Growing protests to decry police brutality and anti-Black racism have demanded sustained efforts for justice in the wake of the murders of Rayshard Brooks, George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor. Such injustices come at an especially challenging time in which Black communities are disproportionately being ravaged by the global COVID-19 pandemic1,2. These compounding issues have culminated in a watershed moment, in which non-Black colleagues, some for the first time, are beginning to legitimately grapple with the pervasive and pernicious nature of anti-Black racism embedded in our institutions and professions.

Many scientific institutions, professional societies and individuals have swiftly and emphatically denounced anti-Black racism, pledging Black Lives Matter and acknowledging their support in deconstructing racial oppression and white supremacy in the academy. This support has largely come in the form of public statements and editorials that elevate Black voices, most notably from prestigious scientific outlets like Nature3,4 and Science5,6,7. A recent editorial in Nature Ecology & Evolution8 pledges to dismantle anti-Black racism in the annals of life sciences, which is a necessary step. But let us be clear: this is not enough and not even the minimum9,10. The road to anti-racism in academia is a long, arduous, uphill climb that will require institutional and personal reconciliation, resolve, discomfort and humility11. It is both necessary and urgent to promote inclusive excellence and transformative scholarship.

Black scholars in the life sciences are grieving, traumatized, exhausted, infuriated, frustrated and experiencing many other disparaging emotions4,12. As we attempt to operate in a system that presents extraordinary barriers to our success, we also watch our white counterparts thrive in a system equipped with the resources made for them7. Yet despite the paucity of Black scholars in ecology and evolution13,14,15,16, repeated evidence emphasizes that scholars from underrepresented groups improve research innovation17. The concept of ecosystem integrity emphasizes that species diversity is necessary for ecosystem function, in which rare and keystone species play a disproportionate role in maintaining ecosystem equilibrium18. As such, Black scholars are keystone scientists: we play a disproportionate role in advancing diversity and inclusion19, while maintaining excellence in teaching and research, despite racial oppression within and outside our academic institutions7.

In the Marvel comic series Black Panther, a universe is imagined in which the intellectual, cultural, social and scientific contributions of Black scholars are celebrated. In this fictional nation of Wakanda, the contributions of Black scholars are elevated, emphasizing that global scientific and technological advancements are realized in a world welcoming of Black excellence20. To fully realize the beauty and power of Wakanda in our own universe, we must employ anti-racist policies and actions (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1: Recommendations for authentically amplifying Black scholars while abolishing white supremacy in ecology and evolution.
figure 1

Anti-racist practice and action means creating comprehensive policies that specifically target injustices and inequality at every level of an institution (for example, in lab settings, graduate cohorts, classrooms, conference venues and departmental meetings). Creating sustained change and progress in fighting racial oppression in ecology and evolution requires a multi-tiered approach that incorporates aspects of education, support and personal and professional growth. Most importantly, institutional policies must be married with individual interrogation of biases and privileges, placing accountability at the core of authentically practicing anti-racism pedagogy and doctrine.

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Root mentorship, training and research in anti-racism

Mentorship, training and research in ecology and evolution must be grounded in institutionalized and formalized anti-racist policies. This means being vulnerable and acknowledging your shortcomings in conversations about racial justice. White supremacy has purposefully suppressed historical narratives of Black contributions to ecology and evolution21. This necessarily means that scientists raised in Western society are poorly educated about systemic racial oppression and history by design11. Mentors and principal investigators need to be aware of this reality, and must talk to their labs, collaborators and research groups about confronting and dismantling structural racism, especially senior white male colleagues22. Importantly, this work extends beyond the white heteronormative male majority, including white women and other minority groups in science.

Be humble enough to relinquish your power and privilege to elevate Black scientists’ voices (Fig. 1). Learn to identify microaggressions, guard against them in yourselves, and remain vigilant about eradicating them in your lab group and institutions. Persistence will be required, understanding that fatigue and discomfort will happen. Dig deep.

Decolonize and broaden evaluation metrics

The guidelines for tenure, promotion and hiring are all heavily steeped in white supremacy and racial oppression that prohibits the full participation and excellence of Black scientists9. Tenure, promotion and hiring guidelines customarily devalue community engagement and initiatives directed at promoting diversity, equity, inclusion and justice. This also includes internal and external funding initiatives, as Black life scientists are customarily not funded for large grants23. The invisible labour of Black scientists often goes unnoticed or disregarded but is substantial to the excellence of the department and institution24.

Radical revisions to evaluation metrics also need to hold non-Black colleagues accountable for anti-racist work. Integration of outreach and engagement efforts should be tantamount to publication record on a CV. Too many non-Black scholars have ascended the academic ladder without substantive contributions to diversifying life sciences and societal justice, and this is unacceptable.

Black scientists (students and faculty included) should serve on tenure and promotion committees, as well as hiring committees9. The voices and opinions of those Black scholars should seriously be taken into consideration when making all hiring or promotion decisions. Not taking these immediate actions will inevitably jeopardize our ability to create a welcoming environment that broadens participation in our disciplines.

Recognize Black excellence in all its forms

To authentically be a welcoming space for Black scholars, we need to accept the full expression of Black excellence in all its forms. Concurrently, that means interrogating how societal norms and stereotypes coerce Black scientists to conform or assimilate to a strict definition of professionalism6. We do not accept species uniformity in promoting healthy ecosystems, so why would we expect assimilation of personalities, values and cultures? Recent social media movements, including but not limited to #BlackBirdersWeek, #BlackintheIvory and #BlackinNature, illustrate the myriad forms of Black scholarship, education and outreach5. Undervaluing these stories, narratives and identities negates the positive contributions our non-Black colleagues make in fighting structural racism.

Support and fight alongside your Black colleagues against racial oppression, especially when it is inconvenient and outside our academic walls. This is especially pertinent for field biologists, as our right to belong in nature without fear of persecution or violence is under constant threat25,26. The compounding and pervasive impacts of environmental racism in conservation and environmental movements all contribute to marginalizing Black scholars’ contributions to field ecology and biology16,25,26. Authentically recognizing Black excellence will likely mean confronting authority figures (that is, police, deans, chancellors, society presidents, department chairs and so on) and using your privilege to protect the rights of your colleagues.

Sustained work is required

The best antidote for white supremacy is Black excellence10. As James Baldwin famously wrote: “The future of the Negro in this country… Is precisely as bright or dark as the future of the country”. Simply put: our collective success in ecology and evolution rests with our willingness to combat anti-Black racism and white supremacy. Our success is also predicated on our ability to acknowledge and learn from the historical contributions of acclaimed Black scholars before us. Extensive and untold legacies and narratives of Black scholars in ecology and evolution must be heard16,21.

We demand long-term solutions that disrupt white supremacy in all areas of ecology and evolution, while simultaneously elevating Black scholars (Fig. 1). Our current declaration builds on an already exhaustive list of scholarly work addressing anti-racist strategies11. May our call to action serve as a preface to lifelong engagement with eradicating systemic racism in our institutions.