ANNALS OF SPAM: WHICH CAME FIRST ?

The Art of Distance No. 11 The Paris Review opposes racism and violence—both the recent, bold-faced demonstrations of police brutality, and the structural injustice that has been present in our nation since its founding. We are committed to being a part of the change: we will work with our writers, our readers, and our team to make publishing a more equitable, dynamic, and creative place. We believe language opens paths to truth and justice. This week we are sharing several Writers at Work interviews with Black authors who have provided us—and generations of readers—guidance and inspiration, and are distributing a list of resources for those affected by the crisis. The Paris Review Black Lives Matter Dear Friends, Here America is again, with yet another and another and another brutal, racist killing. Our hearts grieve for the families of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and the many, many others who have lost loved ones to the deadly virus of systemic racism. People of color continue to suffer, as they have for generations, at the hands of a system engineered to hold them back, hold them down, and dispossess them of their liberties, their lands, and even their lives. Their lives matter. Black lives matter. This same systemic racism driving police brutality also underlies the racial disparities of the COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis - both of which have hit Americans of color first and worst. And this same system drives our different vulnerabilities to the devastating consequences of climate change. To paraphrase the author William Gibson, the climate crisis is already here, it’s just not evenly distributed. This system of racial injustice must be transformed. Not just individual law enforcement officers. Not just individual citizens. Not just individual elected officials. We need to go deeper and transform our social values, our culture, our economics, our politics, and even our psychology. Dear AAAS Members, We are of our community – and our community is in pain. We cannot escape the problems of society – for we carry the successes and challenges of our community with us wherever we go. Left unchecked, racism, sexism, homophobia, and fear of the other can enter any organization or community – and destroy the foundations upon which we must build our future. The past few harrowing days have laid bare how a lack of trust, respect, and leadership can tear at our social fabric. In these times, we must pull together and provide leadership in our own communities. Leadership is not about having all of the answers. It starts with unwavering principles that can steady us when the world seems unbalanced...  Society needs us more than ever... Our programs, publications, and advocacy are critical to a better and more just world... Sincerely, Sudip S. Parikh, PhD Chief Executive Officer and Executive Publisher, Science Family of Journals American Association for the Advancement of Science