Advance at UNM condemns racist attacks on Africana Studies and its leadership

Letter of support for Africana Studies and faculty from ADVANCE at UNM

We, the ADVANCE (NSF) leadership team at UNM, stand in solidarity with Africana Studies and its faculty, students, and staff. We condemn in the strongest possible terms the criminal anti-black racist attacks on Africana Studies and its leadership. Africana Studies is a vitally important part of the University of New Mexico, producing scholarly knowledge, intellectual debate, and public awareness of historical and contemporary issues from the perspective of African Americans. These contributions are of utmost importance to our state, our nation, and the world. An attack on one member of our community is an attack on all of us. We commit to working with UNM leadership to ensure safety and a climate of respect for everyone at UNM, particularly faculty of color who are too often the targets of hateful threats.

We support the statements made by UNM President Garnett Stokes, UNM VP for Equity and Inclusion Dr. Assata Zerai, the UNM Black Faculty Alliance, the NM Black Lawyers Association, United Academics of UNM, the UNM College of the University Libraries and Learning Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences Dean Mark Peceny, Rev. Sue Joiner of the First Congressional United Church of Christ and the growing chorus of voices that support Black faculty.

Sincerely,

Julia Fulghum, Director

Mala Htun, Deputy Director

Mary Jo Daniel, co-PI

Felipe Gonzales, co-PI

Melanie Moses, co-PI

Sandy Rodrigue, program manager

Kate Cunningham, director of communication and social media