Statements from Black and Non-White Employees
Some faculty and staff of color do not feel as though it is safe to raise their individual voices in this space. Instead, we give you our collective voice through our feelings, perspectives and stories. This is not representative of all faculty and staff of color. We do not give permission to pick or edit which voices will be shared. We only give permission for our collective voice to be printed in full.
“Of course I am angry about the murders of Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade and so many others. It both terrifies me and it fills me with rage that their lives were ended so needlessly and so tragically. But I am also heartbroken. I am heartbroken because of the silence of the people and the institutions that claim to love me and to love my people.”
“The silence is so loud. It is deafening. Can you hear it? Why can’t you hear it?”
“Yesterday I was in a meeting and someone asked if everyone was getting the same news that they were getting? I actually thought for a moment that maybe it was just the people of color who were getting bombarded with lynchings. Turns out, white people are getting this news too. So, why aren’t they talking about it? Why do I always have to be the one to bring up the conversation?”
“It feels like I am begging my colleagues to care about my life.”
“I am tired of the administration calling on faculty of color to cover up their LACK OF COMPETENCE when it comes to handling these situations. Time and time again, they show that they are NOT EQUIPPED to do this work. I refuse to continue to be used as a Band-Aid to cover up their mistakes. Hire folks of color who are equipped to do this work. Folks who can respond in a sensitive and timely manner and who are not afraid to say BLACK LIVES MATTER!”
“If you ‘don’t know what to say’ or you ‘don’t have the words’ to be a helpful ally in this work go get the words and go learn what to say, what to do and how to be an active participant in helping to support, honor and effect change in the lives of our BIPOC adults and students lives. The systems have to be changed. We have waited for the culture to change for far too long. Action is needed urgently.”
“It is heartbreaking to see just how unequipped PEA is to properly care for its black students. It is also unable/unwilling to treat its black faculty with dignity and respect. Is this school capable of self-analysis, in terms of how it perpetuates white supremacy and the inequality that serves as the foundation for racial terrorism? These issues lead PEA to miseducate all of its students.The school needs to exercise its power, to truly care about equity and justice. Not words but actions, or this will soon be a school with even fewer black faculty and other faculty of color. PEA is a microcosm and not a bubble, detached from the broader world.”
“The inability of the administration to respond appropriately to any situation involving race has been a problem for years now. The faces in power changed but the inadequate responses didn’t, despite the work done by countless faculty of color to educate on this issue. If you are ‘at a loss for words’ then you are also at a loss for action, and that is unacceptable. I am tired of witnessing this institution’s inability to say ‘Black Lives Matter.’ It sends the message to our Black students and colleagues that aren’t worthy of existing without fear, and that is unforgivable. I love being with students around the Harkness Table and in the dorm, but if the school can’t take substantive anti-racist action, I will have to join the droves of faculty of color who got tired of shouting into the wind and move on.”
“I have experienced more blatant, hostile racism and ignorance in my time at Exeter than in the rest of my life combined. We are in a moment of national crisis and this school is reacting in only the most lackluster ways. Not once has the disproportionate impact on Black students and faculty been mentioned. NOT ONCE. Shame on Exeter for this ineptitude and for creating such a hostile work environment for faculty of color that folks are leaving in droves. We will not get real, meaningful change until the leadership of this school gives up their power to give more diverse voices a seat at the table. People in leadership are constantly toting selflessness, but relinquishing power to make room for real change makers would be a true non sibi move.”
“‘No justice, no peace!’ Many protesters around the country are demanding justice for George Floyd, including the arrest, indictment, trial and conviction for the officers who killed him or contributed to his killing. What else is necessary for justice, not just in this case, nor for the many other black and brown people killed in a similar way, with reckless disregard? And beyond the end of policing that is not policing but the abuse of power, what else is necessary for justice? What ‘peace’ are we yearning for? Just the end of riots? The status quo ante has given us an appalling, long list of victims. More will be added if we don’t do more than ‘get back to normal.’”
“I am having a hard time feeling supported by Exeter. Leadership in the Academy asks so much from me in my various roles here, yet they cannot extend the basic need to even NAME the racial issues plaguing POC in these hallowed halls. There is no love there.”