The Department of Afroamerican and African Studies (DAAS) stands in solidarity with the University of Michigan community and with the students of the Michigan Community Scholars Program who were recently the targets of racist and sexist graffiti and vandalism in their university dormitory.

We are cognizant of the affront, anger, and pain that these postings and actions may have stirred in many of our students. The faculty and staff of DAAS do not separate ourselves from our students; injustice against them is injustice against all of us. We embrace our students and call on all departments to speak out against these public acts of intimidation and fear. We are opposed to all forms of racism and actions that are designed to denigrate or dehumanize others. The targeting of African American students in their dormitory clearly represents such base beliefs and behaviors.

Racist language and imagery has been directed toward African American students, Latinx students, other students of color, and Muslim and Jewish students every year in recent memory. We state our unequivocal condemnation of these reprehensible acts and we call on the university administration to take swift and proper action that both responds directly to these incidents and demonstrates that the institution will not tolerate any expressions of hate and racist intimidation.

The Department of Afroamerican and African Studies was founded as a result of social movements for racial justice. We stand with those who come together to affirm our shared humanity and defend the values of mutual respect and dignity.