Face it to Fix it

To introduce the Institute to the UALR campus, students, faculty, and staff were encouraged to add a favorite quote, poem, or other thoughts about racial and ethnic justice on a graffiti board in October 2011. We call it the Face It to Fix It Graffiti Board – Inspired by UALR Chancellor Joel E. Anderson who said in his inaugural address, “This [racism] is a difficult issue that in many communities, not just here, has been cloaked by a code of silence, which makes it easier to pretend it does not exist…”

“You have to face it to fix it.”

The exercise encouraged dialogue about issues that surround race and sparked discussion among participants. Since then, we have taken the discussion online.

Each day, we post one of the quotes or thoughts shared with us from our campus community at our @ArkWorkTogether Twitter and Facebook pages. Join the Discussion!

Twitter Interactions - Born

The Institute encouraged students, faculty and staff to add a favorite quote, poem, or other thoughts about racial and ethnic justice on a graffiti board on the upper concourse of the Donaghey Student Center Monday, Oct. 31, 2011. The exercise encouraged dialogue about issues that surround race and sparked discussion among participants in the graffiti board project and later from the open house attendants. Approximately 200 individual cards covered the “Face It to Fix It” graffiti board displayed at the open house for the Institute Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2011. One of the students wrote, “Laundry is the only thing that should be separated by color.” Another participant quoted Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Chancellor Anderson and Director Aiyetoro spoke to the crown, and reiterated the vision and mission of the Institute to become a center for research, place for discussion and discourse, and sponsor of events aimed at fostering interaction within communities. Research initiatives at the Institute were well underway and attendees were able to view information about racial disparities in the Arkansas Criminal Justice System and were encouraged to get involved in future institute projects.https://twitter.com/Arkworktogether

Respect. Tolerance. Dignity. Understanding.

Graphics by Trevor Collins, Intern