You may have heard that Brooklyn College President, Michelle Anderson has recently proposed an “Anti-Racist Agenda.” So why are Brooklyn College Faculty, Staff, and Students uniting to build their own Anti-Racist Coalition? Glad you asked! 1/

@BCPresAnderson’s top-down Anti-Racist Agenda fails on multiple counts. First off, it bypasses the years of work, requests, and listening that has already been done to rehash once again the need to fact-find through a series of “listening sessions.” 2/

Faculty, staff, and students know and have documented how racism shapes their experiences on campus. We’ve repeatedly asked Anderson to take action to address the structural and interpersonal racism at the College. Instead she proposes more listening. 3/

@BCPresAnderson proposes an Implementation Team for Racial Justice. Sounds good, but the problem is her team would be set up and run by staff in upper administrative positions who reproduce the hierarchy and non-cooperation we seek to dismantle. 4/

Next we come to campus safety. @BCPresAnderson proposes more town halls to listen. But students, faculty, & staff have already identified the problems. Our students don’t feel safe with NYPD on campus. Campus safety officers enact racist policing. 5/

Anderson’s agenda misses the mark on “student success.” We should explore the white supremacist logics embedded in our curriculum, support Africana & Puerto Rican & Latino Studies, & value instructors who are truly invested in reaching our students. 6/

Rather than seeing the hiring of Black faculty & faculty of color as requiring a “fiscal trade off” with other areas of need, as Anderson asserts in her agenda, we reject this disingenuous austerity frame & demand immediate action to create a diverse faculty. 7/

Anderson’s agenda for faculty & staff mentorship promises superficial change, gathering of feedback, & reproduction of hierarchies. The problems of staff & faculty don’t require more analysis. We need resources and fair promotion. 8/

Finally, Anderson’s proposal for pedagogy is out of touch. She wants “culturally relevant programs” for BIPOC students. What we need is to understand & reject the white-supremacist logics that shape so many disciplines—from the sciences to the arts. 9/

Our Anti-Racist Coalition rejects Anderson’s empty agenda. She should listen to those in the campus community who have long been doing anti-racist work. She should take a public stand to advocate for our needs and commit to concrete action. 10/

When Anderson & her team want to find the money or make something happen, guess what? They do! Let’s join together so they will. Come hear our demands and help us take next steps! Open meeting 7/28 to advance the demands of our coalition. http://tinyurl.com/welcome2arc  11/