STATEMENT ON INSTITUTIONAL RACISM & STRUCTURAL INEQUALITY
FROM THE HUNTSMAN PROGRAM
The Huntsman Program leadership is deeply troubled by the conditions that led to the extra-judicial killings of unarmed black people, including George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Tony McDade, and others in recent years. These tragic and unnecessary deaths demonstrate the urgent need to remedy persistent problems rooted in racist attitudes, institutional racism, and structural inequalities in key arenas, including law enforcement. The Huntsman Program leadership stands in solidarity with members of the Black community grieving these recent killings as well as with any and all who continue to feel vulnerable, marginalized, and discriminated against as a result of their race, origin, religion, sex or sexual orientation. We remain committed to fostering an atmosphere where all groups should feel safe, included, heard, and valued, and where all members are able to learn more about the sources and manifestations of institutional racism and structural inequality in all their forms, including in the disproportionate exposure to police brutality and Covid-19. As part of this process, we value the important research being done on systemic racism and social injustice by members of the Penn faculty, many of whom have responded to the recent killings and protests with some powerful statements available here:
https://omnia.sas.upenn.edu/story/faculty-racism-and-inequality
The leadership of the Program also encourages support for groups and organizations striving to address and put an end to racism against members of the Black community and other disadvantaged racial minorities, and to improve the position of vulnerable and marginalized groups throughout the Philadelphia region and the country as a whole. We are available to share our thoughts and suggestions with anyone seeking additional educational resources or information about how to support groups that have mobilized to bring an end to systemic racism and structural inequality. As President Amy Gutmann recently declared: “We must, as a country and community, resolve to find better ways forward to understand and address systemic racism and closely related economic, educational, political, and social inequities. We must work together to build more hope for the future.”
A list of related resources and organizations can be found here (https://huntsman.upenn.edu/diversity-and-inclusion-resources/), and we welcome suggestions for expanding this list.
