Commentary
On behalf of the EWU campus community, I express my heartfelt thanks to the citizens of Cheney who support the diversity of people and perspectives throughout our community. Recognizing that we are all different and all persons have value is the first step toward an engaged and enlightened society.
Eastern Washington University and the City of Cheney have a long history together creating a community where we all love to live, learn, work and play. In fact, our birthdays are only a year apart! We hold true to the belief that an institution of higher education should lend itself and the community in which the institution resides toward critical thinking and global awareness. And we are in a unique position to do so given the diversity of students who reside in Cheney while seeking higher education degrees. EWU is a microcosm of the country reflecting a multitude of different races, cultures, socio-economic levels, sexual orientations, religions, abilities, languages, beliefs and geographical regions that reflect multicultural populations present on campus and in the Cheney community.
Therefore, we cannot dismiss the recent events of car vandalisms and racist graffiti, and how they’ve been characterized. In order to combat and overcome hatred, we need to facilitate informed discussions and strong narratives that accurately portray the underlying issues so the public can understand and take action accordingly.
I am particularly concerned and disappointed regarding the Cheney Free Press article with a headline entitled “Hate Crime or Stupidity?”
The recent article in the Cheney Free Press, with a headline entitled, “Hate Crime or Stupidity?” frames the story frivolously and speaks directly to the lack of cultural awareness and sensitivity to the issue at hand. The vandalism, destruction of property, fear the victims experienced and the fear communities of color experienced as a result of these actions and use of a derogatory word — one of the most divisive words in the English language prevalent during slavery and further perpetrated during Jim Crow in minstrel shows and other vehicles designed to demean, belittle and show power over African Americans — is an explosive word with a demonic history of bondage and pain. To this day, the “n” word has a psychological effect on the black community and is not taken lightly.
To that end, EWU’s Office for Diversity & Inclusion offers our expertise as a community partner to assist in understanding issues of diversity and inclusivity as we move forward in fostering a climate both on our campus and in the community that welcomes and respects differences. We extend this invitation to our colleagues in the news media, as they provide an important vehicle that informs and seeks the truth. By researching and incorporating diverse perspectives, we can more accurately report the issues and lived experiences of underrepresented populations.
Dr. Shari Clarke is Vice President for Diversity & Inclusion at Eastern Washington University.
Reader Comments(0)