Updated Nov. 15, 2015 at 4:35 p.m.
As faculty members who teach in American studies, ethnic studies, Africana studies, Asian American studies, Latino studies and Native American and Indigenous studies, or who are concerned about the current interplay of race and power, we affirm our support for students of color on Brown's campus.
It is terrible that this affirmation is needed. We view the current crisis as deeply rooted in the structures of white supremacy found in our national institutions including in our most cherished universities and colleges. Hierarchies of power and privilege are deeply rooted and resistant to change, as generations of activist Black, Asian, Latino and Native American students and their White allies can attest. The savage inequalities of race, class, gender and sex that have only grown sharper in our society manifest themselves everyday, even in the rarified atmosphere of College Hill, and play out in the daily lives of our students.
When these students read a racist rant in The Herald, they had the courage to say “enough.” Sadly, some inside and outside of Brown were then shocked that they dared to speak at all and rode swiftly to the defense of supposedly embattled free speech and imperiled academic freedom. Calling out racism, we submit, is not an impingement on “freedom of speech” or “academic freedom.” It is an act of self-defense. And frankly, it is a relatively tiny one, lost in the sea of small slights, casual dismissals and serious incidents that our students confront each day.
We applaud and are hopeful about the call of the president and provost to unite around a University agenda of social justice. Many of us have long been asking for the rigorous and careful interrogation of race, racism and privilege. So we gladly join them with renewed energy for the creation and protection of new spaces and bodies of knowledge devoted to a more just and equitable society. We are ready and eager to be a part of what promises to be a remarkable, comprehensive transformation of Brown.
Leticia Alvarado, assistant professor of American studies and ethnic studies
Sarah Besky, assistant professor of anthropology and international and public affairs
Stefano Bloch, presidential postdoctoral fellow in urban studies
Anthony Bogues, professor of Africana studies and director of the Center for the Study of Slavery and Justice
Lundy Braun, professor of Africana studies
Nicole Burrowes, presidential postdoctoral fellow in history
Jordan Camp, presidential postdoctoral fellow in the Center for the Study of Race and Ethnicity in America and the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs
Rebecca Carter, assistant professor of anthropology and urban studies
Wendy Hui Kyong Chun, professor of modern culture and media
Anani Dzidzienyo, associate professor of Africana studies
Jim Egan, professor of English
Kevin Escudero, presidential postdoctoral fellow in American studies
Paja Faudree, associate professor of anthropology
Lina Fruzetti, professor of anthropology
Matthew Guterl, professor of Africana studies, American studies and ethnic studies
Matthew Gutmann, professor of anthropology
Sherine Hamdy, associate professor of anthropology
Françoise Hamlin, associate professor of Africana studies and history
Beverly Haviland, associate professor of American studies
Elizabeth Hoover, asssistant professor of American studies and ethnic studies
Evelyn Hu-DeHart, professor of American studies, ethnic studies and history
Jose Itzigsohn, professor of sociology
Tamar Katz, associate professor of English and urban studies
William Keach, professor of English
Adrienne Keene, presidential postdoctoral fellow in anthropology and the Center for the Study of Race and Ethnicity in America
Michael Kennedy, professor of sociology and international and public affairs
Nancy Khalek, associate professor of religious studies
Daniel Kim, associate professor of American studies and English
Jennifer Lambe, assistant professor of history
Robert Lee, associate professor of American studies
Jessaca Leinaweaver, associate professor of anthropology
Lenore Manderson, visiting professor of environmental studies and anthropology
Yalidy Matos, presidential postdoctoral fellow in the Center for the Study of Race and Ethnicity in America and the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs
Sara Matthiesen, presidential postdoctoral fellow of American studies
Monica Muñoz Martinez, assistant professor of American studies and ethnic studies
Jim McGrath, postdoctoral fellow in the Center for Public Humanities and Cultural Heritage
Richard Meckel, professor of American studies
Brian Meeks, professor of Africana studies
Kym Moore, associate professor of theatre arts and performance studies
Rebecca Nedostup, associate professor of history
Marion Orr, professor of political science and urban studies
Keisha-Khan Perry, associate professor of Africana studies
Samuel Perry, associate professor of East Asian studies
Felipe Martínez-Pinzón, assistant professor of Hispanic studies
Robert Preucel, professor of anthropology and director of the Haffenreffer Museum of Anthropology
Daniel Rodriguez, assistant professor of history
Ralph Rodriguez, associate professor of American studies, English and ethnic studies
Tricia Rose, professor of Africana studies and director of the Center for the Study of Race and Ethnicity in America
Philip Rosen, professor of modern culture and media
Rebecca Schneider, professor of theatre arts and performance studies
Robyn Schroeder, postdoctoral fellow in the Center for Public Humanities and Cultural Heritage
Robert Self, professor of history
Naoko Shibusawa, associate professor of American studies, ethnic studies and history
Elena Shih, assistant professor of American studies and ethnic studies
Bhrigupati Singh, assistant professor of anthropology
Prerna Singh, assistant professor of political science and international and public affairs
Kerry Smith, associate professor of history
Susan Smulyan, professor of American studies and director of the Center for Public Humanities and Cultural Heritage
Sarah Thomas, assistant professor of Hispanic studies
Daniel Vaca, assistant professor of religious studies
Parker VanValkenburgh, assistant professor of anthropology
Lingzhen Wang, associate professor of East Asian studies
Debbie Weinstein, assistant professor of American studies
Esther Whitfield, associate professor of comparative literature and Hispanic studies
Andre Willis, assistant professor of religious studies
Patricia Ybarra, associate professor of theatre arts and performance studies
Vazira Zamindar, associate professor of history
Samuel Zipp, associate professor of American studies and urban studies
