A Siren Song in American Higher Education: An Analysis of University Responses to George Floyd’s Murder

• In Event: Actualizing Otherwise Worlds: Race, “Diversity” and Higher Education

Abstract

Although framed as benevolent beacons of knowledge for the betterment of society, many high research activity (R1) institutions have notorious histories of anti-Blackness that have an inimical impact on Black people today. This study investigates how R1 university presidential statements in proximity to sites of Black death responded to the state murder of George Floyd. This study used qualitative content analysis methods as well as anti-Blackness and BlackCrit frameworks to examine university presidents’ initial responses to George Floyd’s murder. Findings revealed that R1 presidents did not take up anti-Blackness in their account of the murder of Floyd. R1 presidents used ambiguous language in their account of Floyd’s murder to avoid holding law enforcement culpable yet used precise language to condemn the uprisings in response to Floyd’s murder. University leaders stated their values around diversity to reframe Floyd’s murder to provide prescriptions that address issues of diversity rather than anti-Blackness.

Authors

• Chetachukwu Uchenna Agwoeme, University of Pittsburgh

• Keanna Cash, University of Pittsburgh

• T Elon Dancy, University of Pittsburgh