We stand in solidarity with Teachers College and with President Thomas Bailey's letter responding to the conviction of Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd. In that letter, TC President Bailey says that this conviction strikes "a blow against the edifice of white supremacy and should further galvanize our collective resolve to dismantle systemic racism in our country." He goes on to ask everyone at TC, "What can we do to dismantle the structures of racism embedded in our society, and rise to meet the call for racial justice and healing?"
We join with the TC and TCRWP communities to ask that same question. We recognize the dehumanization—the systemic dehumanization—that Black People have suffered and continue to suffer in this nation.
There is no healing, no recuperation possible for the lives of those murdered, or for the children who have been systemically marginalized in an educational system that does not serve them well. We grieve with our Black, Indigenous, People of Color colleagues for those killed, and stand in coalition to strive to improve conditions for those living and their children. We pledge to continue to examine and revise our curriculum and practices to be antiracist and culturally relevant. We pledge to strive to create systems and structures to ensure that our professional development offerings are inclusive and culturally responsive. We know that empathy is not enough, and we pledge to do the work to make our actions match our words.
In solidarity,
TCRWP