Dear Davis College and Akilah community,

After months of a pandemic and crippling unemployment that is disproportionately impacting the black community, we’ve reached a tipping point in America. The institutionalized racism that pervades every corner of the country won’t be tolerated any longer.

My young kids recently learned the United States Pledge of Allegiance. They proudly shout our commitment to “liberty and justice for all.” I’m ashamed that those words ring hollow for countless Black Americans who suffer within a system that was designed to suppress and exclude them. I’m outraged by our failure to tackle discrimination, grapple with our stained history, and craft a more equitable nation. My heart breaks for the families of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, Ahmaud Arbery, Philando Castile, and the long list of Black people, their names known and unknown, who have lost their lives due to senseless police brutality.

As Nelson Mandela said, education is the most powerful weapon with which you can change the world. But, sadly, it’s not enough. 

As educators committed to empowering leaders in Africa and Asia, we must also actively dismantle the inequities and white supremacy that poison our global systems.

“Even at its most benign, racism is incredibly time consuming. Black people don’t want to be protesting for our basic rights to live and breathe. We don’t want to constantly justify our existence. Racism, injustice and police brutality are awful on their own, but are additionally pernicious because of the brain power and creative hours they steal from us. I think of one black friend of mine who wanted to be an astronomer, but gave up that dream because organizing for social justice was more pressing. Consider the discoveries not made, the books not written, the ecosystems not protected, the art not created, the gardens not tended.” 

-Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, founder of Urban Ocean Lab

For 10 years, we have been committed to uplifting the voices of East African innovators and entrepreneurs. But our team knows we must do more.

We must be willing to examine our privilege and actively build an anti-racist institution. We must redouble our efforts to educate ourselves about systemic racism. We must ensure that our community is contributing to the global fight against discrimination. We will use our platform to accelerate change, and will not shy away from hard conversations with our children, colleagues, and friends.

Our Path Forward

The Davis College board of directors is composed of myself, my cofounder Dave Hughes, and Dr Carmen Nibigira, Dr Jolly Mazimhaka and Joy Ndungutse, Rwandan and Burundian women. When we founded Akilah ten years ago, most staff were white Americans. We invested in leadership development and recruited top talent from across the region. Today, 94% of our faculty and academic leadership are East African. Our team has designed a curriculum centered around African voices and social justice.

Anti-racism work never ends. We aspire to do more in areas where we still have a long way to go.

The majority of our funding comes from the Davis Akilah Foundation, an American nonprofit. Only one of twelve board members is African. This is inexcusable. We are committed to increasing the diversity of our board and leadership so we have a more genuine representation of the students we serve in Africa and Asia.

We are conducting a comprehensive review of our HR policies alongside courses in anti-racism. We will continue investing in professional development and growth opportunities for our African colleagues. We are creating inclusive spaces to discuss racism and Black Lives Matter including an upcoming event with No White Saviors, the Ugandan anti-racist activists.

We remain steadfast in our dedication to amplify voices of young women and men of color and to scale an accessible and affordable model of higher education.

One of our Culture Code values is Radical Transparency. We share our strengths and weaknesses in service of building a more impactful institution. There will certainly be missteps along the way. We value your feedback and willingness to hold us accountable to our pledge to create a more inclusive and equitable community.

President Paul Kagame often attributes Rwanda’s phenomenal success to the core values of unity and accountability. We may aspire to a future America where the color of your skin doesn’t dictate your socioeconomic status or opportunity, but true unity is only possible after a process of accountability for centuries of injustice.

Students, our world must learn from the Rwandan story of healing and forgiveness.

As young leaders, you have so much insight to offer. I am never more inspired then when I am working with and learning from you. I urge you to share your wisdom, continue to learn from the experiences of others, and speak out against injustice and racism everywhere. We are proud of your courageous role in creating social transformation, and feel more hopeful than ever knowing our future is in your hands.

Black Lives Matter.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Dearborn Hughes

CEO & Co-founder

Davis College and the Akilah Institute

What We’re Reading

Books

Dismantling White Fragility with White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo

On the Other Side of Freedom: The Case for Hope by DeRay Mckesson

How to be Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi

A Terrible Thing to Waste by Harriet A. Washington

Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? by Beverly Daniel Tatum

So You Want to Talk About Race? by Ijeoma Oluo

I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown

Articles

A Case for Reparations and all Ta Nehisi Coates’ other Atlantic articles

Stand in the Gap

What We’re Listening To

Podcasts

Good Ancestor

1619

Code Switch

Throughline

White Lies

Instagram Accounts To Follow

@osopepatrisse, @laylafsaad, @theconsciouskid, @blklivesmatter, @wearyourvoice, @taranajaneen, @colorofchange, @shishi.rose, @MsPackyetti, and @eji_org