The Department of Sociology stands with President Santa Ono “Together Against Racism and Injustice.” We stand in solidarity with Indigenous, Black, Asian, and other racialized, migrant and minority communities that have been, and continue to be, subject to ethno-racial violence in various forms. We condemn all anti-Black and anti-Asian racism as well as the continued violence directed at Indigenous communities.
As scholars working on unceded Musqueam territory, we recognize the many ways that racism continues to pervade our society through its deep historical and structural roots. As sociologists, our task is to identify, condemn, and work towards eradicating racism through our teaching, scholarship, and advocacy. We welcome the institutional actions outlined in President Ono’s letter, and will work closely with him and other UBC faculty, students, and staff towards creating a more equitable university and society.
This coming academic year, together with the Department of Anthropology, we will host a new lecture series on race and racism. Recent and ongoing events in Canada and the U.S. – most visibly galvanized in the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, and the support and solidarity that such acts of violence have precipitated – highlight the urgent and ongoing need for critical dialogue. News of this series will follow shortly, as we plan the inaugural lecture to take place later this year.
We encourage you to read this post on solidarity and anti-racist action from our colleagues at the UBC Equity & Inclusion Office and to find ways to educate yourself on how you can make a difference.
