Dear E&I Community,
In 1926, Carter G. Woodson, the “Father of Black History,” founded a week to commemorate the history and contributions of Blacks in America. He picked the month of February, which corresponded with Frederick Douglas’s birthday. Woodson believed that although many others have tried to erase and omit Black History, it was important for everyone, not just Black people, to understand.
By 1976, the commemoration had expanded to include all of February and became known as Black History Month. Since then, each year we celebrate Black history for 28 days when in reality we should honor the contributions and impact Black people have had in our country every day.
As a campus, we have made progress through many of our diversity and inclusion efforts but we can’t stop there. We must continue moving towards a campus transformation that is done through equity and justice. If we can commit to this, our history will record and show that every Black Life Matters on our campus, that every Black person experiences genuine belonging, safety, and support, that it will be just as accepted and valued to see Black presence and prominence vibrantly on campus as it is to see other groups with large numbers.
As Black staff and faculty begin to move into high-level leadership positions, we look to a time when we no longer need to celebrate the first Black person to lead an office, department, college, or division. We will be able to realize this vision of full leadership inclusion and belonging through the collective efforts of the campus community and today’s campus leadership.
This year’s Black History Month elevates Black Excellence on our campus. In building on the Legacy of Excellence, we want to highlight and celebrate some of the Black History that is being made at UC Berkeley. Needless to say, there are many more highlights that we celebrate beyond those below.
Faculty & Research
The African American Studies Department was awarded a $2.8 million grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Over three years, a project called the Black Studies Collaboratory will take Black studies research outside the classroom and into the local community and greater public discourse. The work will be led by Professors Leigh Raiford and Tianna S. Paschel and include research by African American Studies Ph.D. candidate Ra Malika Imhotep and others.
Amani Allen, executive associate dean and professor of Community Health Sciences and Epidemiology in the School of Public Health, has shared her work on how chronic stress from experiencing day-to-day racism turns into racial differences in health outcomes and how the current pandemic exposes and makes worse these already existing disparities.
The Othering & Belonging Institute continues to lead many important campaigns and produce groundbreaking research that center Black communities. Last year OBI concluded the year-long #400 Years of Resistance to Slavery and Injustice initiative with a discussion on merits and strategy of reparations. The institute also released novel research on racial residential segregation in the Bay Area, which is one of the key barriers historically faced by Black people to achieving equality, with a set of achievable recommendations to get us to that goal. In the wake of George Floyd's killing and the movement it spurred institute staff and faculty released articles and led important discussions to contextualize an unexpected and unprecedented moment that culminated after four centuries of anti-Black racism. This included a re-release of research examining the failures of the 1968 Kerner report to address systemic racism and the policies that should be pursued today.
Staff
Last year and continuing this year, there are a number of key hires in new positions to strengthen and move diversity, equity, and inclusion on campus.
Kairi Williams is the new Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research Administration and Compliance.
Dr. Margaret Hunter will serve as the new Senior Director of the Centers for Educational Justice and Community Engagement.
Dr. Ty-Ron Douglas is the first-ever Associate Athletic Director, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging.
Gregory Mitchell joined the campus as our first professional staff member hired to lead the African American Initiative Scholars Program as the AAI/EOP Academic Counselor.
Lasana Hotep is our new Director for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging under the direction of both the Division of Equity & Inclusion and People & Culture.
Dr. Denzil Streete is the new Chief of Staff & Assistant Dean for Diversity in the Graduate Division and also works with the Division of Equity & Inclusion. with the Division of Equity & Inclusion.
Miya Hayes was appointed as the new Associate Director of Campus Partnerships & Engagement at the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. She brings more than 20 years of campus experience with her.
Melissa Charles and Takiyah Jackson of African American Student Development partnered with student leaders and groups to write a proposal that led to the un-naming of Barrows Hall. Since 2015, students, staff, and faculty have called for the un-naming because of David Barrows’ advocacy of white supremacy and his legacy of racism towards Filipinos, Black people, and Indigenous peoples.
African American Initiative (AAI)
The African American Initiative, under the guidance of African American committee chair Takiyah Jackson and with the strategic visioning of Mia Settles-Tidwell, has been presented system-wide as a model for institutionalizing strategic initiatives that advance the goals for improving the campus experience of underrepresented communities. Under the leadership of Brooke Hendrickson, senior director of Development, Student Experience and Diversity, and the UDAR team received another anonymous $1 million donation. Four scholars have been hired to lead the AAI Student Support and Community Engagement Program working with the 82 current scholars. The new 2020 cohort of 42 scholars will be celebrated at the Third Annual African American Initiative Scholars Reception on February 26th.
Office of Undergraduate Admissions (OUA)
Under the direction of Olufemi “Femi” Ogundele, associate vice chancellor of enrollment management and dean of undergraduate admissions, we saw a 38 percent increase in the total number of African American applicants this year. Forty-seven percent more African American students applied to be freshmen and transfer applications increased by 2.3 percent. The number of incoming African American freshmen and transfer students increased from 315, 3.5 percent, in 2019-2020, to 339, 4 percent, in 2020-21.
Students
Student leaders in African American Student Development, the Black Graduate Student Association, African American Initiative, The TRIAD, and the Black Caucus put together a series of programs in Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 to support and serve students through a series of virtual engagements. They have also continued the work in partnership with campus leadership to identify and meet the needs of current and future Black students.
Cal student-athletes started a Racial Justice Council focused on education and awareness. One of their priorities is creating safe spaces for difficult conversations on power, privilege, and implicit bias.
Alumni
Two Cal alumni have accepted positions in the new Biden administration. Adewale ‘Wally’ Adeyemo is now the deputy treasury secretary and Funmi Olorunnipa Badejo is the associate counsel in the Office of White House Counsel.
We are at a moment that must be sustained into a movement in order to dismantle the anti-Black racism that has been weaved into the fabric of our structures, practices, and biases for hundreds of years. If we stay committed, history will show that we all worked together for the liberation of Black people on our campus and beyond.
You can learn more about Black history and find campus events being held in celebration of the month at this website.
In partnership,
Division of Equity & Inclusion
African American Student Development
African American Studies