Black lives matter
From the staff of CU Presents
Black lives matter. CU Presents stands against injustice, racism and violence against people of color. We stand in solidarity with Black colleagues, collaborators, friends, patrons and community members. We are committed to working together to end the legacy of racism in our country.
The arts have always served humanity from the front on social change, and will continue to do so now. We renew our commitment to building an inclusive community, with equitable treatment and access to opportunity for all people. We will engage. We will learn. We will act as a positive force for social change.
From Dean Shay, College of Music
As a community of artists and educators, we have watched in pain as yet more acts of brutality were committed against people of color—in a scene that seems to repeat itself on a regular basis. We’ve watched with hope as our nation—despite isolation necessitated by a global pandemic—has come together to take a stand against racism and acts of injustice and violence committed in its name.
I want to echo CU Boulder Chancellor Philip DiStefano’s message of support, hope and inclusivity for all our students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members. Universities must be a beacon of progress in times of social change, and the College of Music must help underscore that story.
Over the coming weeks, we will be convening college faculty, staff and students to respond to and support this movement in a way that involves music and reflects what is in the hearts of our College of Music community. As a cultural institution, we have an important role to play now, as ever, in the events that are shaping our future—and in continuing this dialog thoughtfully in the longer term. Ultimately, I hope we can advance this conversation in a significant and meaningful way as we move forward together.
Robert Shay
Dean, College of Music
From the staff of the Colorado Shakespeare Festival
We at the Colorado Shakespeare Festival decry ingrained racism and violence toward people of color. We mourn the loss of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and so many Black lives before them. Black lives matter.
We stand in solidarity with our Black colleagues, collaborators, friends, audience, and community members and renew our commitment to cultivating a diverse, inclusive and equitable community. There is more work to do and we will do better.
We will continue to educate ourselves so that we can be a positive force for social change and affirm our obligation to take action against injustice.
From Erika Randall, Chair of the Department of Theatre & Dance
There is so much to acknowledge right now. Today, I want to focus on the endemic racism of the US, and the questions of how, as members of a university, we return to education without “turning back” or turning our backs. The killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery and the protest and riots that have followed, point to a deep crisis in our country that must be addressed.
We in the Department of Theatre & Dance must stand together in condemning racist acts and as we respond to these explicit forms of racism on the national level, we must simultaneously interrogate the perpetuation of racism within our curriculum, community, and administrative structures.
Now is the time, as we look to reimagine our classrooms due to COVID-19, that we first keep an eye to anti-racist teaching and learning and examine the white supremacy that can be pervasive and invisibilized in our pedagogical practices and within the history of our art forms.
Friends, consider with me all that we do and how we can remake our world together. Let’s stand against racism on the national level and be vigilant and proactive within our relationships, teaching, and learning here at CU Boulder.
Resources
Resources for adults
Black Lives Matter: Resources
Robin DiAngelo, PhD: Resources
CU Boulder Libraries: Anti-Racism Resources
National Museum of African American History & Culture: Talking About Race
Daisy Lovelace, Professor, Consultant and Coach: Communicating about Culturally Sensitive Issues
Resources for kids
Common Sense Media: Books with characters of color
Embrace Race: Looking for Excellent “Diverse” Books for Children? Start Here!
National Geographic: Talking to kids about race
Aha! Parenting.com: Talking With Children About Racism, Police Brutality and Protests