Reggie Williams offers some ideas for ways to help students “see whiteness.”
All posts by Mary Hess
Self care for people of color after trauma
It is very much worth noting this advice on self care for people of color after trauma. And in perhaps the same vein, this advice for white people on ways to process emotion without bringing the white tears.
#PhilandoCastile
This morning we woke up in MN to the latest killing of a Black person by a police officer. This time it was Philando Castile, shot in his car in front of his girlfriend and her 4 year old daughter. Words fail.
As always, we will try to post useful pieces at this blog. In the meantime, here are a few to begin with:
- a litany for those who aren’t ready for healing
- Campaign Zero (ten point platform for ending police violence)
- MN ACLU Mobile Justice app (to make documentation easier)
- Presiding Bishop of the ELCA, Eizabeth Eaton’s, statement
- Stated Clerk of the PCUSA, J. Herbert Nelson II’s statement
- Statement from the St. Paul Public Schools (where Philando worked)
- Statement from Lutherans of African Descent
Jesse Williams at the BET awards
Jesse Williams, known for his work on the hit TV show Grey’s Anatomy, took time at the recent BET Awards to speak bluntly about systemic racism, and the need for transformation in the US. There’s a great collection of his talks at the Zinn site, but here’s the speech from the award ceremony:
Myths about sharia
Given the intensity of the Islamophobia being stirred up by this year’s political campaigns, it can be helpful to engage some common myths. This piece does a very nice job of that in relation to Islamic understandings of sharia.
Enjoying instead of appropriating culture
Here’s a lovely illustration of how to appreciate another person’s or community’s culture, rather than seeking to appropriate it. The difference matters! It’s the difference between approaching and learning vs. assuming and taking.
Solidarity is work!
Here’s an excellent reminder that working in solidarity with Black and Indigenous peoples is no easy task, and requires an ability to stand on your own two feet and do your own work.
Beauty standards and whiteness
This is a great and concise exploration on how whiteness functions in beauty standards for women
Racial equity tools
A number of nonprofit organizations, with these support of several foundations, have come together to create a website resource of racial equity tools. It’s a great place to begin from, when you are looking for useful resources.
White privilege glasses
Here’s a very brief piece put out by Christian Theological Seminary in Chicago, inviting people to put on white privilege glasses through which to see racism.