
Past and present collide one hundred years after Tulsa Race Massacre
One hundred years after the Tulsa Race Massacre, it is long past time to confront the history and end the legacy of structural racism in America.
When the murder of George Floyd on Memorial Day ignited a new wave of Black Lives Matter protests in Minneapolis, across the U.S. and around the globe, young Nigerians connected the cause to police brutality in their own country, and held high the names of Alex Ogbu, Tina Ezekwe and others, alongside those of George Floyd and American victims.
This post is adapted from a July 9 letter to the Gillings School community that was endorsed by most members of the Gillings School of Global Public Health’s Dean’s Council. The text here reflects substantial revisions to the letter text. The opinions are mine, and I take responsibility for any errors or omissions.
This year, July 4th can be a day to commit or recommit to a vision of America as it should be, a land of opportunity where all can thrive; where all who have been oppressed because of the color of their skin or any other aspect of their identity can pursue their dreams and be treated equitably, with the respect they deserve; where no one must cry out “I can’t breathe.”