MCC Daily Tribune

Creating Effective Social Justice Habits

As we begin to think about a return to campus, it is vital that we not lose sight of the pain and turmoil that many who we serve and work with continue to experience as a result of systemic racism and police brutality. As a community, we must call out and hold accountable our broken structures, build bridges that will lead to mutual understanding and respect across differences, and work to create a future in which we can all thrive, especially in these most challenging times. This work must happen across the nation - and it must happen at MCC.

We must continue to acknowledge the grief, anger, sadness, helplessness, and outrage that these killings create in our community and across the nation. Let us channel those feelings toward a commitment to each other's wellness. That commitment starts with acknowledging the advantage of those who have privilege, and the need to educate ourselves so that we can identify and eliminate behaviors, policies, and laws that perpetuate systemic racism.

The journey to becoming enlightened requires courage and a willingness to change habits. A habit, according to Dictionary.com, is "an acquired behavior pattern regularly followed until it has become almost involuntary." As educators and as students learning about the history of racism in America, the eradication of systemic racism requires that issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion be ingrained as a part of our everyday thinking.

To start this journey, I challenge faculty, staff, and students to join me in completing the 21-day Racial Equity Habit Building Challenge by Debby Irving. Use what you are learning to increase your understanding so that you can: 1) challenge your assumptions and blind spots, 2) build better relationships, and 3) have more informed conversations with your colleagues and students of diverse backgrounds.

If you are looking for ways to incorporate social justice into your course(s), or a means to teach your children or grandchildren about the history of protest and rebellion in the U.S., consider participating in the 21-day Racial Equity Habit Building Challenge - Protest and Rebellion by Eddie Moore Jr., who conceived this concept several years ago to advance deeper understandings of the intersections of race, power, privilege, supremacy and oppression.

Silence and apathy are enemies of change. Use these resources to help you to understand how you can become part of the solution. Together, we can breathe life into our vision of becoming a recognized leader in championing equity, opportunity, innovation, and excellence while transforming students' lives and communities. Also, consider sharing what you are learning at diversity@monroecc.edu.

Calvin Gantt
Office of the President
07/20/2020