Dear Readers,
As the official English newspaper of KAIST, The KAIST Herald unequivocally supports the Black Lives Matter protests in the United States and around the world. It is our duty as a school newspaper to serve and inform our community, providing a platform for expression and education. It is also our responsibility as journalists to report objectively and clearly, so we must emphasize this: Black lives matter is not a subjective statement. It does not rely on opinion or context, and is no less important here than in the US, because it is a challenge to racism of all forms.
Black lives matter. The lives of those killed by the police, the lives of those growing up discriminated against, and the remarkable and individual lives of those protesting today. Until embedded systemic racism and violence against Black people is dismantled, this call — for the right to live freely — will be needed. The murder of George Floyd, the latest victim of police brutality, was not unique. The white police officer who killed him is not an outlier. The circumstances that led to Floyd’s death were not unusual. This must change. The countless unnamed brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers who have been handed the death penalty for their skin color deserve justice — justice that is being stifled and denied by the systems meant to uphold it.
The Black Lives Matter movement is undeniably Western-focused and seems far removed from our reality. It has roots in the complex, centuries-long history of race relations in the US, from colonization and slavery in the 17th century, to segregation laws that separated “persons of color” in schools and public institutions in the 20th century, to the discrimination that Black people continue to face everyday. The structural racism and discrimination in the US is echoed in many parts of the world, even in Korean society. Although we do not share its historical and cultural context, the support of the Black Lives Matter movement is a recognition of atrocious ongoing abuses in one society, and a call for every society to uphold basic human rights for every citizen. Those with privileges and prejudices that have been handed down over generations must not ignore or stay silent about the past and present truth of racism, but actively renounce it. It is everyone’s responsibility to listen, to educate themselves, and to speak out against injustices. We must use the platforms we have to stand against racism, not by joining hashtags for performative validation or hopping on the bandwagon, but by reflecting on our own actions and spreading awareness in our community.
The KAIST Herald will continue to take steps to examine internal biases, working hard to represent and objectively inform the community we serve. We will uphold our duty to be a platform for KAISTians to make their voices heard and to engage in informed discussions. We will continue to speak up about issues of global significance, in addition to those closer to home.
We additionally call on the KAIST administration to take action against racism and within this institution. Discrimination of any form, be it based upon someone’s race, nationality, disability, gender, or sexuality must not be tolerated. Education for students and staff is vitally needed, as is a clear and specific action plan to address incidents of discrimination and racism effectively. KAIST must become a place for cohesion and growth, alongside its objective of becoming a renowned global university.
The effects and experiences of racism are diverse, as are we. The Black Lives Matter movement is centered on the circumstances of racism in the US, but the call for freedom from oppression, violence, and hatred is universal. It is a call for humanity. Let us begin here.
The KAIST Herald
https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/
https://www.ted.com/playlists/250/talks_to_help_you_understand_r
https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/antiracist_resources_from_greater_good
https://medium.com/wake-up-call/a-detailed-list-of-anti-racism-resources-a34b259a3eea
https://www.vox.com/2020/6/3/21278245/antiracist-racism-race-books-resources-antiracism