A Statement, In Solidarity

Along with the rest of the world, we have been outraged and deeply affected by the recent events taking place in our country. The tragic and senseless murders of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and now George Floyd have shined a spotlight on the issues of racial injustice and police brutality. The Odum Institute mourns with our nation and the rest of the world for the loss of these and countless other Black lives. We strongly condemn the actions and inaction of the four officers responsible for Mr. Floyd’s murder, and all forms of police brutality.

We at Odum stand in acknowledgement and support of our students, employees, colleagues and friends in the Black community who have been trying to come to terms with their pain, anger, sadness, and frustration over a struggle against racism and inequality that has persisted on American soil since 1619. Their cries have been ignored for far too long, and they have suffered greatly. To them we say now: We see you. We hear you. Your lives matter. Black Lives Matter.

As a nation, we are prompted to look deeper into policies, practices, and our own personal behaviors in an effort to join the conversation on much-needed change. Public policy must hold those who act on their racial prejudices accountable. Odum supports the efforts of local organizations such as the UNC Black Student Movement, UNC Black Congress, and the Carolina Black Caucus, which fortify the work of the greater Black Lives Matter movement to spread awareness about racial prejudice, systemic racism, and the persistence of white supremacy and white privilege mentality.

These efforts are strengthened by not only community support, but also through access to empirical research that documents and provides evidence of racial inequities, destructive attitudes toward minorities, and unjust policing.

We are compiling a growing list of resources and references that represents decades of research on these topics, as well as the Civil Rights Movement, human rights protests in general, and other issues relevant to our understanding of the lived experiences of the Black community.

We hope these resources will help the fight for a better, more equitable America. In the meantime, the Odum Institute will be taking a close look at our own organizational mission, structure, policies, culture, and programs to identify ways in which we support or fail to support members of the Black Community. We know we have a lot of work to do, but we are committed to doing our part to end racial injustice.

In solidarity and compassion,
The staff of the Odum Institute

 
 

Resources:

*If you have suggestions of resources to add to this list, please contact us at oduminstitute@unc.edu.

Aggregated Anti-Racist Resource Lists:

• Anti-Racism Resources (UNC Office of Diversity and Inclusion)
• Anti-Racism Resources for All Ages (Dr. Nicole A. Cooke, USC)
• Anti-Racist Resource Guide (Victoria Lynn Alexander, MEd.)
• Resources to Address Racism and Racial Violence (National Council on Family Relations)

 

Get Involved:

• Connect: UNC Black Student Movement
• Connect: UNC Black Congress
• Connect: Carolina Black Congress
• Connect: Black Lives Matter
• Read: If you’re planning to take part in protests, know your rights. Read this. (CNN)
• Read: How to Protest Safely: What to Bring, What to Do, and What to Avoid (Wired)
• Donate: Resources to Support BLM
• Donate: List of Bail Funds
• Donate: Brooklyn Community Bail Fund
• Donate: Minnesota Freedom Fund
• Donate: Black Visions Collective
• Donate: Reclaim the Block
• Donate: Community Justice Exchange: National Bail Fund Network