On May 25, 2020, the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin sparked a national reckoning on racial injustice. The reverberations of that tragedy and the protests that followed reached every corner of American society, including the halls of higher education.
Colleges and universities across the nation, long seen as bastions of progressive thought and social change, found themselves thrust into the spotlight as students, faculty, and the public demanded concrete action to address systemic racism both on and off campus.
Now, four years after Floyd's death, this series examine the promises made by institutions of higher learning in the wake of that pivotal moment and assess the progress—or lack thereof—in addressing racial issues on campuses nationwide. This monthly series reveals a complex landscape of incremental changes, unfulfilled commitments, and ongoing challenges in the ongoing quest for racial equity in higher education.
In the summer of 2020, as protests swept across the country, college and university administrators rushed to issue statements condemning racism and pledging to take restorative action. These promises varied in scope and specificity, but some common themes emerged.
Many institutions, for example, vowed to increase diversity in their student bodies, faculty, and leadership. Administrators promised to revise curricula to include more diverse perspectives and address issues of race and equity. Pledges were made to improve campus climate and support for students of color and to invest in research and initiatives focused on racial justice. Some schools committed to reforming campus police practices and security policies, while others promised to shine a spotlight on their historical ties to slavery and racism.
In the immediate aftermath of Floyd's murder, the nation saw an unprecedented outpouring of commitments from higher education institutions. The real question was always going to be whether those promises would translate into sustained, meaningful action.
