January 19th is the 5th National Day of Racial Healing! The National Day of Racial Healing is “a time for contemplation and collective action on #HowWeHeal from the effects of racism. Launched on Jan. 17, 2017, it is an opportunity to bring ALL people together in their common humanity and inspire collective action to create a more just and equitable world,”
Today, the Emory Libraries want to engage our community in racial healing as an opportunity to broaden and deepen our personal and institutional commitment to social justice. We believe in advocating for honest community conversation on how we can overcome our national history of racial oppression and move to a place of restorative justice.
How Can I Participate?
- Get Started: If you’re looking for ways to get started, consider taking an Implicit Association Test and reflecting on your own unconscious biases. Afterward, view this two-minute video by the University of California San Francisco on how we can counteract bias in academic institutions.
- View Resources: Take a few minutes to explore the Emory Libraries LibGuide on Black Lives Matter and our Social Justice Corner. You can find protest resources and support, TedTalks and YouTube videos to watch and suggested professional development courses.
- Speak Up: Share your plan for action in your community. Post to social media “I will promote racial healing by…” and tag it #LibrariesRespond and #HowWeHeal.
- Get Involved: Emory University is hosting virtual events in honor of King Week, coinciding with the National Day of Racial Healing. Learn how to be a better advocate with a panel of experts, join a conversation around King’s speech “America’s Chief Moral Dilemma,” and listen to Emory alum Maggie Anderson speak on “Legacy and Responsibilities.” Read the full list of events and get involved!
All of us have the responsibility to participate in our national journey of healing. Together, we can heal wrongs, fix injustices, and create a better world.
By Paige Crowl, Teaching and Learning Librarian, Oxford College Library, and DEI committee member