Of College and Community in the Wake of George Floyd

When the verdict was announced in the case of "State of Minnesota v. Derek Michael Chauvin," the university at which the author is employed made an announcement, probably much like those emitted at other colleges and universities around the country. The campus was informed that the verdict was an indication not of the sound state of justice in the country, "not of how far we have come as a society, but of how far we have to go." People were told that America is a terrifying place for its black citizens, and that the Floyd case demonstrated "the fear and anger that Black Americans experience as part of each day." The campus was called to "model inclusivity" and to "tak[e] action" by, for example, "let[ting] a family member know that it's never OK to stereotype people" and by "seek[ing] ways to align with others in everyday life." The work to address "systemic racial inequity" on campus and in the country would require "continuous and permanent work . . . to become an antiracist and equitable community." "We, like the rest of our country, have a long way to go," people were solemnly reminded. The message concluded by calling readers to attend "a community gathering to reflect on the Chauvin trial and its implications for the future." In this article, the author examines the idea of community in the college setting in the wake of George Floyd.