Q and As With REAL
At the White Supremacy Teach-in II a couple of weeks ago, we asked congregants to slip any questions they have about race issues into the Q and A box (that is on the table at the back of the sanctuary). Here are the questions we received that day, and the REAL team’s initial answers. [more]
Q: How can you be an ally without seeming like you’re on “a high horse” – without coming from a position of moral superiority?
A: We don’t know for sure from your question what the context of the situation is. We are assuming you mean: how do you respond to a micro-aggression or straight up racist comment without claiming moral superiority. Jay Smooth suggests treating a racist comment like noticing spinach in your friend’s teeth. A good friend would tell them about the spinach – quietly and with no fanfare. Even for ourselves, becoming anti-racist isn’t a one-time achievement and you’re done. It’s more like dental hygiene. We all need to keep at it. To learn more about this, check out Jay’s Ted Talk, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Discussing Race. www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFcQKHh72_w
And there’s this interesting story about speaking up: https://medium.com/embrace- race/when-the-racist-is-someone-you-know-and-love-2933c7049182
Q: My sister-in-law, who I love, said to me “Black people have everything.” She was referring to affirmative action and welfare. I responded with some facts I learned at UCE, but I think differently of her now. How do I move forward and not judge her?
A: We all have people in our lives who “don’t get it” and we still love them in whatever way we can. If we truly honor our first principle, we affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person, even those who don’t see the world exactly as we do. And remember, since we were born into a world of white supremacy we are all racists, so it may be helpful to look inside and work on one’s own stuff to be able to more easily see that others can make mistakes too. It’s just something to work on for oneself. Hopefully, the seeds you planted with your sister-in-law will bear fruit one day!
Bonus: From Doug Muder in the current UU World:
“Racism isn’t like a bacterial infection that falls to an intense course of antibiotics and is never seen again. Racism is a chronic condition like hypertension or diabetes. Given proper attention, it need not be debilitating. But once you find it in yourself, don’t expect that you will ever be rid of it.”
What are some other answers?
What are some other questions?
What’s Going On with Affordable Housing in Evanston?
There is a lot of interest and movement towards ensuring more affordable housing in Evanston (and elsewhere). Census data and observation show that Evanston is losing the diversity it prides itself in and many people can no longer afford to live here. In fact, between 2000 and 2015, Evanston lost almost 25% of its African-American population (from 16,704 to 12,577). During the same time, housing costs have escalated enormously and now about half the Evanston population is paying more than 30% of their income on housing. Joining Forces for Affordable Housing, a coalition of social service agencies and faith-based institutions, has recently formed to provide leadership and pressure to get the City moving on this. It is being staffed by Sue Loellbach of Connections for the Homeless. More to come.
What can you do this week to further race equity?
Join us Sunday after church to stand on Ridge with Black Lives Matter signs and songs. It’s fun, and it’s noticed and appreciated in the community.
Watch this video: Bryan Stevenson: Can We Talk About an Injustice?
Attend the City Council meeting Monday October 30 to hear what City Council members are learning about affordable housing. City staff are going to make a presentation to the Council on facts and range of opportunities, and council members are planning (hoping) to really dig into the dirt and talk among themselves about their questions and thoughts. If you have Comcast you can also watch the meeting on Channel 16. Joining Forces for Affordable Housing will be holding a press conference at City Hall at 5 pm to present recommended principles for framing the discussion and considering the possibilities being presented.
Note: The REAL team plans to periodically have a link to this blog in the weekly newsletter. Keep a watch out for it, and let us know if you have a short video, article or news item you’d like to share, or more Q and As.