Our Response to Jacksonville

Community Teamwork is an organization committed to fostering equity and inclusion at every level. As such, it is important to take a moment to recognize a recent racially motivated attack targeting our Black community, to understand the impact, and learn how we can be supportive of those most affected among us.

This past weekend, a gunman murdered three Black individuals at a store located in a predominantly Black neighborhood in Jacksonville, Florida, after sharing racist and white supremacist writings. Prior to the attack, the gunman was spotted at a nearby historically Black institution. The shooting is being investigated as a hate crime and as an act of racially motivated violent extremism. This shooting took place in the aftermath of Florida enacting a bill that bans public institutions from spending money on diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. This attack also took place just after the 60^th anniversary of the March on Washington, the scene of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech, signaling that we still have significant progress to make to ensure that our Black community is afforded the basic human rights of living safe, healthy, and fulfilling lives.

Racism against Black individuals is a deep part of our nation’s history and continues today. While the shockwaves of violent acts like this more readily capture our attention, it is equally important to remember that racism and white supremacy take many forms. Beyond acts of violence, racism and white supremacy also shows up in everyday life. This happens through unequal access to education, healthcare, resources, and opportunities, skewed media representation, biased language, and silencing Black voices and other marginalized voices -- sometimes unintentionally. Even seemingly neutral policies can uphold systemic racism, contributing to segregated communities and unequal resources. Addressing these subtler versions of racism alongside the overt ones is essential for dismantling deeply rooted injustices and creating a more equitable society.

In the wake of this latest racist attack, please be mindful of how this might be impacting Black colleagues, clients, and friends. You can be supportive by reaching out with genuine concern, creating a safe space where they can share their thoughts and feelings, if they so choose. Recognize that everyone's response is unique, and there's no one-size-fits-all approach. Offering active listening and validating their personal experiences can provide immense comfort. Being supportive might also mean understanding if someone needs time to process or chooses not to share. Linked HERE are additional resources for how to cope with racial trauma and being a better ally.

#DEIatCTI