Coalition for Anti-Racist Action

The University of Cincinnati (UC) is a predominantly white institution with a long history of accommodating anti-Black racism. UC’s Irate8, an award-winning student activist group, provides a brief overview of the most egregious (documented) examples in their “Let Us Help You See” video (YouTube, 2015). From Charles McMicken’s 1861 bequeathment to found a college for “white boys and girls” to the Martin Luther King trash parties in the 1980s; the UC Police killings of Lorenzo Collins (1997), Kelly Brinson (2010), and Everette Howard (2011); the racist cartoons with no accountability (2013); and finally the UC Police murder of Samuel DuBose (2015) that ignited their organizing efforts, the Irate8 compiled important history to help “you see” racial injustice at UC and mobilize for change. While the Irate8 achieved important milestones (increased funding and resources for minority serving programs, the inclusion of a DEI statement for all UC job applicants, and more), their organization dissolved as its leaders graduated.

As the late 2010s neared the 2020s, cell phone recordings of police killing unarmed Black Americans continued to elevate awareness of anti-Black police brutality in the United States. Each tragedy ignited local and regional protests, demonstrations, and organizing efforts. The May 2020 murder of George Floyd was the last straw: it ignited protests, demonstrations, and organizing efforts across the nation and world. At the University of Cincinnati, the Black Round Table, Undergraduate Student Government, and others produced fresh sets of demands to UC’s president. Staff and faculty organizations produced resolutions and statements of their own, calling for action and committing to do better.

Among the statements produced was a Pledge to Dismantle White Supremacy within Ourselves and Our Institutions for UC staff and faculty. Those who signed the pledge had the option of joining what would eventually become UC’s Coalition for Anti-Racist Action (CARA), “a cross-campus network of staff and faculty committed to dismantling white supremacy by doing work to support calls to action by Black-led organizations at the University of Cincinnati”. Whereas Black students, staff, and faculty have been organizing and leading efforts to address racial inequities at UC since the 1930s, the forming of the Coalition marked the first time (to our knowledge) that a multiracial staff-faculty group has organized formally to support calls to action by Black-led organizations at UC.

Coalition work during that first and second year emphasized defining organizational structure and initiatives, listening, learning, facilitating discussions, building collaborations within the institution, and writing letters and statements. As the Coalition enters its third year, it hopes to engage more directly in enacting policy change. Although their efforts emphasize collaborating with Black-led organizations at UC, they aim to work collaboratively with all organizations working to produce racial equity.

This work is made possible by scholars and activists at UC who have produced and shared knowledge, understanding of human experience, and models for advocacy and organizing for racial justice. Content (including definitions) is informed by How to Be an Antiracist (Kendi, 2019).

Signers are provided the option of joining UC’s Coalition for Anti-Racist Action (CARA) as a “Member” or "Friend".
  
Members will be identified as CARA members on a public-facing web page. Members also engage in anti-racist action through CARA or through another organization at UC.

Friends are added to our group in MS Teams (provides access to files) and provided email updates and notifications. Those who join CARA as friends now may become members when they are ready.

We strongly encourage returning and new CARA affiliates to sign as members rather than friends. While we understand that some people may be in the early stages of their advocacy journey, change cannot be made until we all stand up together. Anonymity does a disservice to those who do not have the privilege of choosing whether or not to be seen.