The recent events surrounding the Black Lives Matter movement are a response to centuries of systemic racism and oppression towards Black communities by law enforcement. As a Centro who values dismantling racial injustice, this message is intended to communicate the Raza Resource Centro's solidarity in supporting the Black community on campus and elsewhere.
As a Community Centro born from social activism, namely Black student activism that ensued as part of Black Winter in 2010, it is our responsibility to combat these interlocking structures of oppression. We recognize that our Community Centro is a product of the advocacy of Black students and the Black Student Union and now is the time to redirect our support, resources and solidarity to amplify their voices in this current struggle. We stand among student activists and the Black community as we continue to advocate for change and an end to racial injustice.
Furthermore, recent events have shown the different ways our community has responded, casting light on long-standing issues within the Latinx racial narrative. At the pinnacle of addressing these issues is recognizing the historical anti-Blackness within our community, often targeting Afro Latininidad. Addressing the detrimental impact anti-Blackness has had historically as well as currently is one of many necessary steps the Latinx community needs to take. As a Campus Community Centro that does not tolerate Anti-Blackness, we are prepared to have the needed conversations and hold spaces to continue taking these steps.
Moreover, while this message is intended to inform that we stand with Black lives, we recognize that true activism demands more. The Raza Resource Centro will be extending our advocacy by providing resources for donations, information on how to get involved, support for our Afro Latinx community, as well as information for how to navigate BLM as a non-Black ally. Additionally, our focus lies in informing how to dismantle anti-Blackness in the Latinx community.
