"To reimagine and reshape anthropology to equitably reflect and value the entirety of humanity."
Mission
The UA Department of Anthropology’s Decolonization Committee recognizes that the discipline of anthropology arose in the context of colonial hegemony, imperialism, and scientific racism. We acknowledge that the lasting and harmful legacy of these historical roots continues to affect all aspects of current anthropological practice. We strive to create an equitable present and future within our discipline, and wholly commit to the process of decolonization—defined here as revealing, challenging and overturning the epistemologies, methodologies, and practices that emerged from and have been sustained by the imperialist enterprise in its various enactments over the past 500-plus years.
Our primary objective is to help reimagine and reshape anthropology into a discipline whose membership, applied work, scholarship, and leadership equitably reflects and values the entirety of humanity. To that end, this committee will spearhead the department’s efforts to create an environment that is actively anti-racist and inclusive. With the collaboration of the department, we will devise action steps and make recommendations aimed at overturning the negative effects of discrimination present in our daily interactions, operations, and policies as well as within our research, teaching, and service.
Our primary objective is to help reimagine and reshape anthropology into a discipline whose membership, applied work, scholarship, and leadership equitably reflects and values the entirety of humanity. To that end, this committee will spearhead the department’s efforts to create an environment that is actively anti-racist and inclusive. With the collaboration of the department, we will devise action steps and make recommendations aimed at overturning the negative effects of discrimination present in our daily interactions, operations, and policies as well as within our research, teaching, and service.
