Featuring a national curriculum designed to foster an understanding of systemic racism, the challenge was open to anyone who wanted to undertake it. The Challenge invited participants to complete a syllabus of 21 short assignments (typically taking 15-30 minutes) over 21 consecutive days that included readings, videos, and podcasts. Within the three weeks, participants met five times to share personal reflections, learning, questions, and next steps.  

Kathy Taylor, a lawyer and legal studies professor who co-founded the center and facilitated the 21-day series explained that it was open “to anyone in the community challenged to think about their narrative around race in America and to evaluate that narrative in light of both history and current events.” 

  The diverse curriculum of the challenge was modeled, in part, on that used by the American Bar Association and included readings such as America Wasn’t a Democracy, Until Black Americans Made It One by Nikole Hannah-Jones, published last year in the New York Times; a 2018 New Yorker piece by Katy Waldman called A Sociologist Examines the ‘White Fragility’ that Prevents White Americans from Confronting Racism; a TEDx Talk video by D-L Stewart titled Black Trans Lives Matter,  music by Nina Simone and the Beatles; and poems by Langston Hughes, Alice Walker and others. 

Lisa Dresdner, Interim CEO of NVCC, said the challenge is one of several initiatives the Center for Racial Dialogue and Communal Transformation has undertaken in our continued efforts to educate people about matters of race. “This has been an opportunity to learn more about how we perceive our world, how we behave and act in our world, and the effects on that for all of us,” she said. “It’s a time of deep reflection.” 

The challenge, designed by Eddie Moore, Jr., acknowledges that change is hard, particularly when dealing with issues of power, race, bias, and oppression.  With a wealth of resources, participants were empowered to reflect upon ways to be a more effective ally in the quest for racial equity.  Participants, because of that increased awareness and shared learning due to the 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge, were excited to plan next steps.  At the last debriefing session, staff, faculty, administrators, and community members brainstormed ways to make NVCC a more inclusive and welcoming space for all students, staff, and faculty.  Concrete ideas emerged from the challenge that include creating a culture that fosters discussions about equity and biases and how that impacts our students’ experiences; assessing NVCC's equity and diversity climate; setting diversity goals; establishing a safe way to report racially based transgressions; and reviewing current policies and practices through an equity lens.  

The challenge reminded us of Dr. Maya Angelou's words, "When you know better, you do better!" Having our eyes opened to the challenges facing students, faculty, and staff of color as well as other historically marginalized groups, we know we must act.  Our students depend upon us and long for equitable and inclusive spaces where they have an authentic sense of belonging!