To All:

I know it may appear that this issue of racism has led to a divide with Gavin and me.  But actually, what has happened with the two of us is all a part of the healthy, yet sometimes combated exchange that comes with the process of racial reconciliation and sensitivity.  Often there are good people at both corners of the ring, but because each has their own idea of what is or is not racial insensitivity, they find themselves clashing. That is all that has happened with Gavin and me. 

The good thing is that both our hearts are in the right place.  This is the difference between those who are “Racially Insensitive”, and those who are “Racist”. Racially insensitive people for the most part have good hearts and move with what they believe to be good intentions. It is only through dialogue with those offended that they can come to understand the offense from the eyes of both the offender and the offendee. It is just the opposite with a “Racist”. A racist is someone whose heart is darkened with hate, and they move with deliberate intentions to offend, kill and even destroy. What is within the heart makes the difference, and is what defines and set the two apart.

I say all of this because we need to know and understand the difference, so that we are not fighting unnecessarily with each other and are not afraid to engage in dialogue that although stormy at first, results in a better understanding of each other. It might take a few rounds with the gloves on. However, at the end, if the heart is right and is intent upon doing good, GOOD will be the results!

Students soon will return, flooding the UTC campus with a shower of different races and ethnicities, and we as faculty, staff, and even administrators have a responsibility to do our best to make sure their learning environment is not disrupted by how we as leaders and mentors are dealing with the issue of racism and racial insensitivity.

The most important part of the university is our students. They are precious to us all, and we need to safeguard them as much as possible. Coming out of the Civil Rights Era, I know from personal experience the profound, negative and lasting impact dealing with racism can have on students when having to deal with this in and outside of the classroom. This is something we want to avoid with all due diligence. I LOVE ALL STUDENTS at UTC, and see them all in the same light. I see them as I would my own daughter.   I believe others have this same love of students.  So I strongly encourage us to continue our quest for racial sensitivity and to even root out those, if any, who are racists.  But I even strongly encourage us to set examples through the way in which we engage each other and deal with this very sensitive issue.

Thanks for allowing me to speak out on this issue, and to even offer, for what it is worth, this bit of wisdom.

Now I am going to try to get back to some degree of normalcy, without this issue consuming all of my time. It has been set in motion, and in the end, I am confident we will see a more racially sensitive campus.

Jean 


Dr. Jean Howard-Hill
Political Science Department
419 Fletcher Hall
Chattanooga, Tennessee 37403
423-425-5702

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