September 15, 2020
Christopher Wray
Director
Federal Bureau of Investigation
935 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20535
Dear Director Wray:
We write to you as a group of former and retired Black FBI Special Agents, who are
concerned that program inequities within the agency have resulted in a decline in the
recruitment, hiring and promotion of Black Special Agents. As you are aware, and personally
stated during last year’s 100-year celebration of African American Special Agents, the
percentage of Black Special Agents in the FBI has steadily declined. Similarly, the percentage of
Black Special Agents promoted to the highest decision-making levels of SES has also decreased.
We recognize that you are making efforts to improve these numbers, but we remain concerned
because the FBI has allowed this decline to continue for over 20 years. In fact, this continuous
decrease in Black Special Agent hiring and promotions has occurred despite a previous Court
finding of racial discrimination in the agency, and a Court Order requiring the FBI to end racial
disparities.
In that no effort thus far has addressed this problem, we have joined to represent the
MIRROR Project, a grass roots initiative with a primary goal of creating a strategic plan that will
drive the FBI to establish systemic processes that significantly enhance minority recruitment,
hiring, retention, leadership development training, and promotional opportunities at all
supervisory and senior management levels. We believe this will require a commitment to
improving diversity by allowing for a third-party review of each of the aforementioned
components of the agency's personnel processes. We also believe that this com!
be sustainable and the FBI held accountable through formal reporting to Congress, Department
of Justice and the Office of Inspector General.
ment must
Ifyou are available, we would welcome the opportunity to meet with you and discuss
our proposal further. Based upon past history, we believe our advocacy for accountability and
a strong strategic plan Is the only solution to ensuring sustainable improvements in the agency
that will result in lasting changes for Black Americans who pursue careers with the FBI
Doc ID: 0196901297752779b9208 1 3dd0r1 7B946f9051d2Our goal is not to diminish the reputation of the FBI, but to support the agency as the standard
bearer for what it means to have a truly diverse, transparent and fair federal law enforcement
and intelligence agency. It is our hope that through this initiative the FBI will have tangible
successes in diversifying its Special Agent workforce.
Respectfully,
The Mirror Project
Signatures:
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Mithael %. Mason
Lobe Evans Smith
Keven KR. Kewes
WK Williams
Aaron M. KaSure
tdward Dickson
Mark S. Bullock
Cessandea Uf Chandler
Doc ID: 0198901297752779b92c8 13dd0r178946f9D5Id2