Black lives matter. WUNC believes this because it is true, and truth fuels what we do at North Carolina Public Radio.
WUNC does not believe that saying Black lives matter is a political statement, or supportive of any single organization, or that it conflicts with our journalistic mission.
In fact, saying and believing that Black lives matter enhances that journalistic mission, by acknowledging the various levels of systemic racism with which our social, political and corporate establishments are infused.
Too often, WUNC has defaulted to and amplified the views of these establishments without questioning the structures that allow for race-based privilege and inequities. Stating Black lives matter is also an admission – that we have been shortsighted, and, at times, insincere in our efforts to diversify our workforce and consistently include voices and perspectives from a broad cross-section of our community.
WUNC is committed to rooting out its own systemic and institutional racism, and pledges to do better, to be more representative of our community, and to hold the pillars of power to account to do the same.
This commitment starts at home, and WUNC will enact specific and concrete efforts to reach, hire, promote, mentor, value, and seek guidance from Black and brown people within every sector of our organization, our outreach, our content production, and our programming.
It is right and important to say Black lives matter now, at this critical juncture in our society, as a first step toward doing better. WUNC is unequivocally opposed to racism, and is committed to upholding anti-racist ideas and practices. Through truth and these strengthened efforts, we aim to be a more essential resource for North Carolina’s communities, who we ask to hold us accountable when our actions don’t align with our promises.