Diversity, unity and justice ─ Building a Bearcat perspective together
For the first time, in the summer of 2020, Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ offered new, first-year students residing on campus a unique common reading experience program opportunity: "Diversity, unity and justice: Building a Bearcat perspective together." First-year residents came to campus with a common reading and viewing experience, one that built connections to other students, and to the intellectual life of a great University in a way never offered before.
COVID-19 and the death of George Floyd and others brought racial inequality, discriminatory policing and judicial practices into intense focus and served as a call for mass protest and political reform across the nation.
In the spirit of those times, we asked that all new students read Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson, and also watch the documentary, 13th, by director Ava DuVernay. Just Mercy and 13th historicize and humanize the issues of mass incarceration and racial discrimination through accessible personal narratives and moving, sometimes disturbing, imagery. (Note that while some of this imagery can be disturbing, we hoped it would prompt honest and valuable discussions as we worked to build an inclusive community.) Just Mercy was provided to students at no cost to them and they were encouraged to read it over the summer. The film was also and we asked students to watch the film after reading Just Mercy. Small group discussions and creative engagement began over the summer led by the collegiate professors over Zoom, and continued for students after they moved in, with several additional in-person engagement opportunities offered during B-Welcome Week.
Culminating event
On Sept. 2, the University hosted "A Conversation with Anthony Ray Hinton: Diversity, Unity and Justice" to explore racial inequality and systemic oppression in our criminal justice system, activism, resilience and how to build relationships to create a more just world.
Hinton, of the Equal Justice Institute, was represented by Bryan Stevenson and walked out of the Jefferson County Jail in Birmingham, Alabama, as a free man Friday, April 3, 2015, after spending 30 years on death row for a crime he did not commit.
This event was the culminating experience for the 2020 Common Read and featured a keynote talk by Hinton, followed by a Fireside Chat hosted by Student Association President Khaleel James and Black Student Union Vice President Kendra Gourgue.