As outrage about police violence in the U.S. has resulted in protests all over the world, we have seen a great number of academic institutions making statements condemning racism. At KITLV we also feel compelled to speak out, particularly in view of the history of the institute. In many ways, racism and violence are a legacy of colonialism and are embedded not only in society, but also in academia. Originally a colonial institution, KITLV is implicated in this history, compelling us to engage critically and challenge the traditions we stand in, the concepts and methods we use, the questions we ask, the collaborations we cultivate, and the approaches we develop.

We support the antiracist movement that has magnified in response to the killing of George Floyd and racist violence everywhere in the world. We must acknowledge that members of our community experience bias and racism regularly, often in ways that are hidden or not noticed by the many of us. We recognize that systemic racism remains a problem, also in the Netherlands, and we encourage initiatives to address institutional racism in Dutch society. What does that mean in our own lives, for our own research, for our own institute? Over the next days and weeks, KITLV researchers will share their experiences and views.

Stacey Mac Donald – Why I wanted to be “white”
David Kloos – Colonial pathologies and racial injustice
Esther Captain – Inscribing George Floyd. Thoughts about Black Lives Matter
Francio Guadeloupe – Social media blackness

Image: ANP.