be addressed and rectified to better the lives of people of color and to better us as a nation. The outcry and protest for systemic change resound on all levels, locally, nationally, and globally. We all are being called upon to address and dismantle the constructs of systemic racism and the heavy policing against people of color, specifically Black people. Throughout the country, individual citizens and communities are struggling with acknowledging their roles in the legacy of systemic racism and their responsibility in changing the culture to make a better world for ourselves and the next generation.
We at Randall Library are no different in our struggles to see our place in the problem and the solution. While we have made efforts to address bias and inequities, we fall far short of where we need to be. We need to confront our own biases and engage in the difficult but critical discussions necessary to move forward toward justice. We are committed to actively addressing the biases we hold as an organization that creates barriers for all people of marginalized identities.
We are compelled and committed to taking steps within our library and within the profession. Several leaders in our library community have written powerful statements that we appreciate and hope to amplify, including The [UNC] University Libraries’ Role in Reckoning with Systemic Racism and Oppression and Trevor Dawes’ Statements and Accountability.
We stand in solidarity with members of the Black community for positive change. We stand united with those peaceful protests in Wilmington and throughout North Carolina and those in cities across the country. Above all, Randall Library is strongly committed to being agents of change for all our students, faculty, and staff as a safe and welcoming space for all.
Resources:
- Antiracism Resources from Randall Library's Collection
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
- Faculty Scholarship on Racial Disparaties in the U.S.
View a list of all recently added databases
