Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Social Justice, and Anti-Racism (DEISA) Commitment Statement
In solidarity with our students of color, the Mt. SAC English, Literature, and Creative
Writing Department recognizes and is committed to ensuring that our department continues
to encourage and support equity, inclusion, diversity, social justice, and anti-racism.
These efforts are a hallmark of creating more equitable learning environments and
a more just world.
We acknowledge and oppose the historical and structural barriers to equity in society
and education: the legacies of white supremacy, slavery, colonialism, and other forms
of racial violence and injustice. We oppose racism and racist ideologies. We also
recognize that college curriculum, including our own, have often sidelined and obstructed
the narratives and experiences of Black, Latinx, indigenous, and all people of color.
Going forward, we vow to intensify our efforts in the community college to be inclusive,
diverse, and reflective of our students’ realities. Regardless of race, class, gender,
sexuality, religious affiliation, political perspective, or ability, we vow to create
supportive and nurturing spaces for all students. Within our department and programs,
we are committed to lasting change to achieve racial and social equity. Therefore,
we support our DREAMers and all Latinx students in their educational goals;
we defend our Asian American students against all anti-Asian hate;
we stand in solidarity with our Muslim students in the fight against Islamophobia;
we honor and respect all Indigenous Peoples as the traditional stewards of this land
and the enduring relationship that exists between Indigenous Peoples and their traditional
territories. We pledge to raise awareness about the suppressed histories of Native
peoples;
we affirm that Black lives matter.
We commit to taking the following actions in the interest of promoting more equitable
and just learning environments for all students:
- We will infuse our teaching with empathy, compassion, understanding, and radical hope.
- We will develop social justice curriculum devoted to racial equity and the dismantling
of white supremacy.
- We will continue to discuss and develop best practices for anti-racist teaching with
the hope that these practices will close equity gaps and promote success for students
of color.
- We will continuously self-reflect on our own teaching practices in order to ensure
that our values, actions, and practices reflect anti-racist teaching.
- We will review our current course curriculum to ensure that all courses reflect anti-racist
values.
- We will review equity data across the department and individually in order to monitor
our progress towards the goal of closing equity gaps.
