Taos Community Foundation sidesteps racism issue
Iread the Taos Community Foundation’s recent statement regarding the Black Lives Matter protests with profound disappointment.
As one of our most influential community organizations, we look to the TCF for community leadership in days like these. Their statement fails to meet those expectations of community leadership.
I acknowledge that the foundation funds good work and usually facilitates important community conversations. However, the current board’s statement is astounding in its detachment from the racism and police brutality that people of color face in America today.
Following is their statement in full, as posted on social media on June 7. Please note the failure to call out racism. Instead: “divisiveness” is the problem, and written clearly in the subtext is the message “all lives matter.” Also note the mealy-mouthed euphemisms for police brutality.
“A Message from the Board and Staff of Taos Community Foundation:
“Taos Community Foundation is committed to serving the needs of our residents and community. In the past months, we have leaned into our strong partnerships with donors, nonprofits, business leaders and philanthropic partners; all working to strengthen our community and work toward recovery and resilience.
“Today, the board and staff of Taos Community Foundation speak with one voice to oppose the divisiveness that has erupted into violence across our country, and even here in our own state.
“Over the past years, we have seen the death of people of all races by both rogue ‘go-it-alone’ vigilantes and by those entrusted by the public to serve and protect.
“We support the constitutional right of all Americans to protest peacefully and seek a solution of their grievances from our elected leaders. We also condemn the looting, the destruction of property and the violence against all people and businesses.
“We affirm our commitment to our primary mission – to connect people and opportunities, generating resources to build a more creative, caring and thriving community. We look forward to the continued partnerships that are anchored in our organizations core values of trust, tolerance and transparency.”
Taos Community Foundation, you say you “speak with one voice.” It is unfortunate that the one voice is tone-deaf. The Taos community is listening. I’d like to hear your individual voices. Are you on-board with the Trumpian doublespeak of this tone-deaf statement? Why is it tone-deaf, you ask?
Calling out “divisiveness” instead of racism is tone-deaf. In fact, the word “racism” does not appear in your statement.
Repeatedly referring to “all people/all races” denies the specific pain of people of color in America, and is tone-deaf.
Objecting to “looting” in the same breath and before you object to police murdering Black people is tone-deaf.
Where is the explicit condemnation of racism and law-enforcement misconduct? It is not there. Yet you clearly condemn looting. We hear you.
John Muir said, “Do not speak unless you can improve the silence.” How unfortunate that our community foundation has failed to lead us in this critical moment. Call it racism. Say their names.