Racial
Toward Justice
Information technology staff members from across Duke came together to lead DiversifyIT’s Living (IT) While Black initiative, which brought new colleagues and leaders into the fight against racism. Photo by Stephen Schramm.
Expanding the Conversation ‘DiversifyIT’ brings new colleagues into fight against racism
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ispirited by images of police violence against Black Americans, Steve Rich, like others at Duke, wanted to do something to fight systemic racism, but he didn’t know where to start. An IT analyst with Duke’s Office of Information Technology (OIT), Rich occasionally participated in events organized by DiversifyIT, a staff-led OIT initiative to create a more inclusive climate across Duke’s IT spaces. And since last summer, when DiversifyIT launched “Living (IT) While Black,” a series of conversations about race with colleagues and campus leaders, Rich, who is white, has become a fixture. Raw and emotional stories from Black colleagues gave Rich and fellow participants a deeper understanding of racism’s daily toll. Honest discussions with leaders provided insight about the need for positive change. By listening to frank conversations
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between Black and white coworkers, Rich felt empowered to have difficult talks about race with people in his life. “It’s given me tools to be able to approach these things,” said Rich, who has worked at Duke for 13 years. “It’s helped me take the next step and be more aware of how people are impacted by these issues.” Across Duke, anti-racism initiatives are underway, giving students, staff and faculty opportunities to talk, listen and learn about how to build a more inclusive community. With its organic support and reach, the Living (IT) While Black program has been especially successful, due in part to years of earlier work by the staff at the heart of the DiversifyIT initiative. “Sitting back and waiting is not a viable option,” said Tracy Futhey, Duke’s vice president for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer. “As uncomfortable as many of
