I need to pull together one post that has all of these essays in it, because the discussion of how to be an ally if you are white has been robust over the last several years. In any case, until I do that, here is another lovely essay published in the aftermath of Charlottesville on what it can mean to be an ally.
Category Archives: web
In the aftermath of Charlottesville…
Here we are again. This time racism emerges in explicit form — complete with KKK and Nazi metaphors and symbols. The events of this past weekend in Charlottesville, VA at the “unite the right” rally are yet one more time we need to stand vigilantly and clearly against racism. Some resources which are emerging. Here is James Martin (and a list below the video of other resources):
- James Martin, SJ of America Magazine making clear that white supremacy is sinful
- the president of Louisville Seminary, Michael Jinkins, responds
- a litany against white supremacy
- Eyewitness reports
- resources for teaching (the #CharlottesvilleCurriculum)
- Marlon James’ note
- how anti-semitism animates white nationalism
- from our local Lutheran bishop
- from various Catholic bishops
- from SFTS
- from the president of Seattle University
- a statement from the AAR
More reflection on white fragility
Here’s another useful piece floating around social media about white fragility.
Engaging white fragility
Here’s a thoughtful piece by Anna Kegler which both defines and explains white fragility, and offers practical advice for moving forward.
Marlon James on racism in Minnesota
It’s been a long week. After nearly five days of deliberation the jury acquitted Jeronimo Yanez of the accusation of manslaughter against Philando Castile. I’m still trying to wrap my head about that one.
Marlon James, the Booker Award winning novelist who teaches at Macalester College put it this way:
10 years of living in Minnesota as a “big, black guy” has led me to a gradual though futile “reduction” of myself to get closer. I have a big global voice, but a small local one, because I don’t want to be a target, and resent that in 2017, that’s still the only choice I get to have.
His whole essay is a clear, succinct, grounded and deeply indicting description of Minnesota. I wish I could say he was wrong, but I’m certain he is right.
What a difference a switch can make in a photo
Here’s an essay which explores what O Magazine did recently, when it asked a photographer to take pictures of some common scenes amongst women — but flip the races involved. There are powerful implications to these shifts, which I hope — as a white woman — other white women will see, and which I hope all of us can learn from. Perception is powerful!
For white parents: bringing the resistance home
In the wake of Jordan Edwards’ death, we need to remember each other, and re-member our communities into beloved communities. Here is Gail Kirshenbaum’s plea to white parents:
Imagine if the hundreds of thousands of parents who mobilized around the country to fight high-stakes testing now start mobilizing as anti-racist parents. Anti-racist parenting can be—must be—community parenting. Imagine if white people believed that this fight was not “for” people of color, but for every one of us. If we could finally see how racism has damaged our own minds and hearts and is damaging our children.
That would put both love and justice at the center of the fight.
That’s how we play the long game against Donald Trump.
Spoken word poet Jonathan Lykes
Poet Jonathan Lykes speaks truth in these two short poems, This is a Siren, and Perception.
“Perception leads to this open door of deception…”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzQMN2qkcU4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yyrSq7OcOA
10 things every white teacher should know
This is a lovely and very practical essay by a K12 school teacher, directed at white teachers who sincerely want to work at fighting racism.
End of year lists: Important articles by people of color
As we approach the end of 2016, there are numerous “best of” lists being created. I’m not a huge fan of such lists, but here is a very useful compilation of some of the more compelling essays by people of color this year.