A few quick tips for countering oppression at BUF

A few quick tips for countering oppression at BUF

 ~ Don't make and/or Challenge your assumptions.   Eric Law talks about how

  

 ~ Ask Questions  -  Demonstrate “Holy Curiosity”

 ~ Be mindful of your (white, male, economic, relational, educated, accredited, clergy, professional, hetero, cis, "been around for forever", etc.) privilege in any given interaction and/or space and think about how to best equalize the power dynamic.

~ Consider that everyone has more identities (and history) than you're aware of.  No one is just a race + gender expression + orientation. Our identities are infinite.

 ~ Welcome discomfort. There's so much more opportunity there.

 ~ Be mindful of how much space you claim, and what that might mean for others.

~ Don't touch people (or things) without explicit consent.             Not everyone responds to touch the same way; not all "friendly" touch is appropriate.

 ~ Be mindful of your language and that there may be someone within earshot to whom it may be exclusionary/hurtful.

 ~ Try to Listen more than you speak.   

 ~ When you speak, speak (only) for yourself (unless requested to speak for a group).

~ Don't make a member of a marginalized group responsible for your education about issues of marginalization and oppression. Seek out those allied people and groups (like Allies for Racial Equity) dedicated to helping with that.

~ Be aware that your intent will not always = the impact of your words & actions.

~ Try not to take things personally.

 ~ Be open to learning.

 ~ Exercise humility.

~ Remember that not everyone has the same information!             Share respectfully if you have the opportunity.

DRUMM and other Readings and Resources

Wow! Is there a lot going on at UUA around racism! I've copied just a few of the readings and resources below.  Go ahead and surf!

http://alliesforracialequity.wildapricot.org/page-1440854

http://www.cwsworkshop.org/resources/WhitePrivilege.html

http://druumm.onefireplace.org/

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXSqfWmM95Kvgj8QuAgE8Uo2m-W3zTrcr  (Webinar Series from Allies for Racial Equity)

http://www.euroamerican.org/

When you understand white American culture, you are better able to:

1. understand race in the United States

2. work effectively to create just and equitable organizations

If our society is to move beyond its racial problems, then change is needed. This raises the question, who must change? Should it be white people, or people of color? A fair answer would be "both."

How much thought have we, as a society, given to the changes white people need to make? Increasingly, people from all walks of life are asking this question. There is a growing awareness that race affects white people, too. Scholars and activists, leaders and followers, and people of all races, including white people, are coming to see that to undo the racial structure of our society — a structure which touches and harms us all — we have to explore the other half of the equation, white American culture.

White culture forms the central values of our society, and yet is often treated as invisible, normal, and outside the discussion of race. If, as a nation, we are to truly develop just and equitable organizations — and a multiracial society centered on multiracial values — we need to discuss whiteness and white culture along with other racial and cultural groups. White people need to think about how white culture and values can find expression in non-dominant and non-oppressive ways.

https://world-trust.org/mirrors-of-privilege-making-whiteness-visible/

http://www.pbs.org/race/000_General/000_00-Home.htm (3 part documentary about race in society, science & history)

http://www.pbs.org/race/000_About/002_04-background.htm