Letter to the Black Canadian Studies Association

This letter was updated on June 7, 2019 (see bold text)

June 5, 2019

Dear Black Canadian Studies Association,

The Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences has received and read the Black Canadian Studies Association’s Open Letter and offers the following response.

We apologize for the pain and suffering that was inflicted upon the member of the Black Canadian Studies Association (BCSA) who experienced this incident of racial profiling.

We are committed to addressing the issues of racial profiling, anti-Black racism and harassment experienced by members of the BCSA and other Federation members.

We have carefully reviewed your four requests and are addressing them as follows:

1. As you may be aware, the Federation issued a statement this morning and stands by its Code of Conduct.

2. The Federation will share information about the impacts of this event, including input from the BCSA, with the respondents.

3. The issues of anti-Black racism and racial profiling will be an integral part of Federation programming at Congress 2020.

4. In regards to Congress fees, we are reimbursing Congress 2019 registration fees to the member of BCSA who brought to our attention this incident of racial profiling and anti-Black racism. We also extend to him free registration for Congress 2020. The Federation will also waive BCSA’s fees for Congress 2020, as requested. 

Lastly, the Federation wishes to once again extend an invitation to meet with you at your earliest convenience to further discuss these issues and to take action on them together.

Sincerely,

Patrizia Albanese
President, Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences

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