Understanding American Policing

April 20, 2021 —

As we watch the Derek Chauvin trial unfold for the murder of George Floyd, we also continue to follow news of ongoing racial violence and discrimination with heavy hearts. Racism is an ugly force which bears down on each of us differently, often leaving us fearful, angry, exhausted, alienated, and unsure about the future.

Below, BU D&I has compiled resources, and readings that we hope you find helpful.

BU D&I Resources.

Here you will find a small sampling of recorded discussions from archived events hosted by BU D&I, which may spark new understanding or ideas. Visit the BU D&I Events Archive for a full list of past events. Note that you will be prompted to enter your Kerberos Credentials to access archived video recordings.

Unpacking the Chauvin Trial: Police Accountability in America

The trial of Derek Chauvin over the murder of George Floyd can be seen as a proxy for the larger history of police in the United States brutalizing and killing Black people disproportionately and often with total impunity. Watch a recording of a panel discussion of BU scholars representing the Schools of Law and Public Health for a conversation about the implications of the Derek Chauvin trial as well as policing and its effects on communities of color.

Speakers include:

Craig Andrade, School of Public Health
Jonathan Feingold, School of Law
Jasmine Gonzales Rose, School of Law
Michael Ulrich, School of Public Health

This event was sponsored by BU Diversity & Inclusion.

Learn More Series

What is Race? A Conversation with Dr. Eduardo Bonilla Silva (July 2020)

What is race and what does it mean? Dr. Bonilla-Silva unpacks the constructs, categories, and identities that inform our understanding of race and explain how racialized social systems have influence inside academia.

Activism and the Black Woman (December 2020)
A conversation about the role of black female athletes as agents of political and ideological change.

Black Boston Series

Building Healthy Communities (July 2020)
Boston is home to some of the country’s leading community health centers and partners devoted to tackling health inequities. Yet even here race, ethnicity, and racism continue to adversely impact health, and COVID-19 has further revealed racial inequities. Where has Boston been successful? And what are the next steps to improve health outcomes, close persistent gaps, save lives, and transform the fields leading this work?

COVID-19, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: An Online Series

Mental Health and Race (June 2020)
Over the course of this past June, BU D&I hosted a series of virtual conversations that address broader societal impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. With the help of leading experts across multiple fields, our goal was to catalyze important new dialogue about inequities, challenges, and opportunities exposed by the virus.

A Day of Collective Engagement

Boston University held a day of collective learning and reflection in summer 2020 on race, racism, and their impact on our society and communities. These discussion and event recordings are open to the public.