University of Maryland to offer 'Anti-Black Racism' studies to "address major societal challenges"

The project seeks to "elevate the status and experience of African Americans" by building on the state's "legacy of racial equity and social justice."

Published by

Verónica Silveri Pazos

April 16, 2023

2 minutes read

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The University of Maryland (UMD) will offer its students a new minor program of study called Anti-Black Racism. According to the grant summary, this curriculum is part of an initiative to build on the state's "legacy of racial equity and social justice."

The curriculum will be implemented "beginning in the fall of 2023" and seeks to "position the University of Maryland as a leading institution against racism towards blacks". It is also part of a broader initiative that "is designed to promote long-term change at the university and on campus and beyond."

The university shared the following statement with Fox News:

The University of Maryland’s Anti-Black Racism minor is part of the university’s work to address one of society's grand challenges through research, knowledge sharing and discussion (...) Courses and symposia are still under development.

"Elevating the status and experience of African Americans"

The project against black racism seeks to develop projects and workshops for its students and teachers. Its mission is to "elevate the status and experience of African Americans" (...) "based on social and behavioral sciences."

Rawshawn Ray, professor of sociology and leader of the initiative, argued that the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences used its research to"highlight disparities" and "inform ways in which the country could move toward a more racially equitable society."

2020 was simply a tumultuous year for everyone, whether it be dealing with COVID, dealing with economic issues and then also a heightened awareness about police brutality and systemic racism, both for Black people in America (...) One thing I know all too well is that we have been grappling with all of these things for a very long time.

The university recognized that its location in Prince George's County is home to one of the most affluent communities in the country. However, the school claimed that the area still experiences"long-standing racial inequalities that manifest on the bodies of Black people."

Despite the affluence of people in the county, it is one of the starkest income divides in the nation (...) The community continues to be plagued with misconduct lawsuits from residents about police brutality and from over 100 Black and Latinx officers about internal problems with promotion and discipline in the county police department. These outcomes are most stark in the killings of people that include William Green , Lieutenant Richard W. Collins III, Korryn Gaines and Leonard Shand.

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