June 5, 2020

Dear friends,

This is a deeply troubling time for our country and particularly for our Black community. We are saddened and angered about the deaths of so many at the hands of racist violence, including George Floyd, Tony McDade, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and Antwon Rose. We also know that sadness and anger are not enough. A one-time donation is not enough. There is still more work to do. This work must be ongoing.

HCP is committed to promoting the voices of Black artists, curators, and writers through our exhibitions, online publication, and educational programs. As part of our strategic plan, we have made many changes over the past five years to foster diversity, inclusion, and equity in our exhibitions, open calls, and educational programs, but we know we still have more work to do. Restructuring systems, policies, and budgets within our institutions takes conscious effort, and it is an effort we must continually make in order for our platforms to be truly open, representative, and community-oriented. We pledge to continue to make meaningful progress within our institution.

As members of our staff joined the 60,000 who marched this week in downtown Houston, we were reminded of how small actions, when compounded, can make a huge impact. We urge you to be an active part of the change we need. Let’s do this for everyone—and together.

In solidarity,

Ashlyn Davis and the HCP staff

Photography Resources

• Authority Collective: Resources for Photographers and Beyond on Anti-Racism

• Black Photographers Covering Protests 2020

• Decolonizing Documentary & Journalism

• Photographer’s Green Book

• The Photographer’s Guide to Inclusive Photography

• Using Photographs to Teach Social Justice | Exposing Racism

• The Center for Artistic Activism

National Resources

• Campaign Zero

• Color of Change

• Equal Justice Initiative

• Scaffolded Anti-Racist Resources

• BEAM: Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective