President Somerson Announces Action Plan for Social Equity

President Rosanne Somerson's announcement of an Action Plan for Social Equity at RISD.

2020 RISD BI+POC Student Demands for Racial Equity & Inclusion

RISD Anti-Racism Coalition (risdARC) demands document presented to the RISD Community, July, 2020.

RISD and Race Forum

A forum held on June 16, 2020, led by Jada Akoto and Sarah Alvarez addressing members of the RISD Administration (The President's Cabinet, the Dean's Council, Department Heads, Graduate Program Directors and Associate Provost, Social...

The Waiting Room Photo Shoot

Photos of The Waiting Room event participants with spa face masks and sliced cucumbers. Opening text reads: Welcome to THE BAADEST Waiting Room, founded on May 3, 2017 in response to the blatant disrespect, and lethargic responses to...

Letter to RISD Community

Black Artists and Designers (BAAD) Letter to the RISD Community January, 2017.

Am I White Enough?

Representasian Campaign poster created by RISD Alumni Sarah Dahsohl Im. REPRESENTASIAN is a campaign made to raise awareness about the lack of diversity in Hollywood, specifically criticizing the whitewashing of Asian characters. Creating...

No, you're wrong.

Student led campaign to discuss biases encountered during RISD critiques. "Let's Crit Crit" slogan.

It's RISD. Get used to it.

Student led campaign to discuss biases encountered during RISD critiques. "Let's Crit Crit" slogan.

Black Lives Matter

Black Lives Matter print poster displayed on campus.

The Waiting Room

The Waiting Room facebook event description. Text reads: Join us at our pop up spa for a full day of healing. In reaction to institutional neglect following last years "Not Your Token" Protest and Teach-In, and lack of response to RISD's...

The Waiting Room

The Waiting Room event poster. Text Reads: Welcome to THE BAADEST Waiting Room, founded on May 3, 2017 in response to the blatant disrespect, and lethargic responses to BAAD's list of demands and the hours of free labor that SEA committee...

The Waiting Room

The Waiting Room event poster.

My Uber Driver said "Xie Xie" to me...

他们不懂, tamenbudong, You Don't Understand campaign poster created by RISD alumni Jenny Li. Poster reads: My Uber driver said "Xie Xie" to me when I left the car, assuming I was Chinese.

Social Equities That Don't Exist Yet.

Poster for Social Equities that Don't Exists Yet, an unbiased conversation sponsored by the RISD chapter of Project LETS (Let's Erase The Stigma). Project LETS is a mental health advocacy group as well as a peer support network, dedicated...

Black Lives Matter Free Community Printing Event

Poster promoting Black Lives Matter free printing event hosted by Providence artist collective AS220, displayed on campus.

Not Your Token

Poster for Not Your Token protest organized by RISD BAAD (Black Artists And Designers), held April 6, 2016 in Market Square, Providence, RI. Text Reads: Not Your Token It is not our job to educate you.But we will demand to be listened to...

Not Your Token

Video documentary of the Rhode Island School of Design Black Artists and Designers demonstration in Providence Rhode Island. Directed by Selene Means. Additional footage by Eloise Sherrid. Mentor: Julie Mallozzi. Additional Editing: Eric...

We Demand

We Demand poster. Demands focused on racial justice made by RISD students to the administration in 2016.

Black Lives Matter

Black Lives Matter print poster displayed on campus.

Community is Stronger Than Hate

Community is Stronger Than Hate poster displayed on campus.

Racism is Not Normal, Misogyny is Not Normal, Fraud is Not Normal

Letterpress printed poster created by Providence-based artist DWRI Letterpress displayed on campus.

The Room of Silence

Video created by RISD alumni Eloise Sherrid addressing race and identity from RISD student perspectives. “The Room of Silence,” is a short documentary about race, identity and marginalization at the Rhode Island School of Design. Based on...

"This is the City This is the World This is a Small School: Diversity and the RISD Population," Mixed Media, Vol. 1, No. 3, April 22,1996

Article from the Mixed Media, Vol. 1, No. 3, April 22,1996 student newspaper.

Directions in the Work of Black American Artists | Barry Gaither

Poster using the three colors of the Pan-African flag, showing portrait omage of Dr. Barry Gaither, Curator for the Museumof the National Center of African American Artists. Derivation of previous poster (May 5 1970). May 4, 1970 was the...

Directions in the Work of Black American Artists | Barry Gaither

Poster using the three colors of the Pan-African flag, showing portrait omage of Dr. Barry Gaither, Curator for the Museumof the National Center of African American Artists. May 4, 1970 was the date of the Kent State University campus...

Black Artist in Graphic Communication

Poster for traveling exhibition of Black graphic designers. Held at Woods-Gerry gallery.

Black Emergency Cultural Coalition

Black ink illustration of RISD campus and Providence, East Side hillside buildings, atop hands clasped in handshake. Text reads: Friday - March 27. Panel discussion with: The Art Workers Coalition & The Black Emergency Cultural Coalition...

"We Demand," RISD Paper, March 23, 1970

Article from the RISD Paper, March 23, 1970 student newspaper.

John Torres Published Letter January 27,1970, RISD Paper, February 2, 1970

Article from the RISD Paper, February 2, 1970.

"Hit Them Hard and Low: You May Not Be in this Game Long," RISD Paper Vol.1, No.1, October 13, 1969

Article from the RISD Paper, Vol. 1, No.1, October 1969 student newspaper, page 2. John Torres was hired in 1969 as the Director fo the Third World Program, RISD's first administrator in charge of recruiting Black students.

"Count Me Out," RISD Paper, Vol.1, No.3, October, 1969

Article from the RISD Paper, October 27, 1969 student newspaper.

Black History Class "Student Group Turns Activist," Designer's News May 12-18, 1969

Article from the Designer's News, May 12-18, 1969 student newspaper, page 4.

Student Administration Communication Proposal, 1969

Student Administration Communication Proposal.

Activism

Archivist: Andrew Martinez

RISD Archives content documenting RISD community activism past to present. Collection includes posters, video, documents, student newspapers and more relating to racial justice, RISD students and institutional governance, ecology and environment, war protest, politics, and health.