Racism differs from individual racial prejudice and racial discrimination in the historical accumulation and ongoing use of institutional power and authority to support the prejudice and to systemically enforce discriminatory behaviors with far reaching effects.
Dear Campus Community,
Walter Wallace, Jr.
Another name added to the list of Black lives taken through sanctioned State violence.
Known to be struggling with mental health issues Mr. Wallace was shot to death by Philadelphia police officers Monday evening. His father, Walter Wallace, Sr. and other friends and family witnessed the murder in horror.
If we say we stand in solidarity with Walter Wallace, Jr. and his family what will that mean? What will we do as Antiochians, especially those of us who live and move with white privilege? How will we support our community members of color who are once again subjected to images of police gunning down a Black person?
Of course, we all must vote. Please do that.
But that is a baseline not a top line action. What will we do to transform institutions—ours included—and the systemic practice of racism?
What does it mean to stand in solidarity with the Wallace family, John Crawford, Breonna Taylor, Freddie Gray, Tony McDade, Gorge Floyd, Emmett Till, David McAtee, Ahmaud Arbery, Nina Pop, Philando Castile, Charleena Lyles, Eric Garner, Bettie Jones, Clare Legato, Dominique Clayton, Walter Scott, Eric Garner, Natasha McKenna, Tamir Rice, Sandra Bland, Michael Brown, and countless others, some whose names we may not even know.
Our speaker on Tuesday, the anti-racist activist Tim Wise laid out a compelling case for action. Let’s not allow that to drop.
Stay strong and believe in each other.
In struggle,
Tom Manley
President
A non-comprehensive list of deaths at the hands of police in the U.S. since Eric Garner’s death in July 2014. (LA Johnson/NPR)
