Tuesday, November 10, 2015

An Open Letter to #Concernedstudent1950,

What happens to a dream deferred?

    Does it dry up
    like a raisin in the sun?
    Or fester like a sore—
    And then run?
    Does it stink like rotten meat?
    Or crust and sugar over—
    like a syrupy sweet?

    Maybe it just sags
    like a heavy load.

    Or does it explode?
                 
-Langston Hughes

It is enraging to watch the tears flow from your beautiful brown eyes down your melanated cheeks onto cracked pavement stained with the tears of Black students from 50 years passed- but again, not surprising.

We are not shocked by the very little progress that has been made, knowing these institutions were not made in our image, understanding at the deepest level that we were never meant to survive. Yet, still, here you are and here we are in our classrooms, offices, bowed heads, shaking voices, uncertain of what true freedom and liberation looks like in a system never made for us, but recognizing this aint it.

You are the risk takers, freedom fighters, liberationist steeped in the tradition of Angela Davis, Audre Lorde, Nina Simone, Bayard Rustin, Marsha P. Johnson, Ella Baker and Malcolm X. Your activism is something that can be paralleled to San Francisco State University or the University of California-Berkeley in the 1960’s. You are not the first, yet you are timely. We need no numerical evidence, facts or figures to confirm for us your truth. We believe you. We, across the nation have watched you stand together, heard your cries, and see in you a reflection of many of the struggles we endured and many of the fights we lost. We continue to endure. And we continue to fight.

We celebrate with you when you are victorious and seek to remind you that there is still work to be done. The institutional structure that refuses to see us is perpetuated by more than the leadership at the top, but by the silent well-meaning people around us. We hope that you see what your fire can burn with some thought, risk, and passion. You are strong and mighty despite the heel at your neck. You are the ascendants of black struggle and black excellence. You are the product of bodies that survived. You must continue to push finding paths undiscovered and uncovering ones that have been buried. We need you to know that you are not alone. We hope that you see what your fire can burn. We need you to know that you have re-ignited our flames. We now have the energy to push harder, fight tougher, and move more strategically.

We give you our strength, courage, resilience, and support as you endure the racism, erasure, and dehumanization brought forth by those who seek your continued subordination. We love you. We see you. We support you. And thank you!

We are Black administrators at institutions of higher education and we stand in solidarity with you.




Bulaong Ramiz, Wesleyan University
Cody Charles, University of Kansas
Oprah Jrenal, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Candice Brooks, University of Kansas
Monica Rochon, University of South Florida
L. Wesley Harris Jr., Iowa State University
Dr. Jonathan P. Higgins, California State University, Long Beach
Ivy Smith, Binghamton University
Joseph Ballard II, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Brittany M. Williams, The University of Georgia
Ernest C. Evans, University of Maryland Baltimore County
Jamie Minor, Columbus State
John Blue, Bethune-Cookman University
Oronne C. Nwaneri, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Amber M. White, Fort Hays State University
Kriston Burroughs, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Tashiana Bryant, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Kimberly Hodges, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Bie A. Aweh, University of California, Berkeley
Leah Burgess, Georgetown University
Terrance Myatt, Bethel University
Rhema Lewis, State University of New York-College at Plattsburgh
Erica Gardner, Central Connecticut State University
Ian Prescott, Le Moyne College
Latoya Fitzpatrick, Missouri Western State University
Leah Young, University of Delaware
Rodney Bates, University of Oklahoma
Nequel Burwell, University of Tennessee
Genia Paige Wilson, Western Kentucky University
Brandon Gaddy, North Central State College
Kerry Foxx, Rochester Institute of Technology
Jerad Green, Truman State University
Robert King, University of Illinois
Richard A. Wallace, Washington State University
Ashlee Roberts, University of Missouri-St. Louis
Justin R. Smith, Nova Southeastern University
Leighia Fleming, University of San Francisco
Dr. TaJuan Wilson, Missouri State University
DeLores Allison, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Jonathan W. Solomon, Wayne State University
Tekita Bankhead, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Jason Brooks, Emporia State University
Brittany Harris, University of Pennsylvania
Sienna Abdulahad, Virgina Tech
Alisia Kirkwood, California State University, Fullerton
Quintin Veasley, Georgetown University
Ashlee M. Hill, Mississippi University for Women
Jasmin Lee, Michigan State University
Latonia Garrett, Wayne State University
Jameelah Jones, University of Kansas
Kenny Jones, University of Pennsylvania
Shakeer Abdullah, University of Minnesota
Sadé Abraham, New York University Abu Dhabi
Tiphani Dixon, University of Missouri
Denise Jones, Drexel University
Chris Lewis, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Mareo L. Hendrickson, Houston Community College
Daryn Moore, Nova Southeastern University 
DeJuan Mitchell, Marietta College
Emerald Green, San Jose State University
Dr. Lamar Hylton, University of Minnesota
Russell L. Bouyer, University of North Texas
Sade Jean-Jacques, Quinnipiac University
Robert Brown, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Lanita Sledge, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Bethany Bledsoe, Old Dominion University
MarcQus Wright, Grand Valley State University
Chris Boldon, Florida Atlantic University
Varselles Cummings, Texas A&M University
Asa L. Mack, University of West Georgia
Carol Bennett, Truman State University
Bretticca Moody, Missouri State University
Laura Hamilton, University of Illinois
Jari Minnett, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
Hailey Mangrum, Western Michigan University
Justin Childs, University of Florida
Junior Pena, Florida State University 
Wanda D. Tyler, University of New Haven
Krystal Andrews, Bowie State University
Seth Ellis II, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Hailey Mangrum, Western Michigan University
Bianca Lambert, Clemson University
DeOnte Brown, Clemson University
Brittany Jackson, North Carolina Central University
Roxanne Plummer, Capital Community College
Nikia Bryant, Trinity College
Jerry Staples, Southern Methodist University
Raven McClinon, Grand Valley State University
Jamal Myrick, University of California-Riverside
Jamie Bolar, University of Missouri-St. Louis
Carol Taylor-Shim, University of Kentucky
Brittany Henry, California State University, Fullerton
Briana Dinkins, University of South Carolina-Columbia
Rechard Peel, Grand Valley State University
Jay Davis, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Chinell Singletary, Clemson University
Valencia Edochie, Texas A&M University
Jordan Nation, Florida State University
Tion Taylor, Tulane University
Carolyn Eastlin, University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Jasmine Prince, University of South Florida
Courtland James, Rutgers University
Nathan Stephens, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
Tierney Bates, University of Louisville
Derrick Robinson, Indiana State University
LaVonya Bennett, University of Oklahoma
Michelle Leeper, Ward, Salem College
Tony King, Saint Louis University
Stevie Johnson, University of Central Oklahoma
Joshua C. Moore, Texas A&M University-Commerce
Keywuan Caulk, Rutgers University
Ashleigh Taylor, Northern Virginia Community College
Tamika Austin, SUNY at Oswego
Tamarah Dixon, Missouri State University
Tevin Noel, Southern University at New Orleans
Lauren Whiteman, University of Oklahoma
Rory G. James, Indiana University Bloomington
Dalenesia Kendrick, University of Oklahoma
Alan Jones, University of Kansas
Daphney R. Wells, Mississippi Valley State University
Precious Porras, University of Kansas
Valissa Thomas, University of San Francisco
Shawnte Elbert, IUPUI
Jay Smiley, University of Kansas
Tyeesha Wesley, Minnesota State University, Mankato
Amma Margo, Emmanuel College
Domonique Crosby, Washington University St. Louis
Brian J. Cousin, Rutgers University
Franklin Soares, University of Central Florida
Sunni Soloman, University of Baltimore
Querida Lugo, West Chesterfield University
Camille Clark, University of Kansas
Fnann Keflezighi, California State University, Fullerton
Walter P. Parrish III, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Aleidra Allen, Saint Louis University
Ashley Gray, Washington University
Brian Hamilton, University of Louisville
Valerie Thompson, University of Oklahoma
Tiara Marshall, Colorado State University
Zachary E. Shirley, Texas A&M University-Commerce
Ashley Gray Benson, North Central State College
Martia King, Purdue University
Chris Graham, Florida State University
Nadia CampbellUNC Charlotte
Michelle Guobadia, UNC Charlotte
Robert Clay, Governors State University
Jimmie Jones, University of Kentucky
Terrance Harris, Stetson University
Chris Presley, Washington University in St. Louis
Dylan Wilkes, Clemson University
Darren Jones, Morehouse College
Amber Buck, University of Minnesota
Allison M. Smith, Louisiana State University 
John Miller IV, North Carolina State University 
Asha Nettles, Sonoma State University 
Demetrius Gary, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Tanisha King-Taylor, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Alexandria White, University of Mississippi
Mauriell Amechi, University of Minnesota
Jade M. Turner, University of California Irvine
Krystal Lee, Morgan State University Jamila Lee-Johnson, University of Wisconsin
Dallawrence Dean, The University of Texas at Austin
Ashley Chaney, Michigan State University 
Carol Ben-Davies, Purdue University 
Jasmine Channel, Missouri Southern State University
Christian Williams, Florida State University 
Kirby R. Gibson, Syracuse University 
Karyn Dyer, Syracuse University 
Erin Satterwhite, Florida State University 
Hope Young, Florida State University
Jamie Boussicot, Wheelock College
Ayanna Wheeler, CUNY Hostos Community College
Tyrone Wise, University of the Pacific
Quiana Stone, DePaul University 
Jennifer Brad, Loyola University Maryland
Joy Hartfield, University of Wisconsin Madison 
Dana Bozeman, Loyola University of Chicago
Dexter L. Overall, University of Michigan Dearborn
Star Page Lengas
Kevin C. Hawkins Jr., Northwest  Missouri State University 
Brent Lewis, Fayetteville State University
Ashley L. Smith, University of Wisconsin Madison 
Karla Foster, University of Wisconsin Madison 
Jasmine Clay, University of Michigan
Roshaunda Breeden, NC State University 
Habiba Braimah, Brandeis University 
D'Andrea Young, Texas Tech University 
Geovani AyalaUniversity System of Maryland
Veronica Moore, Temple University 
Quortne R. Hutchings, Loyola University Chicago
Nicole J. Johnson, Virgina Tech 
Jarrell Anderson, University of North Carolina Charlotte 
Cassie Stegall, Oklahoma City University 
Relando Thompkins-Jones, The University of Oklahoma
May Jordan, Columbus State
Morgan Ridgell, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
James Stukes, East Tennessee State University 
Brandon Brown, Old Dominion University 
Kenneth Gilliam, Old Dominion University 
Michael Akeem Riley, DePaul University 
Jordan W. Brooks, Georgia Southern University 
Kayla Tyson-Young, Emory University 
Allynn Delaney, University of North Texas
Dawn Morgan, North Carolina State University 
Jabal M. Moss, Bethune-Cookman University 
Berengére Gallion, Virgina Commonwealth University 
P.J. Jones, University of Florida 
LaNita Weisenberger, Clemson University 
Dellareese T. Jackson, Syracuse University 
Niecy Riley, Loyola University Chicago 
Sydney Epps, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Arizona 
Jonathan F. Adam, The Ohio State University 
Lindsay D. Echols, Indiana University-Bloomington 
Phillip E. Simmons, University of North Florida 
Wimer Alberto, Arizona State University 
Robert T. Palmer, Howard University 
Jason J. Dorsette, Oregon State University 
Amanda McKnight, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro 
Jamie R. Riley, University of California Berkeley 
Reesie Holsey, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill 
Atiya McGhee, University of Vermont