Dear Colleagues,
Black History Month is a time for us to celebrate the achievements and contributions of the Black community and to amplify the Black voices in our communities. Throughout the month of February, UCI BioSci’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion will highlight a number of Black scholars in our scientific community who are currently contributing to discoveries and knowledge creation in the life sciences, as well as historical figures whose legacies we will not soon forget. Please tune in to the BioSci DEI website and to BioSci’s social media to follow our spotlights this month.
We must also remember that Black History Month is much more than a celebration of the Black community. Black history is American history. It is vital to our growth as a society to acknowledge the harsh truths of our nation’s past, the challenges of the present, and to be mindful of how we may strive for a better future. We are heartbroken that our colleagues and friends at Historically Black Colleges and Universities throughout the country had to lock down or postpone classes due to bomb threats on the first day of Black History Month. This heartless and cowardly act of terror demonstrates just how much work remains to be done to unlearn racism and align with the dignity and liberation of Black people.
In this spirit, we will be hosting a virtual screening of the compelling documentary, White Like Me, by anti-racist educator and author Tim Wise, and engaging in a moderated discussion to deepen our collective work toward racial justice. The discussion will be moderated by Kusum Crimmel, an experienced facilitator of transformational change and curator of space for people to express their truth, respect others’ truths and move toward the courageous work of restorative justice.
The virtual screening and discussion will be on February 23 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. RSVP here to receive the zoom link.
Please also stay tuned for more Black History Month programs and events coming this month. In the meantime, there are many other ways to get involved during Black History Month:
- Take the Black Thriving Initiative (BTI) Pledge
- Attend one or more Black History Month Events
- Enroll in the BTI Educational Modules
In solidarity,
Michael A. Yassa, PhD
Professor and James McGaugh Chair in the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory
Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
School of Biological Sciences
inclusion.bio.uci.edu
