Hofstra Center for "Race,” Culture and Social Justice Statement on Fed-Up-Rising 2020




Hofstra University’s Center for “Race,” Culture and Social Justice extends its deepest sympathies to the family of George Floyd, a 46-year-old unarmed Black man, who died when a white Minneapolis policeman took a knee to his neck and choked him to death on Memorial Day. We extend our sympathies to the family of Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old unarmed Black man, who was murdered by a white vigilante father and son duo while jogging on a Georgia road in February. We mourn with the family of Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old unarmed Black woman, who was shot 8 times in her own bed by several Louisville, Kentucky policemen in March. Lastly, we demand justice for Tony McDade, a 38-year-old Black trans man who was gunned down by police in Tallahassee, Florida on May 27. We add their deaths to the long list of Black people who were guilty of “living and dying while Black” and now serve as the catalysts for the Fed-Up-Rising of 2020. Black Lives Matter!

We support the right to peaceful protests of all these murders and believe everyone deserves a voice and the right to freedom of expression. Although we do not condone the violence demonstrated during these national and global protests, we recognize the ongoing state-sanctioned violence against people of African descent and other marginalized groups. We seek to contextualize the long history of genocide of Indigenous peoples and the capture and enslavement of African peoples by European colonizers upon their arrival to the New World more than 400 years ago. The United States’ current problem with racial injustice cannot be solved independent of its violent historical context that is rooted in white supremacy.


Our mission at the Center is to champion the concept of “race” as a scientifically baseless, illogical and incoherent explanation for human difference, in hopes of destroying false notions of racial division. Furthermore, we acknowledge the true reality of structural racism as it continues to create hierarchy and challenge hopes for American unity and progress. It is unacceptable for the dominant culture to appropriate and celebrate ethnic music, sport and food culture and then oppress and deny the cultural creators the right to experience their full humanity. The worldwide pandemic has exposed the health, economic and racial disparities that account for the disproportionate sickness and death among the most vulnerable populations. This recent spate of racialized violence has exacerbated the horrors of the COVID-19 crisis leading to widespread increases in post-traumatic stress, anxiety and depression. Finally, we embrace the power of social justice work to right the wrongs of society and extend an opportunity for the larger Hofstra community to join us in our call for truth and reconciliation.

In solidarity,


Center for “Race,” Culture and Social Justice Executive Council:

Jonathan Lightfoot, Director
Veronica Lippencott, Associate Director
Benita Sampedro Vizcaya, Associate Director

Advisory Board Members:

Margaret Abraham
Daysi M. Aguilar
Gillian G. Atkinson
Carol Carter
Athelene Collins
Cornell Craig
Denise S. Cunningham
Annette B. Davis
Michael D’Innocenzo
Álvaro Enrigue
Akilah N. Folami
Kelvin Fonville
Richard N. Hayes
Joyce C. Hidalgo
Aashish Kumar
Behailu Mammo
Dennis W. Mazzocco
Lisa Merrill
Jennifer M. Mone
Anne Mongillo
Mario A. Murillo
Christopher W. Niedt
Vimala C. Pasupathi
Bradley Phillippi
Nancy Richner
Tomeka Robinson
SM Rodriguez
Katrina Sims
Roosevelt Smith
Gabrielle St. Léger
Lutisha Vickerie-Dearman
Aisha Wilson-Carter
Charmise P. Woodside-Desire
David E. Woolwine
Kristal B. Zook





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