Stop Racism at Boston University
Donation protected
Help Black women pay for school!!!
I am writing this on behalf of myself (Tae’Shaona Matthews), Gahouray Dukuray, and other Black women living at Boston University. We would like to say that it is our strongest belief that Boston University and the Harriet E. Richards Cooperative (HER) House do not care about Black women, their trauma, or the marginalization they force them to endure. In the HER House, we faced multiple instances of racism, silencing, and erasure. We’ve been told not to talk about racism and that we aren’t allowed to avoid racist individuals because it is “uncooperative”. We were encouraged to get over the problems we were having, and forced to meet with the RA multiple time while racist individuals faced no consequences. The HER house was created for women who can’t afford to pay for school, but we have been forced to leave because we can no longer deal with the physical, emotional, and mental consequences of living among people who are actively racist and others who do nothing about it. Although both of us have to leave, neither of us can really afford it financially and we don’t believe we should have to pay thousands of dollars more just to make it through the year. I (Tae’Shaona) am graduating this year, but Gahouray has another year at Boston University. The money would help pay for the emergency housing I needed after leaving the house and Gahouray’s housing for her last year. Supporting us means resisting oppression and the further marginalization of Black women. For us to prioritize our physical and mental health, we have incurred a large financial cost. We deserve to be on this campus like everyone else. Why do we have to pay to avoid trauma? We ask you to help us through this difficult process that no one should have to go through.
I am writing this on behalf of myself (Tae’Shaona Matthews), Gahouray Dukuray, and other Black women living at Boston University. We would like to say that it is our strongest belief that Boston University and the Harriet E. Richards Cooperative (HER) House do not care about Black women, their trauma, or the marginalization they force them to endure. In the HER House, we faced multiple instances of racism, silencing, and erasure. We’ve been told not to talk about racism and that we aren’t allowed to avoid racist individuals because it is “uncooperative”. We were encouraged to get over the problems we were having, and forced to meet with the RA multiple time while racist individuals faced no consequences. The HER house was created for women who can’t afford to pay for school, but we have been forced to leave because we can no longer deal with the physical, emotional, and mental consequences of living among people who are actively racist and others who do nothing about it. Although both of us have to leave, neither of us can really afford it financially and we don’t believe we should have to pay thousands of dollars more just to make it through the year. I (Tae’Shaona) am graduating this year, but Gahouray has another year at Boston University. The money would help pay for the emergency housing I needed after leaving the house and Gahouray’s housing for her last year. Supporting us means resisting oppression and the further marginalization of Black women. For us to prioritize our physical and mental health, we have incurred a large financial cost. We deserve to be on this campus like everyone else. Why do we have to pay to avoid trauma? We ask you to help us through this difficult process that no one should have to go through.
Organizer
Tae'Shaona Matthews
Organizer
Boston, MA