Anti-Racism Team (ART)

•
At Sunday’s service, I heard a consistent message of ‘we have each other’ and ‘we are in this together.’ I didn’t hear about the work of anti-racism, specifically, but the assurance I heard was that none of us is in this work of anti-racism alone. I admit that I have been feeling a bit alone and overwhelmed by the magnitude of the task. I recognize it is my own white fragility expressing itself. On Monday morning, I opened up my Stewardship envelope and saw the messages “Build community, Learn Together, Create Justice” and ‘Love made real.” On Monday, I am reassured – that we can do much more together than any of us can do alone. So I am reconsidering how those of us at UUSS might be intentional about anti-racism. Together. Compassionately. To make love real.

Liliana Delman writes, “the insecurities and fear [of white people] around addressing race and racism is extreme. The fear of being labeled a racist or being rejected by the other ‘good white people’ oftentimes leads to white folks removing themselves from any uncomfortable conversation about race.” To dismantle the system of racism in which we all work, live, and love, we have to go there — to the uncomfortable conversations about how white privilege and our culture of white supremacy perpetuates the racism we find despicable. Having those conversations is going to require personal and collective vulnerability. Until we are admittedly vulnerable, we are not going to be open to recognizing our role in dismantling the culture of white supremacy in order to create perceptible, systemic, and real change. Though Brené Brown warns, “vulnerability takes enormous courage,” I know we are a courageous people and I know the change we might create together is boundless. Join the conversation.

For courage starters, watch a Tim Wise video  or read the article, “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack” by Peggy McIntosh
If you would like to join the conversation and/or the Anti-Racist Team, contact Kat Wolfram at kmwolfram@gmail.com