Dear AAAM Members and Supporters:
On behalf of the AAAM Board, I send my deepest condolences to the families of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Sean Reed, George Floyd, and Tony McDade. We, along with thousands of people across our nation, are fed up with police brutality and the social injustices that continue to target African American men and women.
As a mother of a six-year-old Black child, whom I will soon have to have “the talk” with, and wife to a Black man who has “fit the description” one too many times, I find myself replaying images of so many murdered victims of senseless violence at the hands of those paid to protect and serve.
The AAAM Board and I know that our members understand the direct plight and injustices endured by the Black community. We live, preserve, and interpret the same narrative that has plagued African Americans for centuries.
Through our work and our personal experiences, we know that what we see today is nothing new.
During this time, I implore each of you to continue doing what we do best:
- Advocate for those whose voices can no longer be heard.
- Commemorate the stories and legacies of our people.
- Denounce racism and racist ideas.
- Provide safe spaces for social activism.
- Teach lessons of the past to move the needle forward.
Collectively, our more than 570 members can push for equality and work to eradicate racism, structural inequalities and police brutality. Our ancestors did this work in the name of freedom and fundamental human and civil rights. Two centuries later, we face many of the same adversities, and we will push to make our country better for ourselves, each other, and generations to follow.
I stand in solidarity with each and every one of you. Please know that the AAAM Board and I are thankful for you and the hard work you do during a global pandemic to uplift and encourage your respective communities to stand in the face of oppression and racism to make the nation better.
With gratitude and support,
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