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Racism and Inequity

As America and increasingly other parts of the world convulse in anger, sadness, and frustration at the senseless killing of George Floyd, it serves to underline yet again the individual and societal costs of systemic racism.  For some lucky ones, it is easy to forget the persistent rhythm of racism and inequity that is so much a part of daily life for so many others.  But at the same time that we are thinking hard about what new normal will be brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, it is also an opportunity to do what we can to excise from this new normal the kind of thinking and actions that lead to George Floyd’s death.  Yet when faced with such a long standing problem that has cost so many lives and diminished countless others, what can any one person do?The answer partly lies in collective action against and sustained visibility of the small and large expressions of racism that are all too commonplace.  The demonstrations and impassioned speeches of the last week begin to speak to this.  It also calls for reflection and a clear-eyed interrogation of what we do in our own lives.  This possibility could not be more personal, and the path we take with such introspection sits with each and everyone of us.  That being said, the growing community represented by LabXchange opens up another kind of reflection, one that focuses on our collective mission.  It is within this realm that I now take the opportunity to share some of my thoughts.

Inclusive Access

So much of what we do at LabXchange has a stable thread of inclusive access running through it.  The universal principle of inclusive teaching is something that we seek to integrate into our work so seamlessly that at times it can disappear into the fabric of what we do.  On the one hand, this is welcome because it commits to a systemic application of approaches that support inclusion and belonging in how we teach and learn online.  On the other hand, these universal principles should not be divorced from the broader societal forces of racism and exclusion that make these principles essential support for so many of our learners and educators.As we add our thoughts, voices and actions  to the growing response to this latest reminder of racially-motivated injustice, all of us at LabXchange are also reflecting on the sustained connections between our work and this all too familiar tragedy.  We can then harness it to re-energize our commitment to defining a new and inclusive normal in learning online that rejects and moves beyond systemic racism and its destructive effects.  It now sits with all of us to not let hate and injustice fade into the background of the everyday as is so often the case, but rather hold it close as an impetus to push harder against these forces in our important work together.

ShutDownSTEM on June 10

I encourage you to join me in embracing the call for a national STEM shutdown tomorrow, Wednesday, June 10, to identify specific steps we can take as individuals and as communities to accelerate the eradication of systemic racism at our institutions and within our personal and work lives.Robert Lue, Faculty Director and Principal Investigator, LabXchange

Racism Resources

Supporting African American Colleagues:

• Two Pandemics Division of Science and SEAS Community Conversation on June 2, 2020 Gazette article
• How White Managers can Respond to Anti-Black Violence
• Your Black Colleagues May Look Like They’re OK, Chances are They’re Not
• Before You Check-In on Your Black Friend, Read This

Resources for Engaging in Anti-Racism Work and Practicing Solidarity:

• Resources for Engaging in Anti-Racism Work  (Google Drive)
• We are Living in a Racist Pandemic
• Your Black Colleagues May Look Like They’re Okay – Chances are They’re Not
• Affirming Black Lives Without Inducing Trauma
• How Higher Education can Fight Racism, Speak Up When it’s Hard
• Race Forward: What is Systemic Racism? [VIDEOS]
• Understanding and Dismantling Racism: A Booklist for White Readers
• 10 Books About Race To Read Instead Of Asking A Person Of Color To Explain Things To You
• Save the Tears: White Woman's Guide
• 5 Ways White People Can Take Action in Response to White and State-Sanctioned Violence
• Black Culture Films & Shows
• 10 Books About Race To Read Instead Of Asking A Person Of Color To Explain Things To You
• 75 Things White People Can do for Racial Justice
• What to Do Instead of Calling the Police

Data for Science Fields:

• National Statistics on STEM degree recipients, by ethnicity

Racial Bias in Scientific Fields:

• Birding While Black
• Scientists Speak out Against Racial Injustice and Discrimination Amid Protests
• Following Outrage, Chemistry Journal Makes a Paper Decrying Diversity Disappear
• How Implicit Bias and Lack of Diversity Undermine Science
• Study Identifies a Key Reason Black Scientists are Less Likely to Receive NIH Funding
• What I Learned While Reporting on the Dearth of Black Mathematicians
• Earth Science Has a Whiteness Problem
• Experiences of Black Doctoral Students Underscores Need to Increase Diversity in STEM Fields
• (More) Bias in Science Hiring
• Task Force Outlines Changes Needed to Increase African American Physics and Astronomy Students
• Racial and Gender Biases Plague Post Doc Hiring
• To Attract More Blacks and Hispanics to STEM, Universities Must Address Racial Issues on Campus

Strategies for Leaders:

• How Higher Education can Fight Racism: Speak up When It’s Hard
• What do Leaders Need to Understand About Diversity?
• 10 Small Steps for Department Chairs to Foster Inclusion
• 4 Ways that Academics and Scientists can Effectively Combat Racism
• Incentivizing Faculty Diversity
• Top 10 Practical Steps for Advancing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Higher Education