Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Castro: Fresno State Can Do More to Drive Social Justice Reforms
NANCY WEBSITE HEADSHOT 1
By Nancy Price, Multimedia Journalist
Published 5 years ago on
June 5, 2020

Share

Fresno State President Joseph I. Castro said the university already has taken on a significant role in addressing racial inequity and disparities in justice, health care, educational opportunities, and child development through its educational and research programs and its service efforts in the community.

Updated portrait of Fresno State President Joseph I. Castro

 

“We clearly have a lot more work to do. And I think that work is something that we all prioritize.” — Fresno State President Joseph I. Castro, addressing the university’s low African American enrollment 

But, he told GV Wire this week, Fresno State can — and should — do even more.

The outrage sparked by the killing of George Floyd, a black man, at the hands of Minneapolis police has sparked calls for reforms in policing as well as demands for more equality in health care, education, and economic opportunities for African-Americans, who are among the people of color who have been hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Castro said that he was proud of the students from the Fresno State chapter of the NAACP who organized the rally and march in downtown Fresno. Unlike protests in other cities, Fresno’s 3,000-person march was free of violence, a top priority for the student organizers.

Two Protests, Different Outcomes

Ironically, Fresno State officials learned during the same weekend that several students might have been involved in a traffic altercation in which a Jeep struck a protester at a Visalia event, prompting the university to launch an investigation.

“It does … raise the question of how we educate students, faculty, staff from all different backgrounds so they fully understand the experiences of African-American youth and adults, and not just understand, but become allies to make sure that this community is treated with the dignity and fairness and respect that they deserve,” he said.

“And I’m hopeful that Fresno State can play a role in educating a group of bold leaders who really embrace the diversity of cultures and understand that we all bring these gifts to the table and make America stronger through our gifts, through our cultural gifts and intellectual gifts.”

The protests, Castro said, highlighted the need to expand opportunities for African-Americans, starting from birth. One of the points made at Sunday’s rally was the disproportionate number of African-American babies who are born prematurely, “and we know from our research that that leads to other kinds of challenges,” he said.

Fresno State works with First 5 Fresno County to address that and other early childhood issues, Castro said.

Twitter images of a Jeep hitting protesters in Visalia, California a
A Jeep flying American and Trump flags hits protesters in Visalia on Saturday, May 30, 2020. (Twitter/@kookgenre)

Enrolling More Black Students at Fresno State

Making sure that African-American students wind up in the pipeline for college is also a focus for the university in working with K-12 partners, he said.

The university’s outreach to the African-American community includes “Super Sunday” visits to churches, yearlong programming, summer institutes, and the “Sweet Potato Project” through which black farmers can mentor agriculture students, he said.

“We are focused on this, but we need more support from the community, from the business community and from other community leaders, frankly, from our families, from all different groups to embrace the potential that our African-American youth have and to help them flourish as the next generation of leaders,” he said.

But Castro acknowledged that the percentage of blacks attending Fresno State is still quite low. In the fall 2019 semester, 2.6% or about 637 students at Fresno State were African American.

“We clearly have a lot more work to do,” he said. “And I think that work is something that we all prioritize.”

 

Photo of Joseph I. Castro speaking at St. Joseph Baptist Church in Fresno, California
Fresno State President Joseph I. Castro speaks to the congregation at St. Joseph Baptist Church in southwest Fresno about the opportunities provided by a college education. (fresnostatenews.com)

Policing Reforms

Castro said the university can play a greater role in addressing the racial disparities in policing that commonly occur across the nation, such as when some police officers and departments target people of color for enforcement or for excessive force.

The university’s criminology department, which Castro said is one of the largest in California, trains many students who go into law enforcement.

“I believe that this is an opportunity for us to look at our curriculum and think about what changes need to be made to support a fair system for everybody,” he said.

Floyd’s death, which resulted after a white Minneapolis police kept his knee on Floyd’s neck even though he said repeatedly that he couldn’t breathe, could be a catalyst for social change, Castro said.

“I do hope that this is an opportunity to raise awareness for people that may have not thought about this in a deep way, but who are open to ideas that make us a much more inclusive community here in Fresno,” he said.

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Humanitarian Workers Killed in Gaza Ambush Blamed on Hamas, Internet Cut in Territory

DON'T MISS

Mexican Flags at LA Protests Are Dividing America

DON'T MISS

Trump Blocks California EV Rules in Latest Move to Rein In the State

DON'T MISS

Wired Wednesday: Untangling Community Health’s Kickback Scheme

DON'T MISS

Italy Has No Indication of Imminent Israeli Attack on Iran

DON'T MISS

Fresno Scientist Says He Can Treat Raw Milk, Keep Its Benefits. He Just Got FDA Approval

DON'T MISS

Britain Ready to Implement US Tariff Deal, Trade Minister Says

DON'T MISS

UN Says Full Internet Blackout in Gaza, Paralyzing Aid Operations

DON'T MISS

Trump Says He Won’t Fire Fed’s Powell but ‘May Have to Force Something’ on Rates

DON'T MISS

Fresno Police to Crack Down on Distracted Driving in Friday Operation

UP NEXT

US to Pull Some Personnel From the Middle East Amid Rising Tensions With Iran

UP NEXT

Air India Plane Crash: Reactions From Across the World

UP NEXT

Harvey Weinstein Convicted of Sex Crime Amid Contentious Jury Deliberations

UP NEXT

Trump Warns Protests at Army Parade Will Be Met With Force

UP NEXT

Do Americans Support Trump’s Use of Marines in LA? The Numbers Might Shock You

UP NEXT

Marines Will Deploy to LA for 60 Days, Costing Taxpayers $134 Million

UP NEXT

Trump Administration Deploys Marines to Los Angeles, Vows to Intensify Migrant Raids

UP NEXT

How Much Will Fresno Unified Trustee’s Steak Dinner Cost After FPPC Fine?

UP NEXT

First the National Guard, Will the Marines Be Next at LA Riots?

UP NEXT

Hundreds Peacefully Protest ICE Raids in Downtown Fresno

Nancy Price,
Multimedia Journalist
Nancy Price is a multimedia journalist for GV Wire. A longtime reporter and editor who has worked for newspapers in California, Florida, Alaska, Illinois and Kansas, Nancy joined GV Wire in July 2019. She previously worked as an assistant metro editor for 13 years at The Fresno Bee. Nancy earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in journalism at Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. Her hobbies include singing with the Fresno Master Chorale and volunteering with Fresno Filmworks. You can reach Nancy at 559-492-4087 or Send an Email

Fresno County Wildfire Threatens Thousands of Acres. Evacuation Orders, Warnings Issued

5 hours ago

Fresno Fire’s Helmet Cam Catches Blaze Raging on House, Occupants Escape Safely

5 hours ago

Derek Carr Says Fresno Is Home, as City Honors Bulldog Great

5 hours ago

Fresno Councilmember Warns of Possible ICE Raid at Popular Outdoor Market

6 hours ago

Americans Split on Trump’s Use of Military in Immigration Protests, Reuters/Ipsos Poll Finds

6 hours ago

Clovis Police Still Searching for Missing At-Risk Man

6 hours ago

Fresno Unified Spends Thousands to Reprint Diplomas With Misty Her’s New Title

7 hours ago

Another Dozen Migrants Are Transferred to Guantánamo

7 hours ago

Former California Corrections Sergeant Indicted on Child Porn Charges

7 hours ago

Israel Could Strike Iran as Soon as Sunday, WSJ Reports

7 hours ago

Trump Can Keep National Guard Deployed to Los Angeles for Now, Appeals Court Rules

(Reuters) – A U.S. appeals court on Thursday allowed President Donald Trump to maintain his deployment of National Guard troops in Los...

41 minutes ago

Law enforcement officers stand guard outside MOCA (Museum of Contemporary Art), during a protest against federal immigration sweeps, in Los Angeles, California, U.S., June 12, 2025. (Reuters/David Swanson)
41 minutes ago

Trump Can Keep National Guard Deployed to Los Angeles for Now, Appeals Court Rules

Law enforcement officers guard Los Angeles City Hall during a protest against federal immigration sweeps, in Los Angeles, California, U.S. June 12, 2025. (Reuters/David Ryder)
3 hours ago

Judge Temporarily Bars Trump From Deploying National Guard Troops in Los Angeles

4 hours ago

Israel Attacks Iran’s Capital With Explosions Booming Across Tehran

The Firestone Incident near Highway 198 and Firestone Avenue in Coalinga has grown to 50 acres with a critical rate of spread, prompting evacuation orders for Zone P19, warnings for multiple surrounding zones, and a road closure, according to CalFire. (X/CalFire)
5 hours ago

Fresno County Wildfire Threatens Thousands of Acres. Evacuation Orders, Warnings Issued

A late-night fire heavily damaged a Fresno home on on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, but all six occupants escaped safely with no injuries. (Fresno FD)
5 hours ago

Fresno Fire’s Helmet Cam Catches Blaze Raging on House, Occupants Escape Safely

5 hours ago

Derek Carr Says Fresno Is Home, as City Honors Bulldog Great

6 hours ago

Fresno Councilmember Warns of Possible ICE Raid at Popular Outdoor Market

U.S. Marines stand with their packs and weapons, as protests against federal immigration sweeps continue, in greater Los Angeles, California, U.S., June 9, 2025, in this screen grab taken from a handout video. (DVIDS/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo)
6 hours ago

Americans Split on Trump’s Use of Military in Immigration Protests, Reuters/Ipsos Poll Finds

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend