On June 2, 2020, Whitfield School shared the following message with its community.
From the Administration and Trustees of Whitfield School
We are deeply saddened and outraged by the recent violent acts targeting Black Americans, namely the unjust deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Abery, Breonna Taylor and Tony McDade. These events demonstrate that our world continues to be plagued by structural racism and other forms of injustice. The fact that these incidents have come amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, which has exposed anew the serious inequities of income and healthcare in our society, underscores the need for all of us to educate ourselves about the issues and to get involved in the solutions.
Whitfield’s commitment to Equity & Inclusion and to living by the Habits of Mind & Heart, including citizenship, ethical conduct, and cultural competence, means we cannot stay silent on these issues. We unequivocally stand in solidarity with our black students, families, faculty, staff, alumni, and trustees, and we call on all of our community members to act as allies and advocates.
These tragic events must serve as a grave reminder of the need to continue and expand our efforts to ensure inclusive and equitable communities here at Whitfield, but also beyond into our local and national communities. We must continue to build empathy and celebrate differences but also to have difficult and courageous conversations and study painful histories.
