June 8: More Than 200 Faculty and Staff Members Sign Spelman’s Black Lives Matter Statement

More Than 200 Faculty and Staff Members Sign Spelman’s Black Lives Matter Statement

Faculty and staff members from across Spelman College added their names to a public statement condemning systemic racism and supporting the Black Lives Matter movement. The letter, "Black Lives Matter: An Open Statement from Spelman College Faculty and Staff," was disseminated via email to nearly 20,000 members of the Spelman community, neighboring institutions and the media on Tuesday, June 3. From the 1967 Kenner Commission to the 2015 Presidential Task Force on 21st Century Policing to current protests happening globally, the letter highlighted ongoing efforts to address civil unrest in America. "As scholars and staff of an institution invested in Black women’s education writ large, we have studied, researched, and taught about the many and varied ways U.S. society has sustained, maintained, reinforced, and safeguarded a violent and virulent anti-blackness ideology," the letter stated. "Still, we ask: Why is there not greater accountability in the arrest and conviction of all police officers involved in the George Floyd case? Why were our students arrested?" How do we work together to create a more equitable and just society, and how do we stand up against leaders who blatantly disregard the plight of those who lack adequate access to resources or to economic or political power to help themselves, were just a few questions asked in the letter. "We do not need more commissions, classes, discussions and/or scholarly texts," the letter stated. "We must organize and support each other. We must vote for policies that work for all our communities. The struggle is real. BLACK LIVES depend on ALL OF US."

Dean of Sisters Chapel Discusses Intergenerational Communication During WAOK Interview

Rev. Neichelle Guidry, Ph.D., dean of Sisters Chapel and the director of the WISDOM Center, shared her thoughts on current protests and uprisings, discussed her experiences working with Generation Z, her connection to millennials and why she thinks it is important to communicate intergenerationally during an interview on WAOK’s "On Point with Juandolyn Stokes." During the interview, which aired on Thursday, June 4, Dr. Guidry stated that the wisdom and prayers of those that have come before us can keep us grounded and covered. "We are in a moment of uprising and as impassioned as we can be, we need the wisdom of our elders who have lived through this and who have worked through similar situations in this country," she said. "I am praying that, as this new iteration of the movement for Black lives unfolds, that we sit at the feet of our elders, that we take the plays from their playbook that worked and ask questions about the ones that don’t." Dean Guidry will lead a two-part webinar, "Strategies for Spiritual Wellness in the era of COVID-19 and Black Lives Matter," on Wednesday, June 10, and Wednesday, June 17. The sessions, open to Spelman faculty and staff, will provide tools and perspectives on how to stay spiritually grounded during these uncertain times.

Recent Graduate Accepted into Nine Graduate School Programs
Dorcas Yaa Yeboah Gyekye, a 2020 graduate of Spelman, received offers from nine graduate schools and earned full scholarships to three them. The education studies major from Richmond, Virginia, by way of Accra, Ghana, credits the Institute for the Recruitment of Teachers with helping her achieve her goals. Committed to investing in the lives of those who will come after her, Gyeke plans to dedicate her career to closing the opportunity gap in the American education system. Her educational philosophy is "brilliance is everywhere, opportunity is not," and she believes the possibilities are endless for a child once they are given the resources needed to thrive. After earning her Master of Education in Teaching Secondary Social Studies, Gyekye plans to teach in middle schools in under-resourced communities in the Southeast region of the United States. While teaching, she wants to start an after-school program for Black and Latinx children that focuses on promoting family literacy, social justice and advocacy, while also equipping students with the skills they need to be successful so they can reach their future college and career goals.

Spelman Alumna, Bernice King, Expresses Pride for Protesters During Good Morning America Appearance
During a recent appearance on Good Morning America, Bernice A. King, C’85, shared that she is proud of those protesting against systemic racism and policy brutality, and she believes her mother and father would be proud as well. "My mother said something so essential. She said, ‘Struggle is a never-ending process. Freedom is never really won.’ We earn it and win it in every generation and these diverse group of young people are earning and winning this freedom." During the interview, which took place Tuesday, June 3, King shared that she hopes the country will focus its attention on "deconstructing and reconstructing policing" by addressing legal reforms. "This time it must change because if it does not change, then I shudder to think what is going to happen in this country," she added.