The reprehensible killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Ardery are just some of the latest in centuries of violent crimes against people of color in our country. As a white male of privilege, I know I can go to the grocery store without fearing for my life because of the color of my skin, but thousands of men, women, and children in our city cannot. The most important mission of an institution like the College of Staten Island is to be an agent of change and a catalyst for equity and inclusion, but it should also serve as a venue for exploration of difficult topics and creation of original research, scholarship, and creative activity. In the spirit of those goals, I would like to share a link to two powerful performances by young black poets in the Drama program that express their feelings about the events of the last few weeks. We are living in challenging times, but young voices like these give us reason to be hopeful for the future.
Hoping you are all well and safe.
By Michael Parrish
