April 2, 2017 Sunday Forum

April 2, 2017 Sunday Forum

Erika and Lauralee led a second Black Lives Matter Forum to a packed BUF Boardroom.

Robin Diangelo's video was shown.

March 13, 2017 BUF Black Lives Matter Team Meeting Minutes

March 13, 2017 BUF Black Lives Matter Team Meeting Minutes

Attendees: Erika, Lauralee, Heidi, Cat, Michael, Alice, Mike Betz, Martie, Rod Haynes, Nancy Steele, Liz E.

Business: Our team will host BUF coffee hour on May 14th
                 Rod Haynes will sell copies of his book as a fundraiser
                 Forum on April 2nd
                 At April 9th SEJC Meeting, we will present a resolution similar to the UUA GA 2015 Call                        to Witness and ask for support before presenting for a vote at the May Congregational                          Meeting

28 Racist Attitudes:  We discussed #16 "I was an Indian in a Former Life" as well as a discussion of cultural appropriation and the differences among Assimilation, Acculturation and Appropriation.

Eracism Minutes continue!

February 13, 2017 BUF Black Lives Matter Team Meeting Minutes

February 13, 2017 BUF Black Lives Matter Team Meeting Minutes

Attendees: Erika, Lauralee, Virginia, Hilde, Martie, Alice, Judy, Noel, Nan, Cat, Heidi, Andrew, Michael, Mary, David

Business: T-shirts are in; pick up from Heidi.
                 Successful forum on 1/29/17 --packed! Another one scheduled for April 2nd.

Eracism Minutes: Michael, Hilde and Heidi volunteered to do some; reports these "minutes" are very effective in consciousness-raising.

28 Racism Attitudes:  We continue to discuss the reality and consequences of racist attitudes:

•   8.  But What About Me? i.e., "Look how I've been hurt, oppressed, exploited..."
•   9.  We Have Overcome, i.e., "We dealt with racism in the 60's with all the marches, sit-ins and speeches by Dr. King. Laws have been changed. Segregation and lynching are ended. We have some details to work out but real racism is pretty much a thing of the past."
• 10.  The End Run, Escapism, i.e., "Of course racism is terrible, but what about sexism? or classism? or heterosexism? or the attempt to evade recognition and responsibility for any form of oppression to divert attention away from racial injustice.
• 11.  Due Process, i.e., "Lady Justice is [color]blind." 

More Resources: Check out the ACLU actions, the Southern Poverty Law Center literature, and Michael Erik Dyson's book, TEARS WE CANNOT STOP.

February 27, 2017 BUF Black Lives Matter Team Meeting Minutes

February 27, 2017 BUF Black Lives Matter Team Meeting Minutes

Attendees: Erika, Lauralee, David, Martie, Mary, Judy, Libby, Courtney, Mike

Chalice Lighting: What wearing the Black Lives Matter T-shirt means; what you're getting out of the Black Lives Matter Ministry Action Team

Business: Hosting a Coffee Hour- Mary will be the lead on this; Date in May; Sign up using the Sign-up Genius; Wear our T-shirts; Be prepared to explain our team's purpose and activities

28 Racist Attitudes: We discussed the following:

• 12. Innocence by Association, i.e., "I'm not racist because...I have POC in my family, my lover is Black, I marched with Dr. King..."
• 13. The Penitent, i.e., "I am so sorry for the way whites have treated your people. or "I am sorry for the terrible things that white man just said to you." or other expressions of white guilt.
• 14. The White Wash, i.e., "He's really a very nice guy, he's just had some bad experiences with Koreans." 
• 15. Not Here in Lake Wobegon (or Bellingham...or BUF!)