SFWA Statement on Black Lives Matter
The Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) board unanimously signed a statement about the Black Lives Matter movement and the recent protests against police violence. The statement reads, in part,
It is not enough to have an anti-harassment policy and call that good. We must work for equity and diversity to make sure that underrepresented voices are heard, to increase inclusion in the genre of science fiction and fantasy, in the larger ecosystem of publishing, in our writing community, and in life.
We support Black Lives Matter and the protesters who are seeking justice for centuries of white supremacy and police brutality.
We acknowledge that SFWA has historically ignored and, in too many instances, reinforced the injustices, systemic barriers, and unaddressed racism, particularly toward Black people, that have contributed to this moment. We have allowed those who spoke for change in SFWA to be drowned out by those who clung to the status quo. We have a responsibility to admit our failings and to continually commit to dismantling these oppressive and harmful systems, both within this organization and ourselves.
The board listed a series of concrete steps they plan to take, including making donations to the Carl Brandon Society and the Black Speculative Fiction Society, waiving membership and event registration fees for Black writers, creating a travel fund for Black writers, and more. For details, see their official statement.
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