Nothing Can Be Changed Until It Is Faced
The Hopkins Center for the Arts marquee holds these words from James Baldwin as a stark reminder that, as we grieve and mourn all murders and acts of anti-Black violence, we must confront the racism in our midst.
In the words of our President Phil Hanlon, "Racism continues to be a stain on our nation. We are outraged by deplorable acts of violence against black men and women, such as the recent killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor. And by the less visible structural forms of racism that lead people of color to disproportionately shoulder the burdens of poverty and inequality as has been so strikingly evident in the higher incidence of illness, job loss, and death they are experiencing as a result of the pandemic."
As strongly as we believe in the power of the arts to transform lives, we commit to working against the inequalities that exist within our arts community and in our larger community. We stand in solidarity with our colleagues and students of color and remain steadfast in our determination to continue to work together for the betterment of all by directing our efforts and privilege toward justice and equality. #BlackLivesMatter
Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced. James Baldwin, "As Much Truth As One Can Bear." New York Times, January 14, 1962