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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - June 19, 2020 –
Dr. Cynthia Warrick, President of Stillman College – one of the oldest
historically black college or university (HBCU) in the nation – released
the following public statement to commemorate the Juneteenth Holiday
celebrating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans held under
the Confederacy in the United States.
“The
mission of Stillman College is based on the truth that there is no
limit to what can be accomplished when opportunity is not withheld from
any in our society. The provision of the opportunity of education and
self determination to African Americans at the end of Reconstruction was
met by White society with extreme measures of either economic
disenfranchisement or violence. With limited resources, Stillman College
has produced courageous men and women who have fought for justice in
times of extreme challenge. From William Sheppard, who brought the
Gospel and the Light of Justice to the Congo in Africa, to those of our
campus who offered shelter and community for Autherine Lucy and Vivian
Malone when they integrated the University of Alabama, to those Stillman
students who joined to march from First African Baptist Church only to
be targeted for violence by police and private citizens, Stillman
College has served its mission to promote equal opportunity, equal
justice, and equal access for all in our society. We continue to
participate in the conversations about equal justice and human
flourishing in our community.”
“Now,
coming again to the celebration of Juneteenth, we witness the
contradiction of these values among those sworn to protect us. Indeed,
we are horrified by the excessive and lethal violence perpetrated by
police officers upon the persons of Rayshard Brooks in Atlanta, GA, of
George Floyd in Minneapolis, MN, and less recently upon Breonna Taylor
in Louisville, KY. These victims illustrate that this state violence is
no respecter of gender or location. The common aspect of their lives is
that all were Black Americans, all had loving families who are now
devastated, and all were victims of senseless police violence. We can
add the murder of Ahmaud Arbery by a retired law enforcement officer,
his son, and an accomplice in February near Brunswick, GA. These brutal
events remind us that there are racial realities that are just as deadly
today as they were nearly one hundred years ago in Tulsa, OK. We lament
that the original sin of America has not been resolved. Violence and
death resulting from systemic racial prejudice continue to destroy the
lives of Black Americans.”
“The
Stillman community strives to be light casting out this darkness. We
resist the threat of despair by proclaiming in word and deed that equal
opportunity and equal justice are undeniably sacred. They are sacred not
only because of the founding language of equality in the Constitution
of the United States, but also because of the sacrifice of African
American men and women throughout the history of this nation who have
been its unsung heroes. They have moved from property to personhood in
our founding documents, but not yet in our hearts, in all of our laws,
or in our deepest consciousness as a nation. As an educational community
focused on opportunity for the underserved, Stillman grieves when
injustice and violence continue to be perpetrated upon black and brown
Americans.”
“We
continue to work toward that moment when all people will be known by
their character and not their color, but until that moment, we continue
to stand as a gateway to opportunity for those who seek it, and we
continue to advocate for those who are the victims of the continuing
injustices in our society.”
“As
a concrete part of that work and an expression of our continued
commitment to the goals of equal access and opportunity, we are very
pleased to announce the establishment of a new scholarship program in
the name of George Floyd. It will benefit students at the College who
intend to study Criminal Justice in order to become the voice of the
next generation of those who will continue to advocate for equal
justice, equal opportunity, and equal access to life, liberty, and the
pursuit of happiness. Any who wish to join us by contributing to and
supporting this important work may do so at https://stillman.edu/give/.”
About Stillman College
Founded
in 1875, Stillman College is a liberal arts institution with a
historical and formal affiliation with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
It is committed to fostering academic excellence, to providing
opportunities for diverse populations, and to maintaining a strong
tradition of preparing students for leadership and service by fostering
experiential learning and community engagement designed to equip and
empower Stillman’s students and its constituents.
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