Systemic racism has plagued the United States throughout its history, beginning with the arrival of the first enslaved Africans in 1619. Although efforts have been undertaken to reduce the impact of these long-standing practices, there is still room for improvement and more work that needs to be done. As these disparities are currently being exhibited on the world stage, it is paramount that Roger Williams University take the opportunity to do a self-assessment.
 
The Roger Williams University Athletic Department stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter Movement and the Black community as a whole. We are filled with sadness, frustration, and anger over the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and countless number of other people of color who have lost their life to police brutality, racially-motivated attacks, and other senseless acts of violence. We stand together as a community against racism and all forms of hate and violence.
 
We are mourning alongside the Black community, in particular our Black students, faculty, and staff as we do our part to create greater equity. We see the protests going on across the country and the world and stand with those in support with those who yearn to see the day where all people are treated fairly and equally.
 
We hear you, we see you, and we stand together with you today and every day as we actively work towards a better tomorrow.
 
We cannot continue to sit idly by as social injustice and systematic oppression of Black Americans and other people of color further divides us as a nation and eats away at the fabric of American life. We recognize that we need to show up for the Black community. We pledge to listen, to learn, to act, and to grow no matter how difficult the conversation. As a department, we will actively engage in conversations, no matter how difficult or uncomfortable. We vow to educate ourselves and our community, as well as support and listen to any guidance on what actions we need to take to move towards a better future.
 
Our commitment is beyond the current moment in this fight for racial equality and justice. As leaders in college athletics, it is our duty to help enact the changes we wish to see in society.
 
As such, we invite all of our supporters of Roger Williams Athletics to join us in learning more about we can do to combat racism. We urge everyone to learn more about how systemic racism and implicit bias has impacted all Americans regardless of ethnicity since the inception of this nation and continues to do so today. Below are some resources to help get you started. This is by no means an exhaustive list of resources. We encourage you to do your own research in addition.
 
Books
The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander
Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo
White Like Me by Tim Wise
 
Rhode Island-based centers for social justice

• The Nonviolence Institute (https://www.nonviolenceinstitute.org/)
• Direct Action for Rights and Equality (https://www.daretowin.org)

 
As per our mission statement, we embrace and celebrate individual differences and commonalities. Our diversity and varied experiences are what shapes our nation and what will create a brighter future for this generation and those to come. We hope that you will join our commitment to help build a better tomorrow.
 

Sincerely,

The Roger Williams University Department of Athletics