Making the World a Better Place: Idaho Human Rights Collective

BY MICHAEL STRICKLAND, IDAHO HUMAN RIGHTS COLLECTIVE FOUNDER

and neither are many. This phrase has been shared by more and more African Americans in recent months, and begins the opening statement for the Idaho Human Rights Collective (IHRC), a group founded to help identify solutions for a hurting nation. Through active multimedia and in-person training and education, IHRC aims to dismantle racism in Idaho.

“Show me this imaginary racism. Then I’ll do something about it,” a man at an Idaho university repeated, which underscored the fact that a large portion of racism is so ingrained in our society that it had become invisible. Unfortunately, conversations like this one were and are too common.

The collective, which began as a Facebook page called Human Rights Report, wanted to raise awareness of racism in our state, and began posting with the hashtag #ExamplesOfRacism. With no shortage of material, a growing and very loyal group of followers began to engage, validating the need for such a discussion.

About a year later, the images of George Floyd were flashed across the screen and indelibly marked in the American psyche, forever. No longer could the reality of hostility and discrimination toward Blacks in the country simply be dismissed.

Hundreds of people from all walks of life, races, and political perspectives started asking what they could do. The outpouring of sincere concern, from around Idaho and the rest of the nation, was astounding. So the IHRC evolved, and helped the community tap into the mission to, as our tagline says, “make the world a better place.”

The response from the community were thoughtful and robust. “I keep hoping that all of this was what we (USA) have to go through collectively to address all of the nastiness and racism that was always there. I hope that somehow, these backward steps will lead to some real change as opposed to the lip service we often give to the issues in this country. The whole history here is rank with abuses, and people need to start addressing and rectifying (to whatever degree possible) these abuses. We (collectively, Caucasians) were (and are) too complacent and frankly, distracted to see what was really happening. I cannot imagine how draining it is,” wrote one concerned citizen in a message to IHRC. She expressed hope that this extremely rough patch leads to real evolution of consciousness and action.

Another supporter, from Boise, sent a message to explain that she has made a lot of Black friends over 31 years from her job at Merck. The company has always been very diverse, including in leadership, she wrote. The firm made it very clear that racism wouldn’t be tolerated. She explained that recently, they began devoting about two hours per week every week to discussions of microaggressions, unconscious bias, and privilege, and said Merck also welcomes stories from Black colleagues of personal and professional racial psychological assaults they have endured. She added that these kinds of conversations, although likely exhausting for some, are really fostering empathy and understanding, and more importantly, outrage. Many Idaho companies are doing this. It is important progress, the supporter concluded.

The responses reflected a growing consciousness in Idaho about race, and still better, a desire to do more. One supporter noted what she saw as the one small silver lining in all the turmoil–the newfound realization that things were bad for our Black brothers and sisters. “Now I realize just how bad,” she wrote.

To help further a local dialogue about race and related social justice issues, the IHRC works with a variety of organizations and activists in the community and has established scholarships at Boise State University to award funds to students whose work and service activities directly impact the community. The scholarship donations are given out through a memorial fund in the name of my mother, the late Dr. Dorothy Strickland of Rutgers University, who was a fourth-grade teacher, reading consultant, and learning disabilities specialist. Later, she earned her master’s and doctorate, teaching at Kean College of New Jersey; Teachers College, Columbia University; and Rutgers University Graduate School of Education. A beloved literacy advocate, she served as the inaugural Samuel DeWitt Proctor Endowed Chair at Rutgers and was the first African American president of the International Literacy Association. Along with her many contributions to the field, she served as an inspiration for countless women, particularly those of color, who followed in her footsteps.

a man at an Idaho university repeated, which underscored the fact that a large portion of racism is so ingrained in our society that it had become invisible.

In the future, IHRC hopes to host in-person events, which will highlight the work of community leaders and activists, support small businesses, and help facilitate conversations about race to enact real change. I grew to realize that the IHRC was needed to bolster and support the many progressive efforts in the Gem State and beyond. “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that,” wrote Martin Luther King. “Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” “Show me this imaginary racism. Then I’ll do something about it,” a man at an Idaho university repeated, which underscored the fact that a large portion of racism is so ingrained in our society that it had become invisible.