Faculty, Staff Examine Racism, ‘America’s Original Sin’
Conversation to continue Wednesday, June 24.
As the nation grappled with the aftermath of the recent killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery, Sacred Heart University conducted a conversation with faculty and administrators, “Heart Challenges Hate: Wrestling with the Legacy of America’s ‘Original Sin.’”
Michelle Loris, professor and associate dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, moderated the virtual discussion on YouTube in early June.
“The purpose of the series is to respond with knowledge, reasoned discussion, faith and values to the prevalence of hatred, bigotry and violence that we see and experience in America today,” Loris said. “It is our assumption that as a Catholic university, we have an essential role to play in speaking about these injustices.”
Loris said racism against black people is woven into the fabric of U.S. culture and society. The recent deaths and other incidents of injustice—such as a white woman in Central Park calling police to complain that a black man was threatening her and her dog after he asked her to put the dog on a leash—have exposed the hatred that exists in this country. She asked her five panelists and the audience, “How can we change? How can we bring about racial justice?”
Racism against black women
Elizabeth Johnson-Tyson, clinical assistant professor and chair of the student success program at SHU’s School of Social Work, agreed to be a part of the panel as long as she could speak to her three life roles: a mother, a professional and an African-American woman.
“I want my story to be heard,” she said. “I want there to be an opportunity for people who don’t necessarily get an opportunity to speak with African-American women to hear my story.
“African-American women are probably the most vulnerable people in this country,” she said before proceeding to explain, giving an example of medical care. Johnson-Tyson said there is a significant difference in experience when a black person goes to a hospital versus someone who is a different skin color. She talked of a friend who visited a hospital on three occasions because of acute pain and was denied care each time. The fourth time, upon refusing to leave, she was admitted. After her evaluation, doctors discovered she had stage-4 lung cancer.
“It didn’t have to go down like that,” Johnson-Tyson said.
She related another a story about taking her son to the hospital after he fell down stairs. The hospital’s social worker wanted to call the Department of Children and Families because she was skeptical of the injury’s circumstances. When Johnson-Tyson explained where she lived—a wealthy, predominately white neighborhood—the social worker’s demeanor changed. “She suddenly understood why my son fell down the stairs; she understood that these things happen; she suddenly understood I was a good parent.”
Johnson-Tyson also cited a statistic that more African-American women die in childbirth in the United States than any other race.
“The daily task of living…it involves a lot,” she said. “Just being on this panel…this is hard for us. It is an opportunity for us to share our voice and make a difference. However, at the same time, it’s really important that our colleagues and the world understand that it costs us something. When we have these conversations, it costs us something.”
When Johnson-Tyson teaches about racism, she said, she isn’t just going over what happened historically, but also what happens today. She said she has encountered much racism in her life, but it hurts more when it happens to her children. “It hurts even more when you know it doesn’t have to happen in first place,” she said.
Remembering lives lost
Crystal Hayes, clinical assistant professor of social work, reiterated that being on the panel was quite an emotional and difficult experience for her and her black peers. “We are here to reflect on what it means to be impacted by the violence of white supremacy…I know this isn’t easy for us to do; we don’t have great models for talking about white supremacy and anti-racism in this country,” she said.
She said it would be remiss if she didn’t pause to remind viewers about indigenous tribes. “We are here on sacred ground. Our institution is on sacred ground. Several indigenous tribes once occupied the territory that is now known as Bridgeport, CT,” Hayes said. “I want to show my gratitude to them, and all the indigenous tribes who were violently removed from land that we share today. Their lives have been erased in this discussion despite our shared experiences with white supremacy and we owe them everything as they are our brothers and sisters in the struggle for freedom too.”
Hayes continued, “I believe black lives matter unequivocally and without qualification. It was unconscionable and unimaginable what happened to George [Floyd]. The violence that black people face…it’s evil.”
Hayes emotionally read the names of all the innocent black men and women who were murdered. She also read the names of black activists who worked hard for change.
“That list of names, that huge list of names, we can’t be numb to that,” Loris said after Hayes concluded. “We have to take that in. We have to know that each one of them was a human being, someone who has contributed, who lost their life, who suffered. What you’ve given us is incredibly powerful and overwhelming.”
Notes to academia and students
Candace Parrish, director of strategic communication and public relations, said Black Lives Matter is actually two movements, not one. “There’s one for white people and one for minorities,” Parrish said.
The journey for white people who support Black Lives Matter is dedicated to eradicating white supremacy and racism. The movement for black people—and all people of color—is one of healing. “I’m hoping we can all do the work so we can eventually meet up together and enjoy the fruits of that in society,” Parrish said.
Parrish addressed the University and the academic community about ways they can be better allies to African-Americans and other people of color. She also spoke directly to minority students, giving advice and reassurance. “To SHU and academia, we cannot be forerunners for change if we don’t first clean up the messes in our own home,” Parrish said. “Over the past days and years, people have spoken out about injustices they have experienced on campuses across America. If you are unaware, read the hashtag BlackInTheIvory on Twitter or read the book Written/Unwritten: Diversity and the Hidden Truths of Tenure by Patricia A. Matthew.”
Parrish said black people and other people of color continue to be oppressed on campuses across the country, and universities must work to change the academic climate. If minority and international students do not feel comfortable, or have been harassed, she said, start there. “Academia—fix that first,” Parrish urged her peers.
Addressing minority students, Parrish said, “Please know that you are loved and you are valued. Your existence on these campuses is vital; your purpose in the world is necessary. Please do not think you are alone. I encourage you to find your support network and community on campus.”
She also encouraged staff and faculty to huddle around people of color, protecting them and making sure they have someone to whom they can vent.
Racism is not Catholic; it’s a sin
“The first thing you need to do is admit you have a problem,” said Dan Rober, advanced lecturer in Catholic studies. “We as Catholics in the United States have a serious problem with racism and white privilege.”
Rober said the black Catholic community is small because white church leadership has made life difficult at every turn. He told the audience that Martin Luther King, Jr., believed he received more hate from white Catholics in Chicago suburbs than from segregationists in Alabama.
“Participation in racism as Catholics is ongoing, is deeply-rooted and wide-spread,” Rober said.
Rober said that people do not need to be descendants of slave owners, or have ancestors in the U.S. for hundreds of years, to participate in and benefit from systematic white privilege. Catholics need to come to grips with these realities, he said, suggesting that now, more than ever, people must learn, listen and reflect to avoid complacency.
What can be done now
Gary MacNamara, executive director of public safety and government affairs and former Fairfield Police Department chief, said that after watching the video of Floyd being murdered, he was so angry, he could not sleep.
“To see an individual murdered by a police officer … to see the other officers standing there while bystanders are saying that ‘he can’t breathe’ and ‘he needs help’ affects me,” MacNamara said. “It’s wrong, and it’s bad, and we have to do something about that. We are given that responsibility.”
To rectify the behaviors of police officers, he suggested more training. He also said cities and towns have to redefine the way police interact with residents. “There is something structurally that needs to be changed in training,” MacNamara said. “We have to ask everyone going into law enforcement why they want to pursue that career, and the answer better be appropriate to what we want it to be.”
Police officers must be part of a community, care about it and understand their responsibility, MacNamara said. “Use of force should always be the last resort,” he added.
Hayes said racism is going to exist, and she’s not necessarily concerned about a neighbor disliking her, but she wants to be sure her country protects her civic and political rights. She desires the same opportunities as everyone else. “We shouldn’t have to worry about being assaulted based on the color of our skin,” she said. “It’s important to live in a country willing to protect our rights.” She said Congress can pass an anti-lynching bill, legislation on police reform and other measures.
“We don’t need another study about the wealth gap or more research on health disparities; we don’t,” Hayes said. “There are things we can do right now. We need the political will.”
Johnson-Tyson said now is not the time for black people to educate and train everyone regarding racism. People don’t wake up and say “I’m a racist,” but neither do they wake up and say, “I don’t want to be racist,” she said. “They need to say ‘I don’t want to be a racist’ and then figure out the next steps.”
She suggested people read up on black history, ask questions and do not make assumptions about African-Americans. She also urged black people to love themselves, renew their minds and not conform to the world.
The next “Heart Challenges Hate” discussion is Wednesday, June 24 at 7 p.m. and will focus on white privilege. Visit www.sacredheart.edu/hch for more info.