In response to the nationwide protests against police brutality and anti-Black racism in summer 2020, the Georgetown University Library issued a Statement on Racial Justice. The closing sentence of the statement reads, ”[w]e recognize our responsibility, both as individuals and as an institution, to contributing to solutions to the intractable problems of racism in America.” To that end, the Library’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee seeks to support learning, understanding, and action on the critical issue of racism in America. For an overview of the issues, the following readings may be of interest:
- Confronting Racism by President DeGioia
- The Assumptions of White Privilege and What We Can Do About It by Rev. Bryan N. Massingale, Professor of Theological and Social Ethics, Fordham University
- White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack by Peggy McIntosh
For more in-depth research and learning, the Library’s Anti-Racism Toolkit, Asian American and Pacific Islander Toolkit, and Indigenous Voices, Lives, & Issues Toolkit include a wide range of resources to promote a deeper understanding of systemic racism in America, including topics such as Criminal Justice, Environmental Racism, Racism in Medicine, and White Privilege.
To work towards solutions to racism, we need to consider not only larger, overt, or systemic racist practices, but also racism, often unintentional, at the individual level, such as microaggressions and implicit bias. The DEI Committee recognizes that these issues are new for many of us and may be uncomfortable to discuss with others. To encourage better understanding and promote conversation on racism within our own lives, our institutions, and our communities, we have compiled resources on the following topics:
- Race, Racism, and Antiracism
- Microaggressions
- Bystander Intervention
- Inclusive Language
- Gender Identity and Expression
- Implicit Bias
- Recruitment, Hiring, and Retention
- Disability Justice
Georgetown Departments, Offices, and Centers
The Anti-Racism Toolkit’s Campus Partners page lists a wide range of groups on campus also committed to supporting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives at Georgetown, including the Office of Institutional Diversity, Equity, and Affirmative Action.