June 1, 2020
Dear L&S Faculty and Staff Colleagues,
Like many of you, I watched the video of the killing of George Floyd last week with horror and disgust. I have spent much of the past few days watching the news and checking my phone for updates on the civic unrest that has ensued throughout the country and close to home.
It is difficult for me to write a message to the L&S community in a way that is not personal. I am an African-American male, my daughter lives in Minneapolis, and my father and brother still live in Philadelphia. I have been in a park and asked someone to control their dog. I have been on runs through different neighborhoods. The recent events in New York, Georgia, and Minneapolis hit home.
I know that words are woefully inadequate at this moment, but I want to acknowledge the pain, anger, and frustration felt by many members of our L&S community. It is real, it is justified, it can be overwhelming, and it can leave us with a debilitating sense of helplessness. But let us not fall into thinking that systemic racism and injustice are problems too large and too pervasive for us to solve. Let us not fall into thinking that finding solutions is someone else’s responsibility. This is not work that can or should be only borne by a few. As individuals, we must all speak out and act against racism and injustice, acknowledge our biases and prejudices and work actively to counter them. As a community, we must work to ensure that all of us are safe, welcomed, and included. Together, it is our responsibility to do all that we can to end racism and injustice.
I ask that you take time to check in with your students and your colleagues. Support them and support each other. I also ask that you use the tools of your disciplines to make meaningful change. I applaud the efforts I am seeing in departments across L&S to take concrete steps to make their communities inclusive and welcoming.
I do not know what it will take or how long it will take. But I do know that it will be harder and take longer if we are not all dedicated to ending racism and injustice all the time. Let us commit ourselves to that cause.
Eric
Eric M. Wilcots
Dean and Mary C. Jacoby Professor of Astronomy
College of Letters & Science
University of Wisconsin-Madison