In Response to George Floyd
On Monday, June 1, Interim Head of School Dr. Rosemary White sent the following communication to the BUA community:
Families across the country, in our city, and within our very own community are grieving today.
In the last several months, we have witnessed a spate of racially-motivated violence in America: the killings of Breonna Taylor in Kentucky, Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia, and George Floyd in Minneapolis; and the false report made against Christian Cooper in New York City. Over the past few days, protests and riots have broken out in cities across the nation, including right here in Boston — an eruption of anger, fear, and pain in response to prejudice and mistreatment at the hands of those in power. All this set to the backdrop of a pandemic disproportionately affecting people of color, at a time when tensions are already running high and nerves are frayed.
These events highlight the injustices and often fatal consequences of endemic racism in our society. They affect all of us, especially our Black and African American colleagues, classmates, peers, and friends. It is important to name injustice and racism when we see it, and to stand up peacefully yet courageously for change and what we know is right. As educators, parents, and allies, it is our duty to support our students and children always, but particularly during moments of crisis and uncertainty. It is our responsibility to be open to their questions, and to try to answer them candidly and forthrightly.
Conversations about race, racism, violence, inequality, and inequity are never easy. Nevertheless, I encourage you to discuss and reflect on these issues as a family in the context of recent events. I have listed some articles that may serve as useful resources below.
Boston University’s Howard Thurman Center for Common Ground will host a special edition of their Coffee & Conversations discussion series this afternoon from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m., and BUA students are welcome to join. Participants are encouraged to join to share their reflections, emotions, questions and comments. Additionally, Dr. Jennifer Formichelli will offer a special Conversations@BUA virtual session tomorrow, Tuesday, June 2 at 11:00 a.m. for students seeking a safe space to process emotions and discuss these issues with their peers. The Zoom link for that session is here. As always, School Counselor Stacey Weiskopf is available to support our students and families.
We have also created a Zoom meeting room for BUA’s Black-identifying community members open Monday through Thursday of this week from 1:00-2:00 pm. This is a space for self-care and conversation amongst peers.
Although I would of course prefer to lean on each other and support one another in person in times like these, I draw strength from the closeness of our BUA community and the common values we espouse: inclusion, equity, tolerance, and respect.
Best,
Dr. Rosemary White
Interim Head of School
Resources
How to Talk to Your Children About Protests and Racism
Bearing Witness: The Death of George Floyd
The Center for Racial Justice in Education
From Christian Cooper to George Floyd: A Letter to White Parents