Popular Post Calm Posted June 18, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted June 18, 2020 (edited) https://news.byu.edu/announcements/committee-formed-to-examine-race-and-inequality-at-byu?fbclid=IwAR2wqIuZDGTQlWI9qFZ1PEX1yE2lg6MT8bq4w4hWWU3PK2tYPC7IKy9DJbc Quote At the request of President Kevin J Worthen and under the direction of Academic Vice President Shane Reese, last week a committee was appointed to examine issues of race and inequality at BYU and provide recommendations to the university about specific actions to address these issues. The committee will meet for the first time this week. The committee will first prioritize opportunities to better listen to, and better understand, the experiences of black students, faculty and staff on campus to help inform adjustments and changes that can assist BYU in being a more safe and welcoming place for BYU’s community members of color. The committee takes seriously the charge issued by President Russell M. Nelson and leaders of the NAACP: “We likewise call on government, business, and educational leaders at every level to review processes, laws, and organizational attitudes regarding racism and root them out once and for all. It is past time for every one of us to elevate our conversations above divisive and polarizing rhetoric. Treating others with respect matters. Treating each other as sons and daughters of God matters,” Along with President Nelson’s encouragement on social media to: Foster our faith in the Fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man. Foster a fundamental respect for the human dignity of every human soul, regardless of their color, creed or cause. Work tirelessly to build bridges of understanding rather than creating walls of segregation. I hope as part of this they collect and publish the experiences of POC students in the beginning and middle of their school years. And continue to get updates so everyone can see changes or lack of them. Like MeToo, when family and friends opened up about their experiences with sexual harassment and assault that they hadn’t openly shared before, people who know and trust them find it easier not to distance or dismiss the stories as exaggerations. I saw a number of positive reactions as in men accepting that they were unaware of how common, wearing, and harmful such experiences could be. Obviously Sharing those personal stories didn’t solve all issues when there are those who still seem to approach some women as their sexual property and are celebrated for it even while those celebrating their ‘real man’ voice the need for respect for and safety of women. We need more from people in our own community that we related to already on many levels to learn how to relate to on other levels we have little personal experiences with. I know some POC don’t like to talk about experiences with racism because so often it gets dismissed or downplayed or someone accuses them of wanting to be a victim. When it turns out almost everyone in your community has a similar story even if they have dealt with it differently though, it is much harder to ignore or label unimportant. And it can change hearts and help us make steps towards a Zion community. Edited June 18, 2020 by Calm 7 Link to comment
Amulek Posted June 18, 2020 Share Posted June 18, 2020 2 hours ago, Calm said: We need more from people in our own community that we related to already on many levels to learn how to relate to on other levels we have little personal experiences with. I know some POC don’t like to talk about experiences with racism because so often it gets dismissed or downplayed or someone accuses them of wanting to be a victim. When it turns out almost everyone in your community has a similar story even if they have dealt with it differently though, it is much harder to ignore or label unimportant. And it can change hearts and help us make steps towards a Zion community. In my experience, having a candid, respectful discussion can go a long way to improving things on both sides. Hopefully this new committee will help foster that kind of dialogue where it is needed. 4 Link to comment
Popular Post Duncan Posted June 18, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted June 18, 2020 Sometimes you don't realize what you're saying or doing negatively impacts someone else and it's good they can say something and you can learn from it and not do it anymore 6 Link to comment
Meadowchik Posted June 18, 2020 Share Posted June 18, 2020 40 minutes ago, Duncan said: Sometimes you don't realize what you're saying or doing negatively impacts someone else and it's good they can say something and you can learn from it and not do it anymore Yes! As human beings we can communicate and adapt! Might as well use those faculties to improve life for everyone as much as we can 4 Link to comment
Storm Rider Posted June 18, 2020 Share Posted June 18, 2020 Though this process or objective seems to focus solely on black individuals, I would hope that it is expanded to identify and interact with all races that attend BYU. 3 Link to comment
Meadowchik Posted June 18, 2020 Share Posted June 18, 2020 (edited) This sounds like a good step for BYU. As I think you know, I reposted a public FB post, by Charlotte Lartey, on another thread which was a Black woman's experiences with racism growing up in Provo. It was extremely painful account, and served to illustrate how seemingly small isolated incidents can add up to profoundly impacting our experiences. My husband and I discussed it, and noticed that her timeline coincided with the years we lived in Provo. It was devastating to think that those less obvious types of attitudes and behaviors were still impacting Black people around us then, as of course this woman is not the lone Black person who has this type of timeline. I'm glad for the amplification of Black voices at BYU, it is especially needed. White supremacy is part of LDS history and culture and we will have to work to decouple them and be better. Edited June 18, 2020 by Meadowchik 1 Link to comment
JamesBYoung Posted June 18, 2020 Share Posted June 18, 2020 This is a necessary first step, and I support Meadowchik's argument. Link to comment
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