Emmanuel College (Boston) has an obligation on two fronts to address the matters of black lives. We are a social justice institution and we are a catholic institution. We often call God the God of Love and the God of peace but last time I checked, he was also a God of Justice. In the midst of the American crisis regarding Mike Brown, Erick Garner and so many countless others, this social justice institution was silent. There was no place for students to speak on the matters or let out their grievances. Thankfully, our multicultural programs provided a space for us to talk about the issue but those conversations just reminded …
Emmanuel College (Boston) has an obligation on two fronts to address the matters of black lives. We are a social justice institution and we are a catholic institution. We often call God the God of Love and the God of peace but last time I checked, he was also a God of Justice. In the midst of the American crisis regarding Mike Brown, Erick Garner and so many countless others, this social justice institution was silent. There was no place for students to speak on the matters or let out their grievances.
Thankfully, our multicultural programs provided a space for us to talk about the issue but those conversations just reminded us that when it comes to cultural competency, we are not there yet. When it comes to every saint striving to understand and be open-minded about the experiences of their fellow saint, we are not there yet. When it comes to being able to respectfully foster intellectual conversations about race, we are not there yet. When it comes to supporting students of color on this campus and providing them with resources, though there has supposedly been changes and progress, we simply are not there yet. People have so many negative things to say but nobody has come up with a solution! That is why the black students of Emmanuel College delivered their demands this morning. They have been delivered as a proposal of solutions to the racial issues on campus.
This proposal calls for cultural competency training, the creation of a multicultural/diversity office to support students of color, more faculty and staff of color, and increased funding to support these measures. The administration of Emmanuel College is not being accused. The black students are simply holding them accountable for their needs. Students have given the administration until January 14, 2015 to come out with a detailed response to our requests.
So let the records show that on Monday, Dec. 8, 2014 black students at Emmanuel College conducted a peaceful demonstration to stand in solidarity with the rest of the nation regarding the non-indictment of Darren Wilson, Daniel Pantaleo, and countless others who are not and will not be held accountable for the deaths of black men and women.
Let the records show that Gabriela Taveras, Darris Jordan, Berace Depestre, Crystal Njoku, Laurie Boyd, Ashlee Jeanott, Andy Compere, Kyera Sterling, Gabriela Taveras and other black students at Emmanuel College spoke out against racism, shared their experiences, and stood for justice.
Let the records show that this peaceful demonstration sparked a College of the Fenway protested that included Simmons, Wheelock, Wentworth, MCPHS, and MassArt.
Let the records show that the black students of Emmanuel College delivered a letter of demands to its president, board of trustees, and vice presidents at approximately 11:30AM on Monday, Dec. 8, 2014.
Let the records show that the black students of Emmanuel College and their allies from all over the Fenway said, “Enough is enough.”
Let the records show that the black students of Emmanuel College held their institution accountable to its sacred Catholic values and social justice ministry.
Let the records show that the promising future of Emmanuel College is with its stakeholders and it is their responsibility to hold its community accountable.
Sincerely,
The Black Students
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