A group of UNC students are aiming to speak out against racial injustice by organizing a marathon this weekend to benefit a Chapel Hill community center serving Black residents.
Saturday’s Race Against Racism is a virtual 5k, 10k and longer distance event where participants register to speak out in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.
The event was organized by students with the Alpha Epsilon Delta Pre-Health Honor Society, as well as the Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity. Caroline Le is one of the organizers. She says the idea for Saturday’s race stemmed from the death of George Floyd and the international movement against the Minneapolis police officers’ actions.
“We wanted to put on some sort of event that benefitted the local, historically Black community,” says Le, “and set an example for the rest of organizations on UNC campus to show this is more than just a moment. This is a real movement and we all need to take real action beyond [responding] to these horrific acts that have been happening.”
To localize their efforts, the group decided to help the Marian Cheek Jackson Center located on West Rosemary Street in Chapel Hill. The center is dedicated to preserving the history of the Northside community. According to Le, that’s what led to the Race Against Racism wishing to support it.
“Our goal, first and foremost,” she says, “was just to raise awareness about the Jackson Center and all of the amazing work they do. They have so many programs that directly benefit the Chapel Hill community and many people [might] have no idea about it.”
That why 100 percent of registration fees for Saturday’s event are going to the Jackson Center. Le says more than $3,500 have been raised so far by more than 220 runners.
“A lot of UNC students live in these historically Black neighborhoods and have no idea the history behind them,” she says. “They don’t know about the organizations that help support their neighborhoods and retain their elderly neighbors in the area.”
In addition to having details about Saturday’s event on its website, the Race Against Racism also provides suggestions for ways participants can engage with the topics of systemic racism and injustice. The group recommends various books, films, podcast series and other ways people can learn about the history of racism in the U.S. and about other stories from Black communities.
“We just want to make sure our runners are not only participating in this and feel like they’re donating to a good cause,” says Le, “but to really self-reflect to make sure they’re doing everything they can to be anti-racist. Hopefully it will make some lasting change in our community in the long run.”
To register for the Race Against Racism, access its resources or learn more about the event, visit the Race Against Racism website.
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