Texas Media & Analytics

Although I, Lisa Dobias, rarely post personally on social platforms, there are times when I feel so proud, excited, or otherwise compelled. This is one of those times. Unfortunately, I am far from proud or excited to write this post, but I am extremely compelled. As an educator, parent, and fellow human I am compelled to let it be known that I, my colleagues, and the entire Texas Media & Analytics program we teach in stand with our Black community always, but particularly now during the emotional turmoil of the past few days.

At the University of Texas at Austin, one of the most iconic symbols of our campus is a tower that has carved into its limestone front the statement “Ye Shall Know The Truth And The Truth Shall Make You Free.” The truth is that George Floyd is just the latest of many Black citizens who has not only had his voice but his life unjustly taken because of nothing more than the color of his skin. The truth is that the systemic racial biases and targeting of Black men and women with violence has historically occurred for centuries in our country. The truth is our Black friends, colleagues, and students are living in a very different reality. The truth is these ongoing unrecognized biases and tragic events are stripping whole Black communities of their confidence in our society. If that emblematic tower inscription along with our university’s tagline of “What Starts Here Changes the World” really means anything, then let’s take these truths and start something.

What can we start you ask? Well, we can start with better educating ourselves. I teach my students to intensely research a topic before weighing in, so let’s all agree to take personal responsibility for researching our history of racial inequity more and not rely on our Black friends to have to try and educate us on their experiences. Here are some important highly recommended titles on the topic to add to your summer reading list.

White Fragility and What Does It Mean to Be White? both by sociologist Dr. Robin DiAngelo

Just Mercy by lawyer and justice activist Bryan Stevenson

The New Jim Crow by civil rights lawyer Michelle Alexander

So You Want To Talk About Race by writer, speaker, and Internet yeller Ijeoma Oluo

What else can we start? We can agree to amplify the voices in our Black communities by shining more attention on their businesses and employment candidates, and by putting our monetary support behind organizations and institutions truly doing the heavy lifting in the fight for racial equality.

Finally, let's start by realizing the huge impact we can each have when our individual daily words are more intentional and our actions are accountable. If we truly want our school motto to mean something let’s not waste the opportunity we have to start something here in bigger ways, but also in individual acts of support, kindness, and mutual respect. To those of you in our Black community, I want you to know you are heard and you are seen. Although you are understandably hurting, overwhelmed, and exhausted from the barrage of emotions you are experiencing and the energy you are expending on processing, through all of that know you are valued and loved. Simply put, you matter.

If anyone who reads this feels the need for more support, please reach out to the Stan Richards School Equity Student Council.

Out of hundreds of applicants, 4 TM&A longhorns were selected to participate in Starcom’s Future Leaders Program at their Chicago Headquarters! These students attended diversity and inclusion seminars, panel discussions with Starcom’s leadership, and shadowed senior media associates to learn more about what it’s like to work in the industry.