Dear Friends,
We are outraged by the murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and countless other Black Americans. The police violence and brutality inflicted on protesters who are demanding justice illuminates the oppressive systems that remain in place.
To truly protect the lives of Black people, we must dismantle the white supremacy that has flourished in American society for over 400 years, on land stolen from Indigenous people and in buildings built by Black slaves. Now is the time to take action to fight systemic racism and demand change. Our vision of cultural and linguistic freedom demands that we fight racism, inequality, and white supremacy in all its forms.
We invite you, our supporters and friends, to hold us accountable. We also encourage you to join us in pursuing change. At 7000 Languages, we have committed to:
Recognize the ways we have failed to promote diversity, equity, and anti-racist practices within our own organization.
Educate ourselves on anti-racism and critical race theory as an ongoing, required component of our professional development.
Create opportunities for people of color to excel at all levels of our organization, from paid internships to service on our board of directors.
Consistently and loudly call out racism in linguistics and language policy.
In all our work, center the voices and needs of the communities of color we serve.
If you are unsure where to start, here are some resources we have found particularly useful:
And for those of you who have long been fighting this battle, thank you. We see you. Here are mental health resources created by people of color, for people of color, with an emphasis on supporting Black people:
We wish you all strength and safety in the days ahead, and we stand with you in demanding justice for the Black community.
In solidarity,
The 7000 Languages Team
