commitment to ending anti-black racism

In the Summer of 2020, the Columbia University HIV Center Postdoctoral Research Fellows and Associate Fellows drafted the following letter in an effort to acknowledge and address anti-Black racism endemic to academia and public health in the United States. The letter as a whole makes policy and practice suggestions to the HIV Center to work towards greater racial equity and inclusion. Below is the letter presented to HIV Center Leadership, which has resulted in numerous conversations between the Fellows and HIV Center Leadership, and has led to Center Leadership both taking concrete action in the short term and beginning longer-term change within the Center. These conversations and plans continue to evolve, and, in the spirit of transparency, we would like to share these remarks publicly. 

HIV Center Leadership is appreciative of the thoughtful proactive thinking and specific recommendations from our Research Fellows.  We are committed to considering all of these recommendations, and to implementing all agreed upon and feasible activities that were recommended. Several of the activities recommended have already been initiated or are in the process of implementation.  We look forward to ongoing dialogue addressing anti-Black racism. You can read more on the HIV Center's commitment to ending racism HERE.

Click the image below to access the full letter.