DBBS: Statement on #ShutdownSTEM

Dear DBBS Community,

We are inspired by the sentiment of #ShutdownSTEM, hence we are aligning our Division with its aims and participating. As we highlighted in the letter to our community last week, we are committed to centering anti-racist policy and work. We fully support our DBBS community participating in this action. Should students, faculty, or staff need support in advocating for their participation in observing this day, we are here for you.

To lead by example, DBBS staff will be encouraged to engage with the resources listed below. In addition, DBBS staff have been asked to cancel all meetings in order to read, reflect and consider the actions they will take in solidarity. Our Division will also share information on social media to educate and reaffirm our commitment to anti-racist policy and work. We recognize that this is just one day; being committed to this work will take more than 24 hours of education or advocacy. We will need to commit to this work moving forward and we stand firm in our effort to do so.

We encourage the wider DBBS community to engage with these educational and mental health resources as well. This is a moment to center how we will, as individuals, preserve momentum gained in this movement to affect systems and our communities.

We ask that you continue to engage with DBBS as we develop and implement a robust strategic plan to meaningfully address diversity, equity, and inclusion in our spaces. We hope the learning and progress gained from this day is not lost and continues, as we know this work will never truly be done until all systems of oppression and domination are changed.

In Solidarity,
Robyn, Cami, Joel, and Rosie

Educational, Community, and Support Resources

We recognize there may be paralysis in not knowing what to do at this time. We want to highlight some recommendations and resources that you can use. While this is not an exhaustive list or checklist, this is a place to start:

As a note in a movement for justice and equity, we recognize this means there will be a diversity of tactics and we must support and center those most directly affected by these issues. Supporting and centering the movement can take many different shapes and forms- there is no one way to do this work given we all have differing limits, boundaries, and traumas we carry with us. This means we will intentionally take care to not put others in harm’s way with our actions, especially those who are most vulnerable. Similarly, we should work to support those in leadership who are affected by these issues. Those of us with privileges should shoulder risks and burdens when others cannot. Talk to people who are in the fight with you. The stronger our community is the more difficult it is to divide us.

• For Black folks in our community, we are working to do better and you deserve better. We’ve compiled some resources to support Black mental health at this time:
  • “7 Virtual Mental Health Resources Supporting Black People Right Now” by Jesse Sparks (healthyish)
  • “The Four Bodies: A Holistic Toolkit for Dealing with Racial Trauma” by Jacquelyn Ogorchukwu (NappyHeadClub)
  • “8 Positive Coping Mechanisms for Anxiety” by Alethia Davis, M.S.ED., LMHC (@HateTheDot on Instagram)
  • “BLK + IN GRAD SCHOOL” (podcast)
  • Student Mental Health Counseling: may be accessed by calling 314-362-3523; you can request and schedule appointments. If you already have an assigned mental health provider, you may contact them directly for their availability. After-hours Mental Health Services: please call the Student Assistance Program (SAP) –1-800-327-2255, Option #3. This service is available 24 hours/7days –everywhere in the US.
• White folks, Non-Black folks, and folks looking to engage with anti-racist materials- What you can do: Educate yourself – Every hour you spend on your own reading anti-racist resources, practicing skills to speak up against racism and racist ideology, etc. is an hour Black folks can be resting, mourning, healing without praising you or educating you. It is not the responsibility of oppressed people to teach you about their oppression.
  • Anti-Racist Education Resources: You may refer to resources provided by the School of Medicine’s Upper Leadership- Dean Perlmutter, Vice Chancellor and Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Wilson, and Associate Vice Chancellor Stanton:
    • Blindspot: Hidden Biases of Good People, Mahzarin R. Banaji and Anthony G. Greenwald
    • Colorblind Racism, Meghan Burke
    • How to Be an Antiracist, Ibram X. Kendi
    • Racist America: Roots, Current Realities and Future Reparations, Joe R. Feagin and Kimberley Ducey
    • White Fragility, Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism, Robin DiAngelo
  • Additionally, we recommend these resources:
    • “75 things White [and Non-Black] People Can Do for Racial Justice” by Corinne Shutack (Medium)
    • “Racial Justice Research Document” by Rachel Cargle
    • Scaffolded Anti-Racist Resources to Support Growth
    • Anti-Racism Resources for White People (books, articles, podcasts, etc.)
• Donate, Act, and speak up – Every action we take is another opportunity to show by example what allyship and being anti-racist can look like in action. You can do this by speaking out against racism or white supremist ideology, teaching your kids/family/friends, donating, being politically active, protesting, etc.
  • Speaking Up and Action Resources:
    • “Resources for Accountability and Actions for Black Lives”
    • “6 Techniques to being an Upstander” by WUSM’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
    • “Guidelines for Being Strong White Allies”
    • “How to Respond to Microaggressions” by Hannah Yoon (NY Times)
  • Organizations committed to this work:
    • Arch City Defenders (STL): ArchCity Defenders (ACD) is a holistic legal advocacy organization that combats the criminalization of poverty and state violence, especially in communities of color. ACD’s foundation of civil and criminal legal representation, social services, impact litigation, policy and media advocacy, and community collaboration achieves and inspires justice and equitable outcomes for people throughout the St. Louis region and beyond
    • STL Anti-Racism Organizing Collective (STL): STL-AROC works to become a force for mutual work among whites and non-Black folks doing anti-racist organizing in ongoing, multiracial, multinational movement-building
    • National Bail Out Collective (National): The National Bail Out collective is a Black-led and Black-centered collective of abolitionist organizers, lawyers and activists building a community-based movement to support our folks and end systems of pretrial detention and ultimately mass incarceration
    • American Civil Liberties Union (National): The ACLU dares to create a more perfect union — beyond one person, party, or side. Our mission is to realize this promise of the United States Constitution for all and expand the reach of its guarantees
    • Black Lives Matter (National): By combating and countering acts of violence, creating space for Black imagination and innovation, and centering Black joy, we are winning immediate improvements in our lives
    • Black Trans Advocacy Coalition (National): Established in 2011, The Black Trans Advocacy Coalition (BTAC) is the only national organization led by Black Trans people to collectively address the inequities faced in the Black Transgender human experience
    • Collection of petitions and protesting resources
• This isn’t about your feelings – If you are tired of hearing about racism, police brutality, and protest, imagine how Black folks feel! While we understand there is shame and guilt, it is your responsibility to turn those feelings of shame and guilt into thoughtful actions.
  • “Being an Ally to Oppressed Groups” by WUSTL’s DBBS Office
• For All: WUSTL Community Events and Resources
  • WUSM Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Statements and Articles from WUSM Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion:
    • “Speaking out against institutional racism” by Dean Perlmutter, Vice Chancellor and Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Wilson, and Associate Vice Chancellor Stanton
    • “A Message from Dr. Ross about George Floyd”
    • “Dealing with COVID-19 disparities and police brutality” by Dr. Will Ross and Dr. Fredrick Echols (STL American)
  • Center for Diversity and Inclusion (CDI):
    • Statements from WUSTL Center for Diversity and Inclusion – “We Must Say Their Names,” “A Letter for Sean and Ahmaud,” and “COVID-19 Open Letter”
    • Virtual Programming – The Center for Diversity and Inclusion is collaborating with campus partners to provide the following virtual programs. Registration information can be found here for CDI’s programming 1. A Gathering Space for Action on June 12 (Students Only) 2. White Allyship Workshop on June 17, 2-3:30pm (Open to All) 3. Student Initiated Summer Purpose Project for Racial Justice (Students Only) – TBA 4. Summer Racial Equity and Justice Workshops (Students Only) -TBA 5. Summer Education Series on Race, Ethnicity, & Gender (with Vice Provost Adrienne Davis) (Students Only) -TBA 6. The Racism Pandemic Town Hall Series (Open to all)
      • June 18, 2-3pm – The Racism Pandemic Town Hall: Is It Juneteenth Yet?
      • July 23, 2-3pm – The Racism Pandemic Town Hall: Athletes of Color & Athletics in 2020
      • August 20, 2-3pm – The Racism Pandemic Town Hall: Who is an Essential Worker?
      • September 24, 2-3pm – The Racism Pandemic Town Hall: Revisiting the Asian Pacific Islander and Desi American (APIDA) Experience in College
      • Other topics for the academic year will include: Gender Identity, Educational Access, The Silenced Experiences of Women of Color, Mixed Race, etc.

If you would like to get involved with protest taking place in the St. Louis community, please refer to these resources:

• Expect Us page: Expect Us is for organizers to connect with others and build bridges with the St. Louis community
• Resist STL page: Resist STL utilizes their social media pages to aggregate resistance in St. Louis