THE BLACKSMITH’S INDIVIDUAL PLEDGE TO COMMIT TO RACIAL EQUITY.
sign here.

I pledge and commit to anti-racism, and becoming an accomplice to the Black communities I serve, both personally and professionally. I understand that I may be confronted with triggering emotions when doing this work because I am conditioned by living in a system of white supremacy. I must be willing to challenge my self-assessment that I am not racist and continue to engage. I am willing to be uncomfortable. I understand that anti-racism work and anti-oppression work is a daily commitment and re-commitment. I commit to educating people in my community and workplace.

THE BLACKSMITH’S ORGANIZATIONAL PLEDGE TO COMMIT TO RACIAL EQUITY.

Pledge on behalf of your organization or request that an organization in your community consider signing the pledge.

_____________________ pledges to responsibly and ethically steward and present the work of Black cultural producers, and to eliminate barriers to Black leadership in the ranks of the organization. We pledge to take action to ensure fair and progressive compensation and treatment of Black employees, artists, students and patrons.

We pledge to address the white settler-colonial foundations of our institutional practices. We aim to confront and address the often uncomfortable history of racism and hypocrisy throughout the life of our institution, its mission, vision and subsequent undertakings. We acknowledge that our budgets function as moral documents; they are evidence of our commitments to move in direct opposition to systems upholding white supremacy.

We understand that we may be confronted with challenges while doing this work because of the insidiousness of white supremacy. Regardless, we commit to anti-racism, and becoming an accomplice to the Black communities we serve. We are willing to challenge the scope of our self-assessment, allocate resources, and commit to a deep and thorough interrogation of the areas where improvement is needed. We understand and acknowledge that anti-racism and anti-oppression work are a long-term commitment. We will push through the discomfort. 

We pledge to initiate processes of accountability and intentionality to better serve Black communities, and ultimately all communities we are obligated to serve as a public-facing institution.