Standing Against Racism and Injustice
De Anza College is reaffirming its longstanding commitment to equity by taking a stand – and taking action – against racism and injustice.
The death of George Floyd in Minneapolis and other recent events in 2020 and 2021, including the resulting protests and police responses, have highlighted longstanding injustices experienced by people of color in the United States.
On this webpage, you'll find information about events and activities, resources for learning and discussion, statements in solidarity and important updates. Click these links or scroll down to learn more.
- NEW Taking action against anti-Asian racism
- Upcoming events and activities
- Resources and organizations
- Increasing support for Black students
- Additional statements in solidarity
- Reading list and learning tools
Taking Action Against Anti-Asian Racism
There has been a documented surge in racist attacks on Asians and Asian Americans since the pandemic began, including recent violent attacks in the Bay Area and beyond. De Anza President Lloyd A. Holmes outlined plans for a collegewide response in a recent email to students, faculty and classified professionals.
Racism and scapegoating during the coronavirus pandemic is one of the topics addressed in the new CAN/DID Inclusion Series, a multimedia project by the Office of Communications, in consultation with the Office
of Equity, that examines equity and social justice issues by drawing on the knowledge and experiences of our own community members.
- View the whole series at deanza.edu/candid.
You'll find more information and resources on this issue by visiting the Asian American and Asian Studies Department's COVID-19 Resources webpage.
Upcoming Events and Activities
Be sure to check the website Events Calendar for more upcoming activities.
- Share your upcoming event information! Please use the online form or send details to communications@deanza.edu
Feb. 18–March 18: Equity Certification 2.0 for Classified Professionals
Classified Professional Equity Certification 2.0 is a five-session certification offered by the Office of Professional Development for classified professionals who want to deepen their work creating an equitable and inclusive campus environment. This series builds off Equity Certification 1.0 and will briefly review the terms and foundations of equity, but will have a primary focus on deepening skills and knowledge. Sessions include
- Thursday, Feb. 18, 9:30-11 a.m. – Cultural Humility as a Pathway to Equity
- Thursday, Feb. 25, 9:30-11 a.m. – Leadership Development and Racial Equity Tools
- Thursday, March 4, 9:30-11 a.m. – Organizational Transformation for Equity
- Thursday, March 11, 9:30-11 a.m. – Environmental and Cultural Awareness
- Thursday, March 18, 9:30-11 a.m. – Equity Journey Continued
REGISTER FOR EQUITY CERTIFICATION 2.0
This series is open to the entire campus. Please send an email to guzmanclaudia@deanza.edu if you are interested in the Equity Certification 2.0 but did not attend any of the Equity Certification 1.0 sessions.
Momentum – Social Sciences and Humanities Series
Momentum is a series of online talks focusing on equity, inclusiveness and social justice, hosted by Elvin T. Ramos, dean of Social Sciences and Humanities. For more information, visit the Momentum website.
Previous Events
- You'll find a list of previous college events lower on this webpage.
Resources and Organizations
Feeling Stressed? Want to Talk?
- Students: Counseling is available through De Anza's Psychological Services office
- Employees: You can get support through the Foothill-De Anza district's Employee Assistance Program
Increasing Support for Black Students
On June 8, 2020, Interim President Christina G. Espinosa-Pieb announced some initial steps the college is taking to increase support for Black students at De Anza. This followed her May 29 statement of support for all Black and underrepresented students and colleagues at the college.
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June 8 Message From Interim President Espinosa-Pieb
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May 29 Message from Interim President Espinosa-Pieb
2020 Grad Speaker and BFSA Awards
At the invitation of the President’s Office, the Black Faculty, Staff and Administrators Network (BFSA) selected Tamara Williams as student speaker for De Anza's 2020 Commencement Celebration.
In addition, the BFSA selected four graduating students to receive newly established Du Bois and Sankofa awards for academic achievement. Each received $1,000 provided by donors through the President's Fund.
Read about the award recipients
W.E.B. Du Bois Award Recipients
Alaric Hill
De'Von Johnson
Sankofa Award Recipients
Abdelkareem Khogali
Artie McNeal
Additional Statements in Solidarity
De Anza College employees and programs issued these statements of solidarity following the death of George Floyd in May 2020.
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African American Studies
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Asian and Asian American Studies / Asian Pacific American Staff Association
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De Anza Latinx Association
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Foothill-De Anza Police Officers' Association
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De Anza College Academic Senate
Video From Student-Athletes
De Anza’s student-athletes came together virtually to produce a new video in solidarity with the Black community and the Black Lives Matter movement. All told, 39 student-athletes took part by recording and submitting their own videos and collaborating on the opening and closing statements.
More Resources for Reading and Learning
Titus Kaphar, a De Anza alum and 2018 MacArthur fellow known for exploring issues of race and equity in art, created the painting at right
for the June 15, 2020 cover of TIME magazine. He also contributed a written piece about his thoughts on being Black in America.
- ASCCC Senate Rostrum – Black faculty members from around the state their thoughts and experiences in this special issue of the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges' quarterly publication
- Anti-Racism Resources – list of links and resources compiled by Sarah Sophie Flicker and Alyssa Klein
- Anti-Racist Reading List – a syllabus compiled by Ibram X. Kendi, especially for people beginning their anti-racist journey
- Between the World and Me – a personal exploration of America's racial history, by Ta-Nehisi Coates
- Black Lives Matter At School – resources from the National Education Association’s EdJustice initiative
- De Anza Honors Newsletter – list of films, books, podcasts and organizations compiled by members of the De Anza College Honors Program
- Do the Work: An Anti-Racist Reading List – reading suggestions from Layla F. Saad
- For Our White Friends Desiring To Be Allies – suggestions for those who are wondering, “How can I be a stronger ally?” by Courtney Ariel
- From #BlackLivesMatter to Black Liberation – a book that ties the struggle against police violence to broader effort against structural inequality, by Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor
- How To Be an Anti-Racist – a book that's both a memoir and an examination of ways to build a just society, by Ibram X. Kendi
- Invisible No More – a book about police violence against Black women and women of color, by Andrea J. Ritchie
- Let America Be Born Again – poem by Langston Hughes
- Me and White Supremacy – a book that guides readers in an exploration of white privilege and even unconscious participation in white supremacy, by Layla F. Saad
- The New Jim Crow – an influential book that examines how Black Americans are treated in the criminal justice system, by Michelle Alexander
- Racial Equity Tools – a list of books, articles, videos and films, compiled by Sally Leiderman, Maggie Potapchuk and Shakti Butler
- Racial Equity and Social Justice – articles, organizations, websites, films and more resources compiled by the Silicon Valley Community Foundation
- Radical Math – for educators interested in integrating issues of social and economic justice into math curriculum
- 1619 Project – interactive journalism by the New York Times, exploring the consequences of slavery and the contributions of Black Americans
- So You Want to Talk About Race – a book on racism and how to talk about it, by Ijeoma Oluo
- Teaching for Black Lives – a handbook for educators, students and families, edited by Dyan Watson, Jesse Hagopian and Wayne Au
- 26 Ways To Be In the Struggle Beyond the Streets – a printable list of ways to work for justice
- White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism – a book exploring racial assumptions and reactions, and how to confront them, by Robin DiAngelo