how to make oceanography less racist

 In 2016, there were zero ocean science PhD's awarded to African Americans. Zero. We are not talking "low percentages", we are talking literally zero percent. It is abhorrent to not be doing something to fix this, particularly since we know climate change, sea level rise, and pollution disproportionately impact low income communities and communities of color. 

No one can change the entire system. But, there are some small things we can all do, in the hopes that there is never another year with zero African American PhD recipients. And particularly if you are faculty or otherwise in a position of power, be aware of your power and use it wisely.

Most of these suggestions apply to making oceanography more welcoming of anyone who is not a straight white man. 

Some suggestions:

• Language is important. Don't call your meeting a powwow. Don't reference "Africa" as if it is a single country. Neighborhoods around campus are not "sketchy" or "ghetto". If you do work to empower women in science but really only focus on white cisgendered women, don't call it a "diversity initiative". 
• Make a serious effort to learn people's names. It doesn't matter if it's in a language you don't speak, or seems strange to you. And the two black women on your campus are different people; learn their names and don't mix them up. If you mess up, apologize and sincerely try to do better. While you are at it, ask people their pronouns and use those correctly as well. 
• If your teaching includes history of oceanography, mention someone besides Magellan, Columbus, and Darwin. The native peoples of Indonesia, Australia, and New Zealand were historically great sailors. Coastal people around the world know a lot about their local oceanography. If you are going to cite Magellan or Columbus as great oceanographers, at least mention the harm they caused. 
• When talking about the impacts of sea level rise, think outside the box of coastal property flooding. Research local environmental crises and talk about those. Talk about climate refugees. Talk about how Miami Beach is installing millions of dollars of pumps to fight sea level rise, but also mention how lower income areas of Miami are still fighting for equitable distribution of bond funding.  
• Ask your students how they are doing, and genuinely listen to their answers. Know the resources on campus so you can refer students to mental health care, the multicultural center, or the LGBTQ student center. 
• Encourage promising students to apply for graduate school, post docs, or faculty positions as appropriate. If you are in a place where you can, offer to help pay application fees, or to read over their CV or cover letter. 
• If you have the power, and a student comes to you with a problem, do whatever you can to fix it. Sometimes things like maternity leave or name/pronoun changes can be done by a single person who is in power. If you have that power, use it. 
• Read. Some particular recommendations: Hidden Figures, anything by Angela Davis, The Water Will Come by Jeff Goodell, anything on this list, and memoirs, books, or twitter feeds from scientists of color in your subfield (I can't name any in Physical Oceanography, which is terrible). If your work is based in a country that was colonized, read some works by and about the people who were there pre-colonization. Learn how the local community is impacted by climate change.