By William R. Smith and Troy Case

We recognize that the pain, suffering, and outrage caused by recent events, combined with long histories of oppression, are not equally distributed in our community. Nor have the precipitating events been outliers. The killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery reflect deep flaws in how the institutions that are supposed to deliver equal justice for all actually work. These failings are in turn linked to larger systems of inequality that permeate U.S. society. We, as a department of sociology and anthropology, are keenly aware of how conscious and unconscious bias in housing, employment, education, and health care produce systematic advantages for some groups and disadvantage for others. We want to recognize that people of color in our own midst—in our own university, college, and department—have suffered in the wake of Mr. Floyd’s death, because it symbolizes the racism that they themselves have endured as students, staff, and faculty. As a department, we want to support each other, especially those most impacted by recent events. We will work harder to demonstrate our commitment to inclusion and to achieving equity as part of our teaching, service, and research here at North Carolina State University. We will strive to build a community and create an environment where everyone’s well-being is valued and people are supported, not just heard.