While we celebrate a day centered around freedom and justice, we are reminded of protests and civic dialogue around the world that call attention not just to the ongoing history of police brutality and abuse, but also to the core issue of White supremacy. The brutal killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and Rayshard Brooks (and too many more) are blatant reminders of the painful injustices that continue to affect the Black community since origins of the country. The McCarthy Center is founded on the values of democratic engagement, equity, and justice. We take a firm stance against all forms of racism and bigotry. White supremacy and systemic racism must be challenged at CSB/SJU, at the St. Joe City Hall, and everywhere around the globe.

Black lives matter and young voices matter.  As my Political Science colleague, Dr. Pedro dos Santos, and I recently told the St. Cloud Times, having different voices and diverse representation in government and all organizations is both critical and long overdue.

Last October, the McCarthy Center partnered with the Black Students Association to draw attention to police brutality and community transformation following the police killing of Philando Castile, which occurred in Twin Cities. At this event, chaired by CSB student Tynesha Ashley, Black Lives Matter activist, John Thompson, challenged CSB/SJU audiences to be the change we want and be unapologetic about it. 

The voices and activism of young people are often marginalized, slow-walked, and dismissed. To enhance your voices, the McCarthy Center is pushing for greater student voter engagement for the upcoming November elections. Not only will national figures be elected but students will also vote for the mayor of St. Joe and several city council members as they will seek re-election. We encourage you to not only hold national figures accountable but also local ones. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. reminds us that “our lives end when we become silent about the issues that matter.” Keep these issues alive and let your concerns be heard at the polls in November. More info on voting here. 

Besides the embedded links above, the following are some resources that address issues of racial justice and equity.

1. Listen to today’s episode of “I’m Glad You Asked: How Can  College Campus Combat Racism,” a McCarthy Center student-led podcast. In this episode, CSB/SJU students Reagan Dolezal and Elliot Edeburn talk with CSB Student Senate President Sadé Larson and SJU President Joseph Schwamm. They discuss problems and possibilities for students, faculty and the multiple administrations at CSB/SJU.                                                                                                                                                                                                   
2. Dr. Wilson Edward Reed, author of The Politics of Community Policing and McCarthy Center Scholar in Residency, spoke about this Politics and a Pint. Dr. Reed grew up in segregated Mississippi and talks about his personal journey and life of academic research on policing.

3. Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum, an expert on the psychology of racism and author of the best-selling book, Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria, told a McCarthy Lecture campus audience that we need to examine the “What, So What, and Now What” of a race-conscious society. You can watch her riveting interview with President Dr. Mary Dana Hinton here.  

4. Due to Covid-19, the McCarthy Center’s March campus event with Dr. Josie Johnson, a civil rights icon and hero is now rescheduled for the fall.  Dr. Josie Johnson, recently said on National Public Radio, “not only are we not going backwards — we must hold on to what we've learned and encourage, support, protect our children. We have got to help them make a difference so that the next generation…..are they going to grow up in an environment which they have to continue to struggle?”

5. The McCarthy Center Joe Farry Professor of Political Science Dr. Christi Siver and several other authors have some timely and insightful articles about racial and gender equity and inclusion in the recent CSB Magazine.                                                                                     
6. Lauren Simmons, the second African-American female trader at the New York Stock Exchange, recently spoke about “The Power of Being the OTHER in the Room” at the Mark Kennedy Frontiers in Freedom McCarthy Center Lecture on campus in November.