[Libs-Or] We Must Do Better

[Matthew Baiocchi]

Please take a moment to read this statement then share it widely, Calling for Meaningful Support for BIPOC Library Workers: https://ola.memberclicks.net/assets/Communications/2022-23_communications/OLA%20EDIA%20Committee%20Statement%20Calling%20for%20Meaningful%20Support%20for%20BIPOC%20Library%20Workers.pdf


Our BIPOC colleagues are hurting. Every day they work in a system designed to oppress them. We - me and you - are part of that system. You may not be racist but you are part of a racist system, a system that, daily, hurts and kills and murders BIPOC simply for existing.


There are, of course, many more examples of systemic racism than the ones listed below - incarceration rates, judicial sentencing, and food insecurity to name just a few. We must listen to the facts and our BIPOC colleagues. We must listen to them then make systemic change, because every day we don't BIPOC people hurt and BIPOC people die.


- The typical white American family has roughly 10 times as much wealth as  the typical African American family and the typical Latino family. (https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2021/06/racial-wealth-gap-may-be-a-key-to-other-inequities/)

- Black men are about 2.5 times more likely to be killed by police than white men. (https://news.umich.edu/police-sixth-leading-cause-of-death-for-young-black-men/)

- Black women are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women. Black infants die at about twice the rate of white infants. (https://graphics.reuters.com/GLOBAL-RACE/USA/nmopajawjva/)

- In 2021, nearly 20% of Black individuals experienced food insecurity - more than three times the rate of white households. (https://www.feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/african-american)

- Black Americans...post a homeownership rate of 46.4% compared to 75.8% of white families. Compounding matters, homes in predominately Black neighborhoods across the country are valued at $48,000 less than predominately white  neighborhoods for a cumulative loss in equity of approximately $156 billion. (https://www.brookings.edu/essay/homeownership-racial-segregation-and-policies-for-racial-wealth-equity/)




Matthew Baiocchi
REFERENCE LIBRARIAN
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City of Lincoln City  |  Driftwood Public Library
801 SW Hwy 101  |  PO Box 50  |  Lincoln City, OR
P: 541.996.1261  |  E: mbaiocchi at lincolncity.org<mailto:mbaiocchi at lincolncity.org>
W: Driftwoodlib.org | W: LincolnCity.org

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