Resources for Racial Justice

STATEMENT ON RACIAL JUSTICE

We unequivocally speak out against the violence that has cost and is costing the lives of Black Americans. These continuous assaults are clearly embedded in systemic racism and supported by those who intentionally and unintentionally perpetuate hate and racial injustice. As your Teaching and Learning Center, we advocate through action, reflection, and the sharing of resources to support our entire college community in creating justice for all and finding healing and restoration for those who have been the target of oppression.

Please visit our Teaching Resources page for teaching and learning resources to address these essential issues, and please consider joining our conversations and programs focused on these needs. Our students and we ourselves are at risk until we transform how we teach and learn together.

Gina Rae Foster, Director, John Jay Teaching and Learning Center

Statements on Racial Justice and the Death of George Floyd:

We encourage you to read these statements from our John Jay, union, and CUNY leaders:

John Jay Student Council Statement Regarding Racial Injustice Amidst COVID-19 Global Pandemic Across the Nation and New York City
Joint Statement from the Departments of Africana Studies and Latin American and Latinx Studies
Gender Studies Statement of Solidarity with AFR, LLS, and BSU (attachment)
Statement of Concerned Chairs to Fellow Faculty, Students, and Administration (attachment)
Statement from President Karol V. Mason during this time of unrest
Center for International Human Rights (CIHR) Statement
PSC Statement on the Murder of George Floyd
CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez Statement on the death of George Floyd

Additional Statements Submitted by Departments and Programs:

Statement from the Department of Global History (attachment)
Statement from the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies
John Jay Racial Justice Research and Practice Dialogue Series
Black Student Union: “What’s next...? Leading the way in Police Reform
CUNY SPH Dean El-Mohandes Statement
CUNY Board of Trustees Statement on Racial Injustice

RESOURCES FOR TEACHING AND LEARNING RACIAL JUSTICE

In this time of outrage and injustice and grief, we are responsible to our students for teaching racial justice both through content and practice. The following resources represent a few of those we feel are focused on truth, empowerment, and change in the ongoing efforts to create and achieve racial justice.

§ Racial Equity Resource Guide: “These resources focused on racial equity include journal entries, books, magazines, videos, and more.”

§ Teaching Tolerance/Teaching about Race, Racism, and Police Violence: “These resources can spur much-needed discussion around implicit bias and systemic racism, but they can also empower your students to enact the changes that will create a more just society.”

§ Vanderbilt University Center for Teaching/Teaching Race: Pedagogy and Practice: “this guide summarizes some of the common challenges instructors may encounter and offers five broad pedagogical principles for teaching racial justice, and three possible strategies for implementing each strategy in the classroom.”

§ "Teaching for Black Lives": a handbook to fight America’s ferocious racism in (virtual or face-to-face) classrooms: “a collection of writings that helps educators humanize blacks in curriculum, teaching and policy and connect lessons to young people’s lives.”

§ Syllabus: 21-Day Racial Equity Habit-Building Challenge: "The Challenge invites participants to complete a syllabus of 21 short assignments (typically taking 15-30 minutes), over 21 consecutive days, that include readings, videos or podcasts. It has been intentionally crafted to focus on the Black American experience. The assignments seek to expose participants to perspectives on elements of Black history, identity and culture, and to the Black community’s experience of racism in America."

“Working Towards Inclusivity: Let’s start with the Syllabus!” Third Annual New Jersey Convening on Diversifying the Teacher Workforce. Virtual Conference, New Jersey, USA. Participants by: Delgado Cruzata Lissette; Enciso Domínguez, Giazú; King Toller Erica, Liao Kim, and Meytes Yelena. Click here for the video.