May 25 marks the one-year anniversary of George Floyd’s senseless murder by a convicted former police officer, which galvanized a worldwide movement.
For hundreds of years, white supremacy has taken many forms in this country. Consequently, BIPOC people have been and continue to be intentionally silenced by the whitewashing of American history, gaslighting, voter suppression, and multi-generational oppression.
At our Center, we have been pushing every boundary to ensure that we are not silenced. We do not subscribe to the bootstraps myth for success that fails to consider circumstances or systemic harms faced by BIPOC people. We will not stand by as victims of police brutality are crucified in the media while their murderers evade accountability.
We must stand for racial equity and fight against injustices. We WILL be heard.
On this day, we painfully reflect on the devastating events of the last year. We also reflect on the steep increase in hate crimes against Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) people since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic as we recognize May as AAPI Heritage Month. To fight against racial injustices, we must not only recognize anti-Black racism, but Anti-Asian hate as well. This hate also extends to other persons who continue to be marginalized and dehumanized.
Anti-Black, Anti-Asian, and other hate are interconnected and deeply woven into the fabric of our society. Dismantling the systemic racial inequities built on the foundation of white supremacy will require us to stand together.
It is not enough to make empty statements of calls for unity—we must live the values we espouse about racial justice. Our Center’s research team has been leading health equity work for over a decade, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to being the change needed for equity and lifting health for all.
¡Adelante! Let’s keep moving forward.
Sincerely,
Melissa and our Team at the Center for Health Equity Transformation
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