Member-only story
An Open Letter to the President, Trustees, and Faculty of Trinity College, Hartford, CT
In solidarity with the Umoja Coalition.
This blog is also available in audio form here. #accessibility
The emails kept coming. Like so many of us I was inundated by emails asking for financial support for various causes during this season of COVID-19. I read the articles about how the abrupt closing of colleges and universities impacted students with fewer resources who were also disproportionately students of color. I recall wondering how many current Trinity students were facing similar challenges. I regretted not knowing any current students of color. I would’ve rather sent someone I know $50 or spend 30 minutes on a call encouraging and networking and supporting someone specifically. I recalled thinking it was too bad no such effort to foster community or connection between students or alumni existed.
I’ve been told there is an African proverb that tells us to “dig the well before you need the water”. I believe I speak for most of my fellow Black alum and many alumni of color in saying Trinity College had done no such digging. I dare say that for too many there had been out right desecration of “the well” from which any such generosity from alumni of color might spring forth. For many there are painful memories of…
