Anti-racism Resources

Below is the content of an email sent to Jaime Sabel (Biological Sciences) from Sarah McAnulty, Executive Director, Skype A Scientist

Dear Colleagues,

We stand in solidarity with Black scientists and completely support the Black Lives Matter movement.

It is essential that each of us, especially my fellow White scientists, take a critical look at how our labs and departments have failed to address systemic racism.

Here are steps we can all take to dismantle the structural racism of our workplaces, which many of us have benefited from at the cost of our Black colleagues and friends.

• Ensure that your department made a statement of solidarity with Black scientists. Know that having Black trainees look to the leadership in your department and see silence is completely unacceptable. For this particular action item, we recommend reflecting on and explicitly identifying the many ways your department has been complicit in perpetuating racial injustices, particularly anti-Black racism. Once identified, lay out a time-bound, long-term plan for how you intend to address them. If you don't give marginalized community members measurable ways to keep you accountable, this statement is going to sound like an empty promise.
• In faculty meeting, have group readings (linked below) of anti-racism literature. Hold community spaces to discuss how the culture of white supremacy affects Black members of your community both in their careers and broadly in their lives. Starting conversations around these readings will ensure everyone actually engages with the material, and communicates to your department that you all will be making a meaningful cultural change together as a community.
• If your lab does not have an inclusive, anti-racist code of conduct you adhere to, create one. This code of conduct should include plans for keeping folks accountable regardless of career level.
• Take advantage of resources your university offers to get training in diversity, equity and inclusion for your department.
• Identify if your department or University is elevating the legacy of harmful people. Is there a fellowship named after James Watson, a known racist? Are there buildings named for slave owners? Be vocal, pester your leaders about it, lend your voice and power to organizations in your community who might have already started that work. If you need inspiration, here is an article about Cold Spring Harbor stripping James Watson of his honorary titles.
• Be a vocal advocate for getting rid of the GRE requirement in your department (if you haven't already). Share evidence with your colleagues that the GRE is not only an ineffective tool for predicting grad school success, but is also a barrier to entry for grad school applications.
• Stop being silent when a colleague or superior says something overtly or covertly racist and harmful. Silence is complicity and allows the idea to fester uncontested. It gives them a free pass to perpetuate harm and make light of irreparable damage they do to the physical and mental health of marginalized folks in your department.

We know taking these actions is not easy. It will be uncomfortable and you will feel the fear of losing power and opportunities, but that is exactly how white supremacist culture pervades STEM. Yes, department politics and dynamics are often complicated and slow to change. Our departments are full of people who have more to gain by not changing the existing system. Your colleagues may consider themselves allies, while upholding rules and conventions in the department that are harmful to Black students. If you don't know where to start, find allies in your department or in other departments within your University. Work together to figure out how to get those in power to listen. If there is one skill scientists have, it is problem solving. Use the skills you've spent your whole career developing to tackle racism in your department. You can do this.

Guides from academic organizations

• 500 Women Scientists' Guide
• Reclaiming STEM's Statement
• An Open Letter to Our Community in Response to Police Brutality Against African-Americans and a Call to anti-racist Action
• AAPA Statement on Race & Racism

Further guides

• The Characteristics of White Supremacy Culture a great, in depth guide of how our departments, funding structures, and are negatively affected by structures put in place by White Supremacy. This guide also has actionable items on how we can stop these structures from harming our organizations.
• A Framework for Action in Response to Moments of Outrage & Crisis
• A Moment for Accountability, Transformation & Real Questions

Books

• So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
• How To Be Anti-racist by Ibram X. Kendi
• "Superior" by Angela Saini is a beautifully written book with excellent insight on how science itself has failed in the past.

We cannot shy away from issues of racism in academia. Commit to improving academic culture for Black scientists. Start enacting change in your labs, departments, and societies today.

Best,

Sarah McAnulty
she/her
Executive Director
Skype A Scientist