An Open Letter to Staff
From the leadership teams at SAGE Publishing and Corwin.
The events of the past week are staggering. At SAGE, we all share a deep horror and justifiable anger over brutality in Minneapolis, but it is not just Minneapolis. The brutal killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor, and so many fellow citizens before them, and the hugely disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on Black and other minority communities are not something that we can or should accept.
For the last 55 years, SAGE has published thousands of scholars, researchers, and educators who have devoted themselves with passion and rigor - analyzed, explained, and attempted to dismantle the mechanisms of oppression and discrimination that disfigure our society. But, we have to accept that the publishers and academic institutions of the world must do more. Our work together is incomplete.
Equally, our company at all levels does not reflect the diversity of the world we seek to educate and inform. We have not done enough to drive and lead these initiatives at SAGE. This moment in history must become a rallying cry for us all to do more—individually and collectively. We must succeed. To only try is not enough. We must re-double our efforts to become a more diverse and inclusive organization both in our staff and in the voices we publish. We will intensify our efforts to make sure that the research and policy solutions SAGE publishes will reach those who are best placed to drive the fundamental changes required.
As a first and very small step, we have created a publicly available resource center to highlight vital work that must be read by those with the power to effect change from policymakers, to legislators, to civic organizations, and to law enforcement agencies, as well as the wider public. All of us, including all of us at SAGE, will read and learn what social scientists have been trying to teach us for far too long. I am determined to ensure that SAGE enables and amplifies those expert voices, particularly scholars of color, who need to be heard.
Additionally, we will offer financial support to organizations whom we believe are best placed to have the greatest impact and who understand how to translate research into action. Teams at SAGE and Corwin are actively working on these initiatives now and we will make further announcements shortly.
Racial injustice and inequality are no longer issues we can only discuss or publish. We must play our part to eradicate racism in all forms. We must be proactive and vigilant. We must hold each other accountable, and we must make progress. Now is the time to devote ourselves to mobilizing society toward racial equality.