Race Matters: Support, Dialogue and Action -- Mission Statement

Racism and white privilege continue to dramatically limit access and equity for people of color in the United States.  Peggy McIntosh (1988) has written  that "white privilege is like an invisible weightless knapsack of special provisions, maps, passports, codebooks, visas, clothes, tools, and blank checks" that gives unjustified advantage to white people  based on skin color.  As an institution committed to diversity and inclusion, Bridgewater State University recognizes the need for dialogue and action around these issues, leading to a campus and region that are increasingly more welcoming for all of our community members.  In Spring 2011, BSU's Office of Institutional Diversity will partner with student organizations, departments, offices, and divisions campus-wide to offer a range of activities focused on race, ethnicity, racism, and white privilege entitled Race Matters: Support, Dialogue and Action.  The goals for these events are as follows: 

• to provide support and safety so that all members of our campus can dialogue about these vitally important topics;

• to offer opportunities for campus members to explore individual and institutional action steps focused on increasing access and equity;

• to create a campus community dedicated to addressing issues of racism and white privilege.

Last Modified: January 31, 2011