(This is a follow-up post to this one)

Imagine a class on e.g. Kant or Hume, maybe an introductory class, maybe an advanced course. It is the beginning the term and the end of the first meeting:

[…] Now that I’ve told you about the general direction of this course, I want to take a moment to address an important issue: Author XY (Kant/Hume/whoever) had some very racist views on non-white people. I want to distance myself from these views which I highly condemn. Nonetheless, I believe that there is still something important to gain from Author XY’s works, which is why I am offering this class. Everyone who wants to discuss this decision, please feel free to send me an email. I have also uploaded several articles and books that discuss their racism, as well as the problem of racism in philosophy in general. I know you all have a lot to do, nonetheless I ask all of you to engage with at least some of this additional literature. Several works are rather short and easily accessible.
Also, the texts we are reading contain racist language. Throughout this class I will not reproduce racial slurs and I ask all of you to do the same when quoting Autor XY. I aim to create an inclusive environment, but if I fail to live up to this standard, if I do or say anything discriminatory, no matter if it is racist, sexist or ableist, please let me know!

I don’t think that such a statement is necessary every time that e.g. Kant is mentioned. But I do think that it is necessary whenever there is a whole class dedicated to him. Further, not only does such a statement address and condemn an author’s racism, it is also a self-commitment to creating an open and welcoming university environment. And that should be explicitly communicated. While structural racism is already regulating the numbers of people of colour who are getting into philosophy, we at least should not scare those away who want to stay.

Reading the text out loud took me no more than one minute and a half. Collecting works that reflect on (someone’s) racism isn’t that time intensive either. Further, such a collection could be updated and re-used. So why not put in this rather small effort with the potential to create lasting change?