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Statement from the African American Medical Librarians Alliance (AAMLA) Caucus of MLA

Released June 1, 2020

We are hurting, frustrated, and our emotions are raw.

The cumulative toll of microaggressions, institutional racism, police brutality, and state-sanctioned violence coupled with the emotional labor of navigating a predominantly white profession is exhausting. We are tired of not being seen, heard, included, or appreciated for the value that our unique voices, experiences, and perspectives bring to the narrative.

We appreciate the sentiments of our fellow caucuses and colleagues throughout MLA. Collectively, we share community with other marginalized members who live in dread that the color of their skin, race and ethnicity, gender and gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, political beliefs, language, culture, nationality, age, ability status, and religion make them targets of violence and possibly death.

We are committed to using our collective voices in bringing about change in the profession and the association.

We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the vitriolic words and actions of the bad people but for the appalling silence of the good people. —Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Kelsa Bartley, Chair
Michael S. Fitts, Chair-Elect
Shenita Peterson, Immediate Past Chair
Tara Douglas-Williams, AHIP, Cochair, 2021 National Program Committee
Shannon D. Jones, AHIP, Caucus Mentor
Beverly Murphy, AHIP, FMLA, MLA Past President
Tamara M. Nelson, AHIP, Chair, MLA Information Services Domain Hub
Aidy Weeks, AHIP, AAMLA Virtual Engagement Committee

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