Sistas in Action: Hearing the Call, Leading the Way

Sistas in Action: Hearing the Call, Leading the Way

Michelle Chamblin, Lisa Zakiya Newland, Janice Kelly, Linda M. Silva Thompson
Copyright: © 2022 |Pages: 24
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-7998-9774-3.ch006
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Abstract

On May 25, 2020, the death of George Floyd ignited the consciousness of many who were questioning the grave injustices of a society that is inequitable, unfair, and plagued with structural racism. For many students at Molloy College, an institution grounded in the Dominican pillars of community, study, spirituality, and service, Mr. Floyd's death marked a pivotal moment. Students called for the institution to provide guidance and action for how they could be transformation agents in addressing these issues. Responding to the call, and leading the way, four African American faculty coined Sistas in Action, created a workshop that focused on themes of anti-racism, and introduced their 3-C model for having conversations dealing with coded language. Results and impact of the workshops were demonstrated through student surveys showing greater confidence in talking about race and taking action. Discussion and recommendations concerning Black faculty leadership in partnership with the institution for the benefit of the education community is explored.
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Introduction

On May 25, 2020, George Floyd stopped breathing as officer Derek Chauvin knelt on Mr. Floyd's neck for over nine minutes. Mr. Floyd was handcuffed and lying face-down in a street while two other police officers, J. Alexander Kueng and Thomas Lane, assisted Chauvin in restraining Mr. Floyd. The unfortunately familiar and painful cries of “I can’t breathe” from a Black man, reverberated through the minds and souls of people worldwide. After several minutes, Floyd stopped speaking. He lay motionless and Officer Kueng found no pulse when urged to check- yet officer Chauvin ignored pleas from bystanders to lift his knee from Mr. Floyd's neck. These events were captured on video and aired widely on various media outlets (Hill et al., 2020). Society was forced to sit with this reality as many recognized that harm was done and healing was needed.

Key Terms in this Chapter

Race Amity: Cross-racial and cross-cultural amity that impacts the public discourse on race.

Racial Equity Dialogue: A dialogue series that fosters critical space for students, faculty, and staff to deepen their understanding and commitment to anti-racist and equity-minded educational frameworks. These frameworks are built on inclusive settings and social justice pedagogy.

Amity: A friendly relationship.

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