Ruth Simmons' remarks at the 2011 ERASE Racism Benefit (High Quality Version)

On June 7th, 2011, at ERASE Racism's 10th Anniversary Celebration and Benefit Reception, Dr. Ruth J. Simmons, President of Brown University, spoke to over 350 Long Islanders about her journey as the granddaughter of slaves in the deep-south, to one of the most accomplished educational leaders of our time. Dr. Simmons joined ERASE Racism to accept the Abraham Krasnoff Courage and Commitment Award, given by the organization every year to a leader who has demonstrated a life-time commitment to racial justice.

"Inequality in education is the civil rights issue of our generation. Unequal treatment in many areas can be overcome, but inequities in education can have life-time ramifications," warned Dr. Simmons. As the first African American president of an Ivy League institution, Dr. Simmons believes that a good education is one of the most powerful tools to create opportunity and equity.

Dr. Simmons contributed her success to caring teachers who believed in her and encouraged her to go to college. She reflected on the educational inequities that deny such opportunities to black and Latino students in racially segregated areas, such as Long Island, and said, "Education is the critical component to eradicating racism and ending discrimination, and yet educational structures are contributing to the very racism and discrimination that education seeks to end."

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• Ruth Simmons
• education
• ERASE Racism
• diversity
• racial equity
• racial justice