From louisaldavis at verizon.net Sat Jan 2 07:45:30 2010 From: louisaldavis at verizon.net (Louisa Davis) Date: Sat, 02 Jan 2010 08:45:30 -0500 Subject: [WAsummit] Ten Antiracist New Year Resolutions - The Work Grows On with NVC Message-ID: Toward my personal New Year's resolution to deeply and powerfully integrate Nonviolent Communication practices into my life's work for justice and peace, I just wrote these NY Resolutions for the 400 members of the Greater Washington Allies (gwair.org) network, a local interfaith antiracism alliance that I began calling together in 2006. I'd be curious about how they land with you...and if you are interested in thinking with me about how to use NVC in your work--see below. Ten Antiracist New Year Resolutions - The Work Grows On These are adapted from the Applied Research Council's 2008 six-part Strategic Framework for Advancing Racial Justice (www.arc.org) in the spirit of Marshall Rosenberg??s work in Nonviolent Communication (www.cnvc.org). by Louisa Davis, GWAIR Cofounder/Outreach Coordinator (louisaldavis at verizon.net) 1. Listen to the histories, experiences and longings of those most adversely affected by their race and ethnicity in this country, and be willing to learn the suppressed history of "race" and Euro American colonialism that has caused much pain in some communities. 2. Focus on the "concrete" observable economic, governmental and social practices that continue to maintain racial-ethnic inequalities (that can often be discerned in statistical consequences) rather than simply on racism as personal fears and prejudices, the stories most of us hold about one another in the US. Rather than dwell on who or what is racist, focus on the visible effects of racism. 3. Similarly, focus on observable impacts, not on intentions, and make concrete requests for change that can be documented. Intentions are complex, debatable and difficult to prove. Also beware the violence in our frequent language of ??shoulds?? and ??demands????requests allow ??no?? to be a doorway to the yes/needs and concerns behind the no??hang in there.) 4. Be prepared to point out specific cultural practices and popular ideas (stories) that have tragic consequences for people of color and our current racial and social inequities. But also be willing to notice the needs or longings behind these acts--for such things as safety, respect, choice, order, contribution, play, belonging or just plain survival--that all humans share. 5. Remind yourself and others, often and again, about the world we all dream of but which we can only create together, and tie your concrete proposals and requests to the beautiful and universal needs and longings that all human beings share. (??Racial justice is not a zero-sum game.??) 6. Be prepared to notice and point out who actually has access to the kind of power(s) that can change structures and practices for the long-haul, and note, please, who is not even in the room or who doesn't usually have access to the kind of power that can meet human needs over time. 7. Address racial inequality explicitly but not exclusively. Challenge so-called ??colorblindness?? which denies the realities of racial difference and racism in many lives, but also recognize other impoverishing and disempowering social forces such as gender, ethnicity, immigrant status and sexual orientation. 8. Propose solutions that emphasize equity and inclusion--which are about fairness, solidarity and empowerment, rather than just diversity which can just be about variety, aka ??window-dressing.?? 9. Build cohesive cross-racial and spiritual alliances that: 1) hang in with each others?? honest feelings and needs and all we have to unlearn and learn together; 2) share power and resources with those most adversely affected by racism; and 3) engage the power-holders who can be accountable for concrete, measure-able changes collaboratively??few of us set out to be ??racist-pigs?? we grow up. 10. Make racial justice a priority in all our requests and efforts for a better world. Instead of allowing racism to drive social division, make equity and interdependence the driving forces for uniting and benefiting all people in our shared ecological and global vulnerability and life abundance. ABOUT NONVIOLENT COMMUNICATION??see the groundbreaking work of Marshall Rosenberg (cnvc.org), a clinical psychologist turned global peace activist, and Miki and Inbal Kashtan (baynvc.org). I looked into NVC about four years ago when I realized many potential white allies--like me--were often triggered into ineffectiveness by emotions like impatience, frustration, anger, guilt, etc. I believe there's much more emotional intelligence needed in this work as well as cultural, systemic and ecological intelligence. NVC is one powerful avenue to this intelligence--to understand the positive, universally human, core needs/body energies that are beneath these feelings. I??ve even come to see these life energies as divine (transforming the spirituality of this old Christian minister/professor of comparative religious ethics.) To summarize this movement, it a set of practices for self-connection/authenticity and other-connection/empathy based on tying together concrete observations, feelings, needs and requests. It began with Rosenberg??s book titled Nonviolent Communication, A Language for Life (MR was deeply informed by the riots/civil rights movement in a Detroit in the 40) and has grown as a very simple (but hard to live fully) practices supported by very affordable, accessible practice groups all over the country and world (with numerous training centers and web/youtube info available.) In short, NVC seeks to translate our moment to moment reactions and the judgments/stories coming at us from others into needs crying to be met or to celebrated and made real with concrete observations AND as often as possible with concrete choices and requests for positively taking responsibility for what we are really wanting. I believe this needs consciousness is one way to build more authenticity across racial-ethnic experience, more common ground with our so-called enemies of racial justice (trying to meet needs as best they know how, often tragically) and a truly transformative Kingian/Gandian nonviolent movement toward power with other in a world, even a progressive activist world, of constant power-over and limiting labels, criticisms, shoulds and demands in our hierarchy--enforcing language habits. If you??ve read this far (thank you!) and are turned off...I??m curious about the needs in you underneath this reaction...wanting more effectiveness? More authenticity? Freedom? Have ideas for other strategies for meeting these needs? -- Louisa L. Davis, M.Div., PhD 11330 Dockside Circle Reston, VA 20191 home: (703) 860-1203 cell: (240) 338-5156 ??Get very clear about the kind of world [you] would like and then start living that way.?? -- Marshall Rosenberg, Center for Nonviolent Communication -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From louschoen at gmail.com Sat Jan 2 14:53:48 2010 From: louschoen at gmail.com (Louis Schoen) Date: Sat, 2 Jan 2010 14:53:48 -0600 Subject: [WAsummit] Ten Antiracist New Year Resolutions - The Work Grows On with NVC In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: I agreed with all the principles you cited, Louisa, and had two further reflections: 1) We (including I) need to work on conciseness of expression, in light of the volume of information thrust upon us these days. 2) We "white" allies also need to devote more concentrated attention to the phenomenon of whiteness: It is, of course, a false description of human color, and all the greater lie about identity. Its history is intimately associated with the concept of race, which is now understood to be scientific mythology; and both concepts drive white supremacist ideology. As vital contemporary references, see Roediger, TOWARD THE ABOLITION OF WHITENESS, and Leonardo, RACE, WHITENESS AND EDUCATION. Lou Schoen Minneapolis 2010/1/2 Louisa Davis > Toward my personal New Year's resolution to deeply and powerfully > integrate Nonviolent Communication practices into my life's work for justice > and peace, I just wrote these NY Resolutions for the 400 members of the > Greater Washington Allies (gwair.org) network, a local interfaith > antiracism alliance that I began calling together in 2006. I'd be curious > about how they land with you...and if you are interested in thinking with me > about how to use NVC in your work--see below. > > *Ten Antiracist New Year Resolutions - The Work Grows On > * > These are adapted from the Applied Research Council's 2008 six-part > Strategic Framework for Advancing Racial Justice (www.arc.org) in the > spirit of Marshall Rosenberg?s work in Nonviolent Communication ( > www.cnvc.org). by Louisa Davis, GWAIR Cofounder/Outreach Coordinator ( > louisaldavis at verizon.net) > > 1. Listen to the histories, experiences and longings of those most > adversely affected by their race and ethnicity in this country, and be > willing to learn the suppressed history of "race" and Euro American > colonialism that has caused much pain in some communities. > > 2. Focus on the "concrete" observable economic, governmental and social > practices that continue to maintain racial-ethnic inequalities (that can > often be discerned in statistical consequences) rather than simply on racism > as personal fears and prejudices, the stories most of us hold about one > another in the US. Rather than dwell on who or what is racist, focus on the > visible effects of racism. > > 3. Similarly, focus on observable impacts, not on intentions, and make > concrete requests for change that can be documented. Intentions are complex, > debatable and difficult to prove. Also beware the violence in our frequent > language of ?shoulds? and ?demands??requests allow ?no? to be a doorway to > the yes/needs and concerns behind the no?hang in there.) > > 4. Be prepared to point out specific cultural practices and popular ideas > (stories) that have tragic consequences for people of color and our current > racial and social inequities. But also be willing to notice the needs or > longings behind these acts--for such things as safety, respect, choice, > order, contribution, play, belonging or just plain survival--that all humans > share. > > 5. Remind yourself and others, often and again, about the world we all > dream of but which we can only create together, and tie your concrete > proposals and requests to the beautiful and universal needs and longings > that all human beings share. (?Racial justice is not a zero-sum game.?) > > 6. Be prepared to notice and point out who actually has access to the kind > of power(s) that can change structures and practices for the long-haul, and > note, please, who is not even in the room or who doesn't usually have access > to the kind of power that can meet human needs over time. > > 7. Address racial inequality explicitly but not exclusively. Challenge > so-called ?colorblindness? which denies the realities of racial difference > and racism in many lives, but also recognize other impoverishing and > disempowering social forces such as gender, ethnicity, immigrant status and > sexual orientation. > > 8. Propose solutions that emphasize equity and inclusion--which are about > fairness, solidarity and empowerment, rather than just diversity which can > just be about variety, aka ?window-dressing.? > > 9. Build cohesive cross-racial and spiritual alliances that: 1) hang in > with each others? honest feelings and needs and all we have to unlearn and > learn together; 2) share power and resources with those most adversely > affected by racism; and 3) engage the power-holders who can be accountable > for concrete, measure-able changes collaboratively?few of us set out to be > ?racist-pigs? we grow up. > > 10. Make racial justice a priority in all our requests and efforts for a > better world. Instead of allowing racism to drive social division, make > equity and interdependence the driving forces for uniting and benefiting all > people in our shared ecological and global vulnerability and life abundance. > > > ABOUT NONVIOLENT COMMUNICATION?see the groundbreaking work of Marshall > Rosenberg (cnvc.org), a clinical psychologist turned global peace > activist, and Miki and Inbal Kashtan (baynvc.org). > > I looked into NVC about four years ago when I realized many potential white > allies--like me--were often triggered into ineffectiveness by emotions like > impatience, frustration, anger, guilt, etc. I believe there's much more > emotional intelligence needed in this work as well as cultural, systemic and > ecological intelligence. NVC is one powerful avenue to this > intelligence--to understand the positive, universally human, core needs/body > energies that are beneath these feelings. I?ve even come to see these life > energies as divine (transforming the spirituality of this old Christian > minister/professor of comparative religious ethics.) > > To summarize this movement, it a set of practices for > self-connection/authenticity and other-connection/empathy based on tying > together concrete observations, feelings, needs and requests. It began with > Rosenberg?s book titled Nonviolent Communication, A Language for Life (MR > was deeply informed by the riots/civil rights movement in a Detroit in the > 40) and has grown as a very simple (but hard to live fully) practices > supported by very affordable, accessible practice groups all over the > country and world (with numerous training centers and web/youtube info > available.) > > In short, NVC seeks to translate our moment to moment reactions and the > judgments/stories coming at us from others into needs crying to be met or to > celebrated and made real with concrete observations AND as often as possible > with concrete choices and requests for positively taking responsibility for > what we are really wanting. > > I believe this needs consciousness is one way to build more authenticity > across racial-ethnic experience, more common ground with our so-called > enemies of racial justice (trying to meet needs as best they know how, often > tragically) and a truly transformative Kingian/Gandian nonviolent movement > toward power with other in a world, even a progressive activist world, of > constant power-over and limiting labels, criticisms, shoulds and demands in > our hierarchy--enforcing language habits. > > If you?ve read this far (thank you!) and are turned off...I?m curious about > the needs in you underneath this reaction...wanting more effectiveness? More > authenticity? Freedom? Have ideas for other strategies for meeting these > needs? > -- > Louisa L. Davis, M.Div., PhD > 11330 Dockside Circle > Reston, VA 20191 > home: (703) 860-1203 > cell: (240) 338-5156 > > ?Get very clear about the kind of world [you] would like and then start > living that way.? > -- Marshall Rosenberg, Center for Nonviolent Communication > > _______________________________________________ > WAsummit mailing list > WAsummit at lists.wacan.org > http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit > > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From peterheinze at verizon.net Sat Jan 9 10:32:20 2010 From: peterheinze at verizon.net (peterheinze at verizon.net) Date: Sat, 09 Jan 2010 10:32:20 -0600 (CST) Subject: [WAsummit] Any assistance is appreciated Message-ID: <592922618.340608.1263054740093.JavaMail.root@vms231.mailsrvcs.net> An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From russvj at gmail.com Sat Jan 9 16:12:11 2010 From: russvj at gmail.com (Russ Vernon-Jones) Date: Sat, 9 Jan 2010 17:12:11 -0500 Subject: [WAsummit] Any assistance is appreciated In-Reply-To: <592922618.340608.1263054740093.JavaMail.root@vms231.mailsrvcs.net> References: <592922618.340608.1263054740093.JavaMail.root@vms231.mailsrvcs.net> Message-ID: Dear Peter Heinze, Thanks for taking up the battle against tracking. It needs to be addressed everywhere. i don't have research info to offer, but In my town, Amherst, MA, the high school English courses have been de-tracked for years. Now there is an attack against heterogeneous grouping being launched by two new School Committee members. They've been arguing that when classes are heterogeneous then top students are not challenged. I thought you might be interested in a letter to the editor that appeared in our local paper written by the Dept Chair of the high school English Department. (Pasted below.) I'm not sure that I would argue the case the same way, but it seemed effective in addressing folks with a particular set of viewpoints. I think it is important to emphasize that when classes are tracked, the students in the so-called upper tracks often miss out on the important perspectives that are offered by students with different cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. This diminishes their education. It also is denial of equal educational opportunity to anyone denied admittance to the higher track. I think any effort at de-tracking needs to include a strong emphasis on teachers learning how to teach de-tracked classes. Teachers do need to learn new skills, but the results are beneficial to everyone. Wishing you the best, Russ Vernon-Jones Teaching heterogeneous classes By KRISTEN IVERSON Published on December 18, 2009 As referenced previously in the Amherst Bulletin, Amherst Regional High School's English Department is, in fact, unique among the academic departments in the school. All of the required courses in the English Department are taught in a heterogeneous setting. Heterogeneous, to us, means all are welcome; none will be denied the access to a rigorous, challenging English course. Contrary to the fears of some in our community, heterogeneity does not mean teaching to the middle. As ARHS students continue to graduate with preparation for study in the finest colleges and universities in this country, there is no reason to argue that just because other departments and other schools have grouped or tracked classes, the ARHS English Department must use this model of delivering instruction. As our young alumnae return home for their winter break from their colleges, graduate schools, and careers, I would hope that community members ask them about their English preparation at ARHS and hear some of the stories that I commonly hear. My colleagues and I have recently had the privilege of hearing from parents of first year students at Yale and Brown, Mount Holyoke and the University of Chicago that their children were well-prepared to study English at the college level. In particular, students point to their strong preparation in writing. All of them came out of four years of heterogeneous English classes. The English Department at ARHS has worked painstakingly since the early 1990s to improve its ability to differentiate in teaching heterogeneous English courses. The way we have constructed our program, all of our heterogeneous classes are taught at the honors level. In literature classes nine through 12, all students read, discuss, and write about challenging literature; all students are exposed to fields of literary criticism; and all students are expected to master analytical, creative and personal writing about literature. How does the honors/AP option work in the English Department? Let me give you an example from my "American Literature and Society" class this trimester. All students will study "The Great Gatsby," "Death of a Salesman," "Invisible Man," "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?," "Sula," and/or "Tracks" and class discussions will include all students. The 12 students (of 25) who have chosen to take the course at the AP level are studying additional literature in three groups of four students each: one group is studying William Faulkner's "The Sound and the Fury"; a second group is studying Toni Morrison's "Beloved"; and a third group is studying novels and short stories by Ernest Hemingway. I meet with each group on a weekly basis (although many of my colleagues prefer to meet with students individually) and offer my expertise to them. Do my AP students have to do additional work? Yes, they certainly do. In addition to the extensive writing portfolio required of all students, AP students will go through the process of writing a seven-to-nine page analysis of their text (AP 1) or a 10-to-12 page analysis of their text(s) that includes literary criticism (AP 2). In my 12 years at the high school, I have yet to see honors/AP students who are taught at a slower pace and given less challenging literature to analyze. Each trimester I have seen several young people excel who have not previously considered themselves strong readers or writers. They have excelled in literary analysis of profound texts and have offered perspectives in class discussion and writing assignments that would not have been possible if they were kept out of these high-level classes. The English teachers in my department firmly believe that all students deserve access to high-level challenging curriculum. As the current English Department Head, I welcome direct comment, question, and opportunity for discussion at iversonk at arps.org. *Kristen Iverson is the English Department chairwoman at Amherst Regional High School.* On Sat, Jan 9, 2010 at 11:32 AM, wrote: > Greetings, > > I've not yet posted a message to the list but am wondering if any folks > might be able to assist with a current undertaking. > > I live in the sister towns of Maplewood/South Orange and, for the last 3 > years or so, have been involved in a group (South Orange/Maplewood United > for Academic Excellence) which has been vigorously engaged in attempting to > eliminate the school system's long standing policy of leveling (aka > tracking). In a nutshell, this system plays out along racial lines - the > majority of white kids are in upper levels and kids of color (primarily > African-American) in lower levels. > > This is an extremely contentious issue as, predictably, the community is > comprised of folks who see themselves as non-racist (e.g. "Why would I live > in such a diverse community if I was racist?") but yet many have no problem > supporting the leveling system. There are also a number of African American > residents who favor leveling as well (the arguments in favor of it convince > folks that it's a beneficial/paternalistic system intended to help > struggling students - however the disparity in academic performance based on > race is appalling). > > Our group has not only conducted our own empirical study, but has also > attempted to present research (e.g. the successful detracking efforts of the > Rockville Center, Long Island school district, stereotype threat, implicit > bias, Dweck's work on the "growth mind set", etc.) in order to encourage > dialogue and shift attititudes. We've actually been somewhat successful, > as the Superintendant formed a task force (which includes one of our group > members) to address the issue. > > Of note, I had a conversation recently with a white woman (she happens to > be a very well informed journalist and reads a lot of research) who is > forming her own deleveling group (I've attended two meetings so far) and > many of the goals are worthy. Of note after the last meeing we had an > interesting discussion (at least I thought it was! :) ). I was emphasizing > that it's important that the deleveling effort convey the message that the > kids who have been in the lower tracks are not inherently unable to perfrom > well (e.g some want to delevel, but still convey that black kids are > intellectually/academically inferior). She mentioned that in her research > she found that black kids begin kindergarten with notable deficiencies in > verbal and math skills and attributed this to differences in the pedagogy of > black preschools (more reward/punishment based, and with a greater emphasis > on rote memory) vs. white (more group engagement of higher level > concepts). > > In response I mentioned a study that I heard Tim Wise (Hi Tim!) reference, > indicating that, due to non-Euro American groups possessing an oral > tradition, kids from these traditions performed more poorly than whites on > written tests of comprehension but equally when asked to verbally describe > what they read. I used this example to indicate that our educational system > (and definitions of intelligence) are based on a Euro-centric norm. > > Soooo........if anyone out there has any research, etc. that might address > this putative "deficiency" due to pre-school experience, or any other work > revealing how the system, by default, would make kids of color appear to be > less able academically, I'd be greatly appreciative! > > Thanks in advance. > > Best wishes for the year. > > Peter Heinze > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Oct 5, 2009 02:16:35 PM, wasummit at lists.wacan.org wrote: > > I agree, there is something new happening right now. It had been about 7 > years since I'd had a Nazi show up at one of my speeches, but I had one > (from the National Alliance) come to my speech last month in Kentucky...also > a serious uptick in hate mail lately. I don't think this necessarily > signifies real growth in these groups, per se, but it may indicate a growing > boldness in the face of the Obama Administration, and the belief by some of > the more fascist type groups that they can harness some of the more > mainstream public anger in a blatantly white nationalist/supremacist > direction. > > tim wise > > On Oct 5, 2009, at 2:11 PM, Dottye Burt-Markowitz wrote: > > Jeff, > > I am wondering if other folks on the WAsummit listserve are seeing blatant > white supremacist activities in their areas. I got a call last week from a > white friend who received an anonymous postcard, obviously from a white > supremacist group that chose not to identify itself, telling him (after his > name appeared in the newspaper in an article about a telephone pole that > needed to be replaced) that "he has more to worry about than a phone pole", > and then making racist and anti-immigrant statements about the neighborhood > where my friend lives. It's been more than 20 years since we've seen this > kind of organized white supremacist activity in Baltimore (where the 65% > African American population tends to keep the extreme extremists away or at > least out of sight). > > Dottye > > On Sat, 03 Oct 2009 09:37 -0400, "Jeff Hitchcock" < > jeffhitchcock at euroamerican.org> wrote: > > > http://minnesotaindependent.com/46255/community-mobilizes-to-oppose-neo-nazi-rally-in-minneapolis > *Community mobilizes to oppose neo-Nazi rally in Minneapolis > * > By Andy Birkey 10/2/09 > 1:17 PM > > > The > National Socialist Movement, a homophobic and anti-semitic white supremacist > group, is threatening to protest a workshop at the Minneapolis YWCA about > white privilege and white supremacy. It will be the first public NSM event > here since a 2007 book-burning, and several groups of Twin Citians say they > plan to make that visit an unwelcome one. > > The neo-Nazi group, which up until late 2007 > was headquartered in Minneapolis, announced it will protest the ?More > Than Skin Deep: Uprooting White Privilege and White Supremacy one cell at a > time? workshop being held Saturday at the Midtown YWCA. > The event ?is for white people who already have an understanding of white > privilege and white supremacy (WP/WS) and want to learn more about how to > dismantle WP/WS through embodiment work, education, visioning and practical > action.? Attendees will learn to ?use critical race content and embodiment > exploration to uproot ideologies of white supremacy and systems of white > privilege in our lives.? > > And workshop attendees will likely get a first-hand look at white supremacy > if members of the NSM show up. > > A number of counter-protests are planned for Saturday. ?The NSM has been > holding racist anti-immigrant rallies in southern Minnesota, and now they > are seeking to establish a presence inside the City of Minneapolis,? reads > a flier posted at the May Day Cafe in south Minneapolis. ?They plan to > bring their racist, homophobic, anti-immigrant, antisemitic message of > division and hate right into the heart of the city. They must not go > unopposed!? > > On Wednesday, more than 100 Minneapolis residents attended an emergency > meeting to develop strategies for the counter protest. > > ?We need to defend the vibrant, multi-ethnic diversity we have here in Minneapolis,? > Dan Gannon, an anti-racist community organizer, said in a press release > Friday. ?Our city must remain a ?no-go? zone where white supremacists cannot > organize or build a movement with their hate speech and violence.? > > A Minneapolis resident who attended the meeting, Angelina Vazquez, said, > ?We?re not going to let this happen in our city. This is an attack on our > multiracial, multicultural community. We refuse to be put under siege by > violent right-wingers.? > > Workshop organizers say they haven?t organized a counter-protest, but > they?re happy the community is coming together to oppose the NSM. > > Heather Hackman and Susan Raffo are organizing the YWCA workshop. ?Susan > and I are grateful that people are stepping up against these protesters,? > said Hackman. ?We are also very grateful for the support of the Y.? > > ?There are a number of people responding in a number of ways to this > protest, and challenging racism and challenging white privilege,? she said. > ?It?s clear that this community is not going to stand for this.? > > Hackman says the organizers will address the crowd at 10 am. > > The Saturday protest will be followed by an NSM-organized rally ?against > illegal aliens and communism? at the Veteran?s Memorial in Austin, Minn., > on Oct. 17, according to the group?s Web site. > --Jeff > > -- > Dottye Burt-Markowitz > Paso Training and Consulting > 425 South Chester St. > Baltimore MD 21231 > phone: 410-327-0134pasoconsulting at fastmail.fm > > _______________________________________________ > WAsummit mailing list > WAsummit at lists.wacan.org > http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit > > > > ------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > WAsummit mailing list > WAsummit at lists.wacan.org > http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit > > > _______________________________________________ > WAsummit mailing list > WAsummit at lists.wacan.org > http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit > > -- Check out "Youth Helping to End Racism" at www.anti-racismonline.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From peterheinze at verizon.net Sat Jan 9 18:03:25 2010 From: peterheinze at verizon.net (peterheinze at verizon.net) Date: Sat, 09 Jan 2010 18:03:25 -0600 (CST) Subject: [WAsummit] Any assistance is appreciated Message-ID: <30623307.263673.1263081805296.JavaMail.root@vms229.mailsrvcs.net> An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From louschoen at aol.com Tue Jan 12 21:36:39 2010 From: louschoen at aol.com (louschoen at aol.com) Date: Tue, 12 Jan 2010 22:36:39 EST Subject: [WAsummit] U.S. For All of Us Message-ID: <1bf66.b5cf559.387e99c7@aol.com> I want very much to sign this statement but, in the "usforallofus" web site, the preface to the words quoted include, twice, a limiting phrase, which contradicts the broad invitation to signatures at the end of the web site. It asserts, "We are white people..." That affirmation would make it difficult to sign, with conviction, for anyone not defined as white. It's also a challenge for those of us who are asked by US culture to accept "White or Caucasian" identity but who understand that the very concept of "white," as a racial definition, is at the root of our continuing racial crisis and divisions. Europeans and Euroamericans claimed that shade for its relative value supremacy among color definitions, in spite of their own pinkish, yellowish and tannish hues, contrasting it deliberately with the blackness of those they enslaved. It was a strategy to justify their oppression of others, and was reinforced by promoting cultural, legal and scientific belief in the mythological concept of "race." As James Baldwin wrote in 1984, "It is not merely that whiteness is oppressive and false; it is that whiteness is nothing but oppressive and false." ("On Being 'White' and Other Lies," Essence Magazine.) It would be healthy for all "white" anti-racists to study carefully and discuss the recent book by Zeus Leonardo, Race, Whiteness and Education. He builds upon David Roediger's 1992 work, Towards the Abolition of Whiteness, exploring the process of transformation and ultimately abolition of the great lie that we are forced to live as the price for the racially shaped privileges we enjoy. Our struggle for transformation demands more from us than collective statements of principle decrying the bigotry around us. Lou Schoen Minneapolis In a message dated 12/26/09 5:16:36 PM, email at massslaveryapology.org writes: > Hi Friends, > > You might be interested in a statement from http://www.usforallofus.org. > Their website says: > > "We long for a country that lifts all of us up, dares to care, offers > love, generosity, and justice. We reject the racism that keeps us divided. > We celebrate our interdependence and our capacity to love our neighbors as > ourselves...The first step is to say together: "There is no room for > racism in a U.S. for all of us." > > Their statement has been signed by 65 organizations and almost 600 > individuals. > > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From narvold at sfo.com Wed Jan 13 15:43:51 2010 From: narvold at sfo.com (Nancy) Date: Wed, 13 Jan 2010 13:43:51 -0800 Subject: [WAsummit] U.S. For All of Us In-Reply-To: <1bf66.b5cf559.387e99c7@aol.com> References: <1bf66.b5cf559.387e99c7@aol.com> Message-ID: Lou - it may be an opportunity to support the group in honing their message to include your critique. I'd say, write to them. ----- Original Message ----- From: louschoen at aol.com To: email at massslaveryapology.org ; wasummit at lists.wacan.org ; usforallofus at awarela.org Sent: Tuesday, January 12, 2010 7:36 PM Subject: Re: [WAsummit] U.S. For All of Us I want very much to sign this statement but, in the "usforallofus" web site, the preface to the words quoted include, twice, a limiting phrase, which contradicts the broad invitation to signatures at the end of the web site. It asserts, "We are white people..." That affirmation would make it difficult to sign, with conviction, for anyone not defined as white. It's also a challenge for those of us who are asked by US culture to accept "White or Caucasian" identity but who understand that the very concept of "white," as a racial definition, is at the root of our continuing racial crisis and divisions. Europeans and Euroamericans claimed that shade for its relative value supremacy among color definitions, in spite of their own pinkish, yellowish and tannish hues, contrasting it deliberately with the blackness of those they enslaved. It was a strategy to justify their oppression of others, and was reinforced by promoting cultural, legal and scientific belief in the mythological concept of "race." As James Baldwin wrote in 1984, "It is not merely that whiteness is oppressive and false; it is that whiteness is nothing but oppressive and false." ("On Being 'White' and Other Lies," Essence Magazine.) It would be healthy for all "white" anti-racists to study carefully and discuss the recent book by Zeus Leonardo, Race, Whiteness and Education. He builds upon David Roediger's 1992 work, Towards the Abolition of Whiteness, exploring the process of transformation and ultimately abolition of the great lie that we are forced to live as the price for the racially shaped privileges we enjoy. Our struggle for transformation demands more from us than collective statements of principle decrying the bigotry around us. Lou Schoen Minneapolis In a message dated 12/26/09 5:16:36 PM, email at massslaveryapology.org writes: Hi Friends, You might be interested in a statement from http://www.usforallofus.org. Their website says: "We long for a country that lifts all of us up, dares to care, offers love, generosity, and justice. We reject the racism that keeps us divided. We celebrate our interdependence and our capacity to love our neighbors as ourselves...The first step is to say together: "There is no room for racism in a U.S. for all of us." Their statement has been signed by 65 organizations and almost 600 individuals. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ WAsummit mailing list WAsummit at lists.wacan.org http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From louisaldavis at verizon.net Wed Jan 13 16:57:23 2010 From: louisaldavis at verizon.net (Louisa Davis) Date: Wed, 13 Jan 2010 17:57:23 -0500 Subject: [WAsummit] U.S. For All of Us/beyond whiteness? In-Reply-To: Message-ID: Lou and all, Appreciating your call for more careful, inclusive and interruptive language-ing in our work. Of course, I?ve known there was something really weird about the term ?white? for my Euro-american ancestry...but for years I have made myself name ?whiteness? in as many contexts as I could as a way of both respecting my ?black? colleagues use of the terms ?black and white? with the growth of black pride and also wanting to somehow rebalance the lenses of race, as when quoting the white, Prussian theologian Karl Barth in a sermon. But, wow, when I read ? the great lie that we are forced to live as the price for the racially shaped privileges we enjoy? I?m feel shock and recognition and yes, awe?wanting to base my work on common ground- building observables and liking the energy of ?creative interruption? of habits of domination, even verbal habits. However, I?m guessing people who identify as ?of color? are in as many different places on this as ?we? are...so I?m wanting to honor your passion for inclusion but also hold a space for a more humble ?interim ethic? of ?making whiteness visible?. Does this make sense? on 1/13/10 4:43 PM, Nancy at narvold at sfo.com wrote: > Lou - it may be an opportunity to support the group in honing their message to > include your critique. I'd say, write to them. >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> >> From: louschoen at aol.com >> >> To: email at massslaveryapology.org ; wasummit at lists.wacan.org ; >> usforallofus at awarela.org >> >> Sent: Tuesday, January 12, 2010 7:36 PM >> >> Subject: Re: [WAsummit] U.S. For All of Us >> >> >> I want very much to sign this statement but, in the "usforallofus" web site, >> the preface to the words quoted include, twice, a limiting phrase, which >> contradicts the broad invitation to signatures at the end of the web site. >> It asserts, "We are white people..." That affirmation would make it >> difficult to sign, with conviction, for anyone not defined as white. >> >> It's also a challenge for those of us who are asked by US culture to accept >> "White or Caucasian" identity but who understand that the very concept of >> "white," as a racial definition, is at the root of >> our continuing racial crisis and divisions. Europeans and Euroamericans >> claimed that shade for its relative value supremacy among color definitions, >> in spite of their own pinkish, yellowish and tannish >> hues, contrasting it deliberately with the blackness of those they enslaved. >> It was a strategy to justify their oppression of others, and was reinforced >> by promoting cultural, legal and scientific belief in the mythological >> concept of "race." As James Baldwin wrote in 1984, "It is not merely that >> whiteness is oppressive and false; it is that whiteness is nothing but >> oppressive and false." ("On Being 'White' and Other Lies," Essence >> Magazine.) >> >> It would be healthy for all "white" anti-racists to study carefully and >> discuss the recent book by Zeus Leonardo, Race, Whiteness and Education. He >> builds upon David Roediger's 1992 work, Towards the Abolition of Whiteness, >> exploring the process of transformation and ultimately abolition of the >> great lie that we are forced to live as the price for the racially shaped >> privileges we enjoy. Our struggle for transformation demands more from us >> than collective statements of principle decrying the bigotry around us. >> >> Lou Schoen >> Minneapolis >> >> In a message dated 12/26/09 5:16:36 PM, email at massslaveryapology.org writes: >> >> >> >> Hi Friends, >> >> You might be interested in a statement from http://www.usforallofus.org. >> Their website says: >> >> "We long for a country that lifts all of us up, dares to care, offers >> love, generosity, and justice. We reject the racism that keeps us divided. >> We celebrate our interdependence and our capacity to love our neighbors as >> ourselves...The first step is to say together: "There is no room for >> racism in a U.S. for all of us." >> >> Their statement has been signed by 65 organizations and almost 600 >> individuals. >> > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > WAsummit mailing list > WAsummit at lists.wacan.org > http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit > > > _______________________________________________ > WAsummit mailing list > WAsummit at lists.wacan.org > http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit -- Louisa L. Davis, M.Div., PhD 11330 Dockside Circle Reston, VA 20191 home: (703) 860-1203 cell: (240) 338-5156 ?Get very clear about the kind of world [you] would like and then start living that way.? -- Marshall Rosenberg, Center for Nonviolent Communication -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From margeryfreeman at yahoo.com Thu Jan 14 08:34:13 2010 From: margeryfreeman at yahoo.com (margery freeman) Date: Thu, 14 Jan 2010 06:34:13 -0800 (PST) Subject: [WAsummit] U.S. For All of Us/beyond whiteness? In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <846323.22922.qm@web110103.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> Dear AntiRacist White Friends, ? I appreciate the?discussion/debate over what language best communicates our values and vision.? Those of us who use the term "antiracist" as a positive short-hand expression of what we are often find ourselves challenged by other white progressives who think the term is "too negative."? I often respond to that criticism by noting that "anti-slavery" was not considered negative in its day by abolitionists.? I also have never heard a person of color criticize the phrase "antiracist" as negative. ? When it comes to the term white, there is a similar discussion:? This country set up "white" by law and structured all our systems on the supremacist value system of white being the model of humanity.??Despite it being illegal for 40 years, the ideology?of white supremacy still undergirds all our institutions and results in the massively disproportionate number?of People of Color?who are?in prison, failed by schools, jobless, poor, in ill health. ? As we create an antiracist white response to this?white supremacist?structure, I think we need to hold on to white (as we also must to?black and?hispanic) because it is socio-political:? It defines our collective status.? If we let go of being "white" we may slip down that slope of individualism that diverts our attention from the results of white supremacy and lulls by our good intentions. ? I say kudos to the white antiracists who have begun U.S. For All Of US!? It's a great movement-starter in a time when even the President is not permitted to talk about race.? I will publicize it as far and wide as I can. ? With best New Year wishes to you all, ? Margery ? Margery Freeman The People's Institute for Survival and Beyond 718-918-2716; cell: 504-813-2368 --- On Wed, 1/13/10, Louisa Davis wrote: From: Louisa Davis Subject: Re: [WAsummit] U.S. For All of Us/beyond whiteness? To: "White Anti-racist Summit" Date: Wednesday, January 13, 2010, 5:57 PM Lou and all, Appreciating your call for more careful, inclusive and interruptive language-ing in our work. Of course, I?ve known there was something really weird about the term ?white? for my Euro-american ancestry...but for years I have made myself name ?whiteness? in as many contexts as I could as a way of both respecting my ?black? colleagues use of the terms ?black and white? with the growth of black pride and also wanting to somehow rebalance the lenses of race, as when quoting the white, Prussian theologian Karl Barth in a sermon. ? But, wow, when I read ? the great lie that we are forced to ?live as the price for the racially shaped privileges we enjoy? I?m feel shock and recognition and yes, awe?wanting to base my work on common ground- building observables and liking the energy of ?creative interruption? of habits of domination, even verbal habits. ? However, I?m guessing people who identify as ?of color? are in as many different places on this as ?we? are....so I?m wanting to honor your passion for inclusion but also hold a space for a more humble ?interim ethic? of ?making whiteness visible?. ??Does this make sense? on 1/13/10 4:43 PM, Nancy at narvold at sfo.com wrote: Lou - it may be an opportunity to support the group in honing their message to include your critique. I'd say, write to them. ----- Original Message ----- ? From: ?louschoen at aol.com ? To: email at massslaveryapology.org ; ?wasummit at lists.wacan.org ; usforallofus at awarela.org ? Sent: Tuesday, January 12, 2010 7:36 ?PM ? Subject: Re: [WAsummit] U.S. For All of ?Us ? I want very much to sign this statement but, in ?the "usforallofus" web site, the preface to the words ?quoted include, ?twice, a limiting phrase, which contradicts the broad invitation to signatures ?at the end of the web site. ?It asserts, "We are white people..." ??That affirmation would make it difficult to sign, with conviction, for anyone ?not defined as white. ? It's also a challenge for those of us who ?are asked by US culture to accept "White or Caucasian" identity but who ?understand that the very concept of "white," as a racial definition, is at the ?root of our continuing racial crisis and divisions. ?Europeans and ?Euroamericans claimed that shade for its relative value supremacy among color ?definitions, in spite of their own pinkish, yellowish and tannish hues, ?contrasting it deliberately with the blackness of those they enslaved. ??It was a strategy to justify their oppression of others, and was reinforced by ?promoting cultural, legal and scientific belief in the mythological concept of ?"race." ?As James Baldwin wrote in 1984, "It is not merely that whiteness ?is oppressive and false; it is that whiteness is nothing but oppressive and false." ?("On Being 'White' and Other Lies," Essence Magazine.) It would be healthy for all ?"white" anti-racists to study carefully and discuss the recent book by Zeus ?Leonardo, Race, Whiteness and Education. ?He builds upon ?David Roediger's 1992 work, Towards the Abolition of Whiteness, exploring the process of ?transformation and ultimately abolition of the great lie that we are forced to ?live as the price for the racially shaped privileges we enjoy. ?Our ?struggle for transformation demands more from us than collective statements of ?principle decrying the bigotry around us. Lou ?Schoen Minneapolis In a message dated 12/26/09 5:16:36 PM, ?email at massslaveryapology.org writes: ? Hi Friends, You might be interested in a statement ?from http://www.usforallofus.org. Their website says: "We long for ?a country that lifts all of us up, dares to care, offers love, ?generosity, and justice. We reject the racism that keeps us divided. We ?celebrate our interdependence and our capacity to love our neighbors ?as ourselves...The first step is to say together: "There is no room ?for racism in a U.S. for all of us." Their statement has been ?signed by 65 organizations and almost ?600 individuals. ? _______________________________________________ WAsummit mailing ?list WAsummit at lists.wacan.org http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit _______________________________________________ WAsummit mailing list WAsummit at lists.wacan.org http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit -- Louisa L. Davis, M.Div., PhD 11330 Dockside Circle Reston, VA 20191 home: (703) 860-1203 cell: (240) 338-5156 ?Get very clear about the kind of world [you] would like and then start living that way.? ???????-- Marshall Rosenberg, Center for Nonviolent Communication -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ WAsummit mailing list WAsummit at lists.wacan.org http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From pasoconsulting at fastmail.fm Thu Jan 14 09:28:54 2010 From: pasoconsulting at fastmail.fm (Dottye Burt-Markowitz) Date: Thu, 14 Jan 2010 10:28:54 -0500 Subject: [WAsummit] U.S. For All of Us/beyond whiteness? In-Reply-To: <846323.22922.qm@web110103.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> References: <846323.22922.qm@web110103.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <1263482934.25227.1354642983@webmail.messagingengine.com> Ditto to Margery's comments. I found myself having a very emotional reaction to Lou's message. Examining the reasons for that, I realize it is tied to the twenty-plus years that I have now been doing anti-racism training and consulting and the many conversations I have had during that work on this very topic. One of the things we always share at the beginning of our workshops when we put on the table the assumptions we are making about racism and white privilege is about the importance of looking at results rather than intentions. So many racist statements and behaviors by white people are rationalized by the statement "I didn't intend it that way." I try to apply looking at intention vs. results in assessing what works and what doesn't work in helping people understand and become effective anti-racist activists. What works consistently is bringing people to an understanding of the historical roots of whiteness, what whiteness means in our culture, why we who benefit from white privilege cannot distance ourselves from being white, and how we can use the privilege we do carry to act against racism. Maybe others are finding results (I mean real concrete actions for institutional change results) by using a different kind of language. For me, I don't see how we leap over defining and understanding a problem to speaking a language that implies the problem does not exist. I do understand the longing for a less "tainted" terminology. I often say in workshops when we ask everyone to state their racial identity that I identify as white and European American, and that I would really like to be able to just say European American, but cannot do that as long as my whiteness gives me privileges and benefits denied to people of color. On Thu, 14 Jan 2010 06:34 -0800, "margery freeman" wrote: Dear AntiRacist White Friends, I appreciate the discussion/debate over what language best communicates our values and vision. Those of us who use the term "antiracist" as a positive short-hand expression of what we are often find ourselves challenged by other white progressives who think the term is "too negative." I often respond to that criticism by noting that "anti-slavery" was not considered negative in its day by abolitionists. I also have never heard a person of color criticize the phrase "antiracist" as negative. When it comes to the term white, there is a similar discussion: This country set up "white" by law and structured all our systems on the supremacist value system of white being the model of humanity. Despite it being illegal for 40 years, the ideology of white supremacy still undergirds all our institutions and results in the massively disproportionate number of People of Color who are in prison, failed by schools, jobless, poor, in ill health. As we create an antiracist white response to this white supremacist structure, I think we need to hold on to white (as we also must to black and hispanic) because it is socio-political: It defines our collective status. If we let go of being "white" we may slip down that slope of individualism that diverts our attention from the results of white supremacy and lulls by our good intentions. I say kudos to the white antiracists who have begun U.S. For All Of US! It's a great movement-starter in a time when even the President is not permitted to talk about race. I will publicize it as far and wide as I can. With best New Year wishes to you all, Margery Margery Freeman The People's Institute for Survival and Beyond 718-918-2716; cell: 504-813-2368 --- On Wed, 1/13/10, Louisa Davis wrote: From: Louisa Davis Subject: Re: [WAsummit] U.S. For All of Us/beyond whiteness? To: "White Anti-racist Summit" Date: Wednesday, January 13, 2010, 5:57 PM Lou and all, Appreciating your call for more careful, inclusive and interruptive language-ing in our work. Of course, I?ve known there was something really weird about the term ?white? for my Euro-american ancestry...but for years I have made myself name ?whiteness? in as many contexts as I could as a way of both respecting my ?black? colleagues use of the terms ?black and white? with the growth of black pride and also wanting to somehow rebalance the lenses of race, as when quoting the white, Prussian theologian Karl Barth in a sermon. But, wow, when I read ? the great lie that we are forced to live as the price for the racially shaped privileges we enjoy? I?m feel shock and recognition and yes, awe?wanting to base my work on common ground- building observables and liking the energy of ?creative interruption? of habits of domination, even verbal habits. However, I?m guessing people who identify as ?of color? are in as many different places on this as ?we? are...so I?m wanting to honor your passion for inclusion but also hold a space for a more humble ?interim ethic? of ?making whiteness visible?. Does this make sense? on 1/13/10 4:43 PM, Nancy at narvold at sfo.com wrote: Lou - it may be an opportunity to support the group in honing their message to include your critique. I'd say, write to them. ----- Original Message ----- From: louschoen at aol.com To: email at massslaveryapology.org ; wasummit at lists.wacan.org ; usforallofus at awarela.org Sent: Tuesday, January 12, 2010 7:36 PM Subject: Re: [WAsummit] U.S. For All of Us I want very much to sign this statement but, in the "usforallofus" web site, the preface to the words quoted include, twice, a limiting phrase, which contradicts the broad invitation to signatures at the end of the web site. It asserts, "We are white people..." That affirmation would make it difficult to sign, with conviction, for anyone not defined as white.. It's also a challenge for those of us who are asked by US culture to accept "White or Caucasian" identity but who understand that the very concept of "white," as a racial definition, is at the root of our continuing racial crisis and divisions. Europeans and Euroamericans claimed that shade for its relative value supremacy among color definitions, in spite of their own pinkish, yellowish and tannish hues, contrasting it deliberately with the blackness of those they enslaved. It was a strategy to justify their oppression of others, and was reinforced by promoting cultural, legal and scientific belief in the mythological concept of "race." As James Baldwin wrote in 1984, "It is not merely that whiteness is oppressive and false; it is that whiteness is nothing but oppressive and false." ("On Being 'White' and Other Lies," Essence Magazine.) It would be healthy for all "white" anti-racists to study carefully and discuss the recent book by Zeus Leonardo, Race, Whiteness and Education. He builds upon David Roediger's 1992 work, Towards the Abolition of Whiteness, exploring the process of transformation and ultimately abolition of the great lie that we are forced to live as the price for the racially shaped privileges we enjoy. Our struggle for transformation demands more from us than collective statements of principle decrying the bigotry around us.. Lou Schoen Minneapolis In a message dated 12/26/09 5:16:36 PM, email at massslaveryapology.org writes: Hi Friends, You might be interested in a statement from [1]http://www.usforallofus.org. Their website says: "We long for a country that lifts all of us up, dares to care, offers love, generosity, and justice. We reject the racism that keeps us divided. We celebrate our interdependence and our capacity to love our neighbors as ourselves...The first step is to say together: "There is no room for racism in a U.S. for all of us." Their statement has been signed by 65 organizations and almost 600 individuals. ______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________ WAsummit mailing list WAsummit at lists.wacan.org [2]http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit __________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________ WAsummit mailing list WAsummit at lists.wacan.org [3]http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit -- Louisa L. Davis, M.Div., PhD 11330 Dockside Circle Reston, VA 20191 home: (703) 860-1203 cell: (240) 338-5156 ?Get very clear about the kind of world [you] would like and then start living that way.? -- Marshall Rosenberg, Center for Nonviolent Communication -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ WAsummit mailing list [4]WAsummit at lists.wacan.org [5]http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit References 1. http://www.usforallofus.org/ 2. http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit 3. http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit 4. http://us.mc1101.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=WAsummit at lists.wacan.org 5. http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit -- Dottye Burt-Markowitz Paso Training and Consulting 425 South Chester St. Baltimore MD 21231 phone: 410-327-0134 pasoconsulting at fastmail.fm -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From narvold at sfo.com Thu Jan 14 12:00:46 2010 From: narvold at sfo.com (Nancy) Date: Thu, 14 Jan 2010 10:00:46 -0800 Subject: [WAsummit] U.S. For All of Us/beyond whiteness? In-Reply-To: <1263482934.25227.1354642983@webmail.messagingengine.com> References: <846323.22922.qm@web110103.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> <1263482934.25227.1354642983@webmail.messagingengine.com> Message-ID: <4088951F3B904BD28B9B330846FDE65C@OWNERPC> yes - what I find interesting is the wide range of position within our group - the history and structure of how we became "white" rather than our ethnicity is a powerful part of this issue - assimilation and homogenation has made us different from those who have not been "whitened" - of course it is a construct - just as race is - but it is one that holds enormous power and has many consequences.I wonder if the subtle forms of racism, which feed the institutional and structural discrimination and disparities would be so insidiously unseen by such a large part of our society if parameters of whiteness are either made obvious or if whiteness were to be "magically" eliminated. I will be interested in following continuing back-and-forth dialogue about this. It is obviously an important concern, and if we can get some consensus among ourselves we wil be stronger in addressing our constituents. thanks to those who have spoken up. I think the usforallofus is the closest thing that has emerged that could be a powerful organizing effort - which is desperately needed, and something "moderates" can participate in and perhaps become more interested and aware of the issues. And, I think it would be useful to have the unforallofus made aware of this dialogue as well, since others may hesitate in signing. nancy ----- Original Message ----- From: Dottye Burt-Markowitz To: White Anti-racist Summit Sent: Thursday, January 14, 2010 7:28 AM Subject: Re: [WAsummit] U.S. For All of Us/beyond whiteness? Ditto to Margery's comments. I found myself having a very emotional reaction to Lou's message. Examining the reasons for that, I realize it is tied to the twenty-plus years that I have now been doing anti-racism training and consulting and the many conversations I have had during that work on this very topic. One of the things we always share at the beginning of our workshops when we put on the table the assumptions we are making about racism and white privilege is about the importance of looking at results rather than intentions. So many racist statements and behaviors by white people are rationalized by the statement "I didn't intend it that way." I try to apply looking at intention vs. results in assessing what works and what doesn't work in helping people understand and become effective anti-racist activists. What works consistently is bringing people to an understanding of the historical roots of whiteness, what whiteness means in our culture, why we who benefit from white privilege cannot distance ourselves from being white, and how we can use the privilege we do carry to act against racism. Maybe others are finding results (I mean real concrete actions for institutional change results) by using a different kind of language. For me, I don't see how we leap over defining and understanding a problem to speaking a language that implies the problem does not exist. I do understand the longing for a less "tainted" terminology. I often say in workshops when we ask everyone to state their racial identity that I identify as white and European American, and that I would really like to be able to just say European American, but cannot do that as long as my whiteness gives me privileges and benefits denied to people of color. On Thu, 14 Jan 2010 06:34 -0800, "margery freeman" wrote: Dear AntiRacist White Friends, I appreciate the discussion/debate over what language best communicates our values and vision. Those of us who use the term "antiracist" as a positive short-hand expression of what we are often find ourselves challenged by other white progressives who think the term is "too negative." I often respond to that criticism by noting that "anti-slavery" was not considered negative in its day by abolitionists. I also have never heard a person of color criticize the phrase "antiracist" as negative. When it comes to the term white, there is a similar discussion: This country set up "white" by law and structured all our systems on the supremacist value system of white being the model of humanity. Despite it being illegal for 40 years, the ideology of white supremacy still undergirds all our institutions and results in the massively disproportionate number of People of Color who are in prison, failed by schools, jobless, poor, in ill health. As we create an antiracist white response to this white supremacist structure, I think we need to hold on to white (as we also must to black and hispanic) because it is socio-political: It defines our collective status. If we let go of being "white" we may slip down that slope of individualism that diverts our attention from the results of white supremacy and lulls by our good intentions. I say kudos to the white antiracists who have begun U.S. For All Of US! It's a great movement-starter in a time when even the President is not permitted to talk about race. I will publicize it as far and wide as I can. With best New Year wishes to you all, Margery Margery Freeman The People's Institute for Survival and Beyond 718-918-2716; cell: 504-813-2368 --- On Wed, 1/13/10, Louisa Davis wrote: From: Louisa Davis Subject: Re: [WAsummit] U.S. For All of Us/beyond whiteness? To: "White Anti-racist Summit" Date: Wednesday, January 13, 2010, 5:57 PM Lou and all, Appreciating your call for more careful, inclusive and interruptive language-ing in our work. Of course, I?ve known there was something really weird about the term ?white? for my Euro-american ancestry...but for years I have made myself name ?whiteness? in as many contexts as I could as a way of both respecting my ?black? colleagues use of the terms ?black and white? with the growth of black pride and also wanting to somehow rebalance the lenses of race, as when quoting the white, Prussian theologian Karl Barth in a sermon. But, wow, when I read ? the great lie that we are forced to live as the price for the racially shaped privileges we enjoy? I?m feel shock and recognition and yes, awe?wanting to base my work on common ground- building observables and liking the energy of ?creative interruption? of habits of domination, even verbal habits. However, I?m guessing people who identify as ?of color? are in as many different places on this as ?we? are...so I?m wanting to honor your passion for inclusion but also hold a space for a more humble ?interim ethic? of ?making whiteness visible?. Does this make sense? on 1/13/10 4:43 PM, Nancy at narvold at sfo.com wrote: Lou - it may be an opportunity to support the group in honing their message to include your critique. I'd say, write to them. ----- Original Message ----- From: louschoen at aol.com To: email at massslaveryapology.org ; wasummit at lists.wacan.org ; usforallofus at awarela.org Sent: Tuesday, January 12, 2010 7:36 PM Subject: Re: [WAsummit] U.S. For All of Us I want very much to sign this statement but, in the "usforallofus" web site, the preface to the words quoted include, twice, a limiting phrase, which contradicts the broad invitation to signatures at the end of the web site. It asserts, "We are white people..." That affirmation would make it difficult to sign, with conviction, for anyone not defined as white.. It's also a challenge for those of us who are asked by US culture to accept "White or Caucasian" identity but who understand that the very concept of "white," as a racial definition, is at the root of our continuing racial crisis and divisions. Europeans and Euroamericans claimed that shade for its relative value supremacy among color definitions, in spite of their own pinkish, yellowish and tannish hues, contrasting it deliberately with the blackness of those they enslaved. It was a strategy to justify their oppression of others, and was reinforced by promoting cultural, legal and scientific belief in the mythological concept of "race." As James Baldwin wrote in 1984, "It is not merely that whiteness is oppressive and false; it is that whiteness is nothing but oppressive and false." ("On Being 'White' and Other Lies," Essence Magazine.) It would be healthy for all "white" anti-racists to study carefully and discuss the recent book by Zeus Leonardo, Race, Whiteness and Education. He builds upon David Roediger's 1992 work, Towards the Abolition of Whiteness, exploring the process of transformation and ultimately abolition of the great lie that we are forced to live as the price for the racially shaped privileges we enjoy. Our struggle for transformation demands more from us than collective statements of principle decrying the bigotry around us.. Lou Schoen Minneapolis In a message dated 12/26/09 5:16:36 PM, email at massslaveryapology.org writes: Hi Friends, You might be interested in a statement from http://www.usforallofus.org. Their website says: "We long for a country that lifts all of us up, dares to care, offers love, generosity, and justice. We reject the racism that keeps us divided. We celebrate our interdependence and our capacity to love our neighbors as ourselves...The first step is to say together: "There is no room for racism in a U.S. for all of us." Their statement has been signed by 65 organizations and almost 600 individuals. ------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ WAsummit mailing list WAsummit at lists.wacan.org http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit ------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ WAsummit mailing list WAsummit at lists.wacan.org http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit -- Louisa L. Davis, M.Div., PhD 11330 Dockside Circle Reston, VA 20191 home: (703) 860-1203 cell: (240) 338-5156 ?Get very clear about the kind of world [you] would like and then start living that way.? -- Marshall Rosenberg, Center for Nonviolent Communication -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ WAsummit mailing list WAsummit at lists.wacan.org http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit -- Dottye Burt-Markowitz Paso Training and Consulting 425 South Chester St. Baltimore MD 21231 phone: 410-327-0134 pasoconsulting at fastmail.fm ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ WAsummit mailing list WAsummit at lists.wacan.org http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From francie at franceskendall.com Thu Jan 14 12:28:38 2010 From: francie at franceskendall.com (Frances Kendall) Date: Thu, 14 Jan 2010 10:28:38 -0800 Subject: [WAsummit] U.S. For All of Us/beyond whiteness? In-Reply-To: <1263482934.25227.1354642983@webmail.messagingengine.com> Message-ID: Dear All, I am troubled by this conversation. Like Dottie and Margery I feel that it is essential for those of us who are white (and receive unearned opportunities and access to power and resources because of our skin color) to become comfortable with that moniker. As I know you all know, so much of our history, our laws, and our racialized systems are based on that very concept. Very regularly, participants in my sessions say, ?I don?t see myself as ?white,? I see myself as just a human being.? And, in my mind, I think, ?That?s interesting and not particularly relevant.? I then talk about Allan Johnson?s comment in his book, Power, Privilege, and Difference: ?When it comes to privilege?it doesn?t really matter who we really are. What matters is who other people think we are, which is to say, the social categories they put us in.? So, for now and in the foreseeable future, I believe it?s critical that those of us who are white embody that as part of who we are, comfortable or not. I definitely believe language is important. AND, for us to choose to ?abolish whiteness? seems to me to be a mindset that only the extremely privileged could explore. Thanks for the opportunity to talk about this. Francie On 1/14/10 7:28 AM, "Dottye Burt-Markowitz" wrote: > Ditto to Margery's comments. > > I found myself having a very emotional reaction to Lou's message. Examining > the reasons for that, I realize it is tied to the twenty-plus years that I > have now been doing anti-racism training and consulting and the many > conversations I have had during that work on this very topic. One of the > things we always share at the beginning of our workshops when we put on the > table the assumptions we are making about racism and white privilege is about > the importance of looking at results rather than intentions. So many racist > statements and behaviors by white people are rationalized by the statement "I > didn't intend it that way." I try to apply looking at intention vs. results > in assessing what works and what doesn't work in helping people understand and > become effective anti-racist activists. What works consistently is bringing > people to an understanding of the historical roots of whiteness, what > whiteness means in our culture, why we who benefit from white privilege cannot > distance ourselves from being white, and how we can use the privilege we do > carry to act against racism. Maybe others are finding results (I mean real > concrete actions for institutional change results) by using a different kind > of language. For me, I don't see how we leap over defining and understanding > a problem to speaking a language that implies the problem does not exist. > > I do understand the longing for a less "tainted" terminology. I often say in > workshops when we ask everyone to state their racial identity that I identify > as white and European American, and that I would really like to be able to > just say European American, but cannot do that as long as my whiteness gives > me privileges and benefits denied to people of color. > > > > > On Thu, 14 Jan 2010 06:34 -0800, "margery freeman" > wrote: >> >> Dear AntiRacist White Friends, >> >> I appreciate the discussion/debate over what language best communicates our >> values and vision. Those of us who use the term "antiracist" as a positive >> short-hand expression of what we are often find ourselves challenged by other >> white progressives who think the term is "too negative." I often respond to >> that criticism by noting that "anti-slavery" was not considered negative in >> its day by abolitionists. I also have never heard a person of color >> criticize the phrase "antiracist" as negative. >> >> When it comes to the term white, there is a similar discussion: This >> country set up "white" by law and structured all our systems on the >> supremacist value system of white being the model of humanity. Despite it >> being illegal for 40 years, the ideology of white supremacy still undergirds >> all our institutions and results in the massively disproportionate number of >> People of Color who are in prison, failed by schools, jobless, poor, in ill >> health. >> >> As we create an antiracist white response to this white supremacist >> structure, I think we need to hold on to white (as we also must to black and >> hispanic) because it is socio-political: It defines our collective status. >> If we let go of being "white" we may slip down that slope of individualism >> that diverts our attention from the results of white supremacy and lulls by >> our good intentions. >> >> I say kudos to the white antiracists who have begun U.S. For All Of US! >> It's a great movement-starter in a time when even the President is not >> permitted to talk about race. I will publicize it as far and wide as I can. >> >> With best New Year wishes to you all, >> >> Margery >> >> Margery Freeman >> The People's Institute for Survival and Beyond >> 718-918-2716; cell: 504-813-2368 >> --- On Wed, 1/13/10, Louisa Davis wrote: >> >>> >>> From: Louisa Davis >>> Subject: Re: [WAsummit] U.S. For All of Us/beyond whiteness? >>> To: "White Anti-racist Summit" >>> Date: Wednesday, January 13, 2010, 5:57 PM >>> >>> Lou and all, Appreciating your call for more careful, inclusive and >>> interruptive language-ing in our work. >>> >>> Of course, I?ve known there was something really weird about the term >>> ?white? for my Euro-american ancestry...but for years I have made myself >>> name ?whiteness? in as many contexts as I could as a way of both respecting >>> my ?black? colleagues use of the terms ?black and white? with the growth of >>> black pride and also wanting to somehow rebalance the lenses of race, as >>> when quoting the white, Prussian theologian Karl Barth in a sermon. >>> >>> But, wow, when I read ? the great lie that we are forced to live as the >>> price for the racially shaped privileges we enjoy? I?m feel shock and >>> recognition and yes, awe?wanting to base my work on common ground- building >>> observables and liking the energy of ?creative interruption? of habits of >>> domination, even verbal habits. >>> >>> However, I?m guessing people who identify as ?of color? are in as many >>> different places on this as ?we? are...so I?m wanting to honor your passion >>> for inclusion but also hold a space for a more humble ?interim ethic? of >>> ?making whiteness visible?. Does this make sense? >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> on 1/13/10 4:43 PM, Nancy at narvold at sfo.com wrote: >>> >>> >>>> Lou - it may be an opportunity to support the group in honing their message >>>> to include your critique. I'd say, write to them. >>>> >>>>> >>>>> ----- Original Message ----- >>>>> >>>>> From: louschoen at aol.com >>>>> >>>>> To: email at massslaveryapology.org ; wasummit at lists.wacan.org ; >>>>> usforallofus at awarela.org >>>>> >>>>> Sent: Tuesday, January 12, 2010 7:36 PM >>>>> >>>>> Subject: Re: [WAsummit] U.S. For All of Us >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> I want very much to sign this statement but, in the "usforallofus" web >>>>> site, the preface to the words quoted include, twice, a limiting phrase, >>>>> which contradicts the broad invitation to signatures at the end of the >>>>> web site. It asserts, "We are white people..." That affirmation would >>>>> make it difficult to sign, with conviction, for anyone not defined as >>>>> white.. >>>>> >>>>> It's also a challenge for those of us who are asked by US culture to >>>>> accept "White or Caucasian" identity but who understand that the very >>>>> concept of "white," as a racial definition, is at the root of >>>>> our continuing racial crisis and divisions. Europeans and Euroamericans >>>>> claimed that shade for its relative value supremacy among color >>>>> definitions, in spite of their own pinkish, yellowish and tannish >>>>> hues, contrasting it deliberately with the blackness of those they >>>>> enslaved. It was a strategy to justify their oppression of others, and >>>>> was reinforced by promoting cultural, legal and scientific belief in the >>>>> mythological concept of "race." As James Baldwin wrote in 1984, "It is >>>>> not merely that whiteness is oppressive and false; it is that whiteness >>>>> is nothing but oppressive and false." ("On Being 'White' and Other Lies," >>>>> Essence Magazine.) >>>>> >>>>> It would be healthy for all "white" anti-racists to study carefully and >>>>> discuss the recent book by Zeus Leonardo, Race, Whiteness and Education. >>>>> He builds upon David Roediger's 1992 work, Towards the Abolition of >>>>> Whiteness, exploring the process of transformation and ultimately >>>>> abolition of the great lie that we are forced to live as the price for >>>>> the racially shaped privileges we enjoy. Our struggle for transformation >>>>> demands more from us than collective statements of principle decrying the >>>>> bigotry around us.. >>>>> >>>>> Lou Schoen >>>>> Minneapolis >>>>> >>>>> In a message dated 12/26/09 5:16:36 PM, email at massslaveryapology.org >>>>> writes: >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Hi Friends, >>>>> >>>>> You might be interested in a statement from http://www.usforallofus.org. >>>>> >>>>> Their website says: >>>>> >>>>> "We long for a country that lifts all of us up, dares to care, offers >>>>> love, generosity, and justice. We reject the racism that keeps us >>>>> divided. >>>>> We celebrate our interdependence and our capacity to love our neighbors >>>>> as >>>>> ourselves...The first step is to say together: "There is no room for >>>>> racism in a U.S. for all of us." >>>>> >>>>> Their statement has been signed by 65 organizations and almost 600 >>>>> individuals. >>>>> >>>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> WAsummit mailing list >>>> WAsummit at lists.wacan.org >>>> http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> WAsummit mailing list >>>> WAsummit at lists.wacan.org >>>> http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit >>>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> Louisa L. Davis, M.Div., PhD >>> 11330 Dockside Circle >>> Reston, VA 20191 >>> home: (703) 860-1203 >>> cell: (240) 338-5156 >>> >>> ?Get very clear about the kind of world [you] would like and then start >>> living that way.? >>> -- Marshall Rosenberg, Center for Nonviolent Communication >>> >>> >>> -----Inline Attachment Follows----- >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> WAsummit mailing list >>> WAsummit at lists.wacan.org >>> >>> http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit >>> >> -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From narvold at sfo.com Thu Jan 14 12:20:19 2010 From: narvold at sfo.com (Nancy) Date: Thu, 14 Jan 2010 10:20:19 -0800 Subject: [WAsummit] Fw: WHITE POWER U.S.A. Message-ID: <70BB058265AE41078ACC1C0E6BB744BA@OWNERPC> any doubt about the power of whiteness and white supremacy? Subject: WHITE POWER U.S.A. A part of what we're up against... http://bignoisefilms.org/videowire/38-latest/106-white "The point of the film was to show how the Organized White Supremacist and Neofascist movements were already recruiting White people from the much larger right-wing populist Tea Bag and Town Hall protestors further toward conscious ideological White Supermacy... At the same time, as both these movements gain strength, it pulls "mainstream" politicians to the Political Right and allows them to opportunistically embrace more public racist, anti-immigrant, and xenophobic positions." -Chip Berlet -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: WHITE POWER USA Video.doc Type: application/msword Size: 84480 bytes Desc: not available URL: From nsmith at igc.org Thu Jan 14 12:40:58 2010 From: nsmith at igc.org (Norma Smith) Date: Thu, 14 Jan 2010 18:40:58 +0000 Subject: [WAsummit] U.S. For All of Us/beyond whiteness? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <0779C7A6-18CB-4225-A844-F03EDF7D1314@igc.org> Dear White Anti-Racist Summit list, I agree that naming ourselves white anti-racists serves that good function of shining a light on social reality by naming it and contradicting the expected but false notion that white people see white supremacy as being in our interest. We are saying that we are functionally white, and we understand that challenging racism and white supremacy is in our interest, because it holds out the opportunity and hope for us to join the human race. There are good reasons (which I believe we have discussed before on this or related lists) that we are a mostly white group. I think this is also why the phrase that Sharon and Mickey used, challenging white supremacy, is so powerful. It is isn't "negative," but rather active. I myself don't mind being "anti" something that really needs to be challenged and destroyed. I'm anti-poverty, anti- hunger, anti-slavery, anti-oppression. Some of you may remember a CWS spin-off group that functioned for a while in the mid-late 90s (?). It was unintentionally but happily mostly or most of the time all women. We called ourselves the white anti-racist aunties. call me auntie. I love the social functions that a person in that structural role can play. not the main player; consultative; independent; present; supportive; off-center but/and able to play an important role in correcting the spin of the earth. weighing in on important matters. speaking up from the off-center. cheers, Norma On Jan 14, 2010, at 6:28 PM, Frances Kendall wrote: > Dear All, > I am troubled by this conversation. Like Dottie and Margery I feel > that it is essential for those of us who are white (and receive > unearned opportunities and access to power and resources because of > our skin color) to become comfortable with that moniker. As I know > you all know, so much of our history, our laws, and our racialized > systems are based on that very concept. > > Very regularly, participants in my sessions say, ?I don?t see myself > as ?white,? I see myself as just a human being.? And, in my mind, I > think, ?That?s interesting and not particularly relevant.? I then > talk about Allan Johnson?s comment in his book, Power, Privilege, > and Difference: > > ?When it comes to privilege?it doesn?t really matter who we really > are. What matters is who other people think we are, which is to say, > the social categories they put us in.? > > So, for now and in the foreseeable future, I believe it?s critical > that those of us who are white embody that as part of who we are, > comfortable or not. I definitely believe language is important. AND, > for us to choose to ?abolish whiteness? seems to me to be a mindset > that only the extremely privileged could explore. > > Thanks for the opportunity to talk about this. > > Francie > > > > On 1/14/10 7:28 AM, "Dottye Burt-Markowitz" > wrote: > >> Ditto to Margery's comments. >> >> I found myself having a very emotional reaction to Lou's message. >> Examining the reasons for that, I realize it is tied to the twenty- >> plus years that I have now been doing anti-racism training and >> consulting and the many conversations I have had during that work >> on this very topic. One of the things we always share at the >> beginning of our workshops when we put on the table the assumptions >> we are making about racism and white privilege is about the >> importance of looking at results rather than intentions. So many >> racist statements and behaviors by white people are rationalized by >> the statement "I didn't intend it that way." I try to apply >> looking at intention vs. results in assessing what works and what >> doesn't work in helping people understand and become effective anti- >> racist activists. What works consistently is bringing people to an >> understanding of the historical roots of whiteness, what whiteness >> means in our culture, why we who benefit from white privilege >> cannot distance ourselves from being white, and how we can use the >> privilege we do carry to act against racism. Maybe others are >> finding results (I mean real concrete actions for institutional >> change results) by using a different kind of language. For me, I >> don't see how we leap over defining and understanding a problem to >> speaking a language that implies the problem does not exist. >> >> I do understand the longing for a less "tainted" terminology. I >> often say in workshops when we ask everyone to state their racial >> identity that I identify as white and European American, and that I >> would really like to be able to just say European American, but >> cannot do that as long as my whiteness gives me privileges and >> benefits denied to people of color. >> >> >> >> >> On Thu, 14 Jan 2010 06:34 -0800, "margery freeman" > > wrote: >>> >>> Dear AntiRacist White Friends, >>> >>> I appreciate the discussion/debate over what language best >>> communicates our values and vision. Those of us who use the term >>> "antiracist" as a positive short-hand expression of what we are >>> often find ourselves challenged by other white progressives who >>> think the term is "too negative." I often respond to that >>> criticism by noting that "anti-slavery" was not considered >>> negative in its day by abolitionists. I also have never heard a >>> person of color criticize the phrase "antiracist" as negative. >>> >>> When it comes to the term white, there is a similar discussion: >>> This country set up "white" by law and structured all our systems >>> on the supremacist value system of white being the model of >>> humanity. Despite it being illegal for 40 years, the ideology of >>> white supremacy still undergirds all our institutions and results >>> in the massively disproportionate number of People of Color who >>> are in prison, failed by schools, jobless, poor, in ill health. >>> >>> As we create an antiracist white response to this white >>> supremacist structure, I think we need to hold on to white (as we >>> also must to black and hispanic) because it is socio-political: >>> It defines our collective status. If we let go of being "white" >>> we may slip down that slope of individualism that diverts our >>> attention from the results of white supremacy and lulls by our >>> good intentions. >>> >>> I say kudos to the white antiracists who have begun U.S. For All >>> Of US! It's a great movement-starter in a time when even the >>> President is not permitted to talk about race. I will publicize >>> it as far and wide as I can. >>> >>> With best New Year wishes to you all, >>> >>> Margery >>> >>> Margery Freeman >>> The People's Institute for Survival and Beyond >>> 718-918-2716; cell: 504-813-2368 >>> --- On Wed, 1/13/10, Louisa Davis wrote: >>> >>>> >>>> From: Louisa Davis >>>> Subject: Re: [WAsummit] U.S. For All of Us/beyond whiteness? >>>> To: "White Anti-racist Summit" >>>> Date: Wednesday, January 13, 2010, 5:57 PM >>>> >>>> Lou and all, Appreciating your call for more careful, inclusive >>>> and interruptive language-ing in our work. >>>> >>>> Of course, I?ve known there was something really weird about the >>>> term ?white? for my Euro-american ancestry...but for years I have >>>> made myself name ?whiteness? in as many contexts as I could as a >>>> way of both respecting my ?black? colleagues use of the terms >>>> ?black and white? with the growth of black pride and also wanting >>>> to somehow rebalance the lenses of race, as when quoting the >>>> white, Prussian theologian Karl Barth in a sermon. >>>> >>>> But, wow, when I read ? the great lie that we are forced to >>>> live as the price for the racially shaped privileges we enjoy? >>>> I?m feel shock and recognition and yes, awe?wanting to base my >>>> work on common ground- building observables and liking the energy >>>> of ?creative interruption? of habits of domination, even verbal >>>> habits. >>>> >>>> However, I?m guessing people who identify as ?of color? are in >>>> as many different places on this as ?we? are...so I?m wanting to >>>> honor your passion for inclusion but also hold a space for a more >>>> humble ?interim ethic? of ?making whiteness visible?. Does this >>>> make sense? >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> on 1/13/10 4:43 PM, Nancy at narvold at sfo.com wrote: >>>> >>>> >>>>> Lou - it may be an opportunity to support the group in honing >>>>> their message to include your critique. I'd say, write to them. >>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- >>>>>> >>>>>> From: louschoen at aol.com >>>>>> >>>>>> To: email at massslaveryapology.org ; wasummit at lists.wacan.org ; usforallofus at awarela.org >>>>>> >>>>>> Sent: Tuesday, January 12, 2010 7:36 PM >>>>>> >>>>>> Subject: Re: [WAsummit] U.S. For All of Us >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> I want very much to sign this statement but, in the >>>>>> "usforallofus" web site, the preface to the words quoted >>>>>> include, twice, a limiting phrase, which contradicts the broad >>>>>> invitation to signatures at the end of the web site. It >>>>>> asserts, "We are white people..." That affirmation would make >>>>>> it difficult to sign, with conviction, for anyone not defined >>>>>> as white.. >>>>>> >>>>>> It's also a challenge for those of us who are asked by US >>>>>> culture to accept "White or Caucasian" identity but who >>>>>> understand that the very concept of "white," as a racial >>>>>> definition, is at the root of >>>>>> our continuing racial crisis and divisions. Europeans and >>>>>> Euroamericans claimed that shade for its relative value >>>>>> supremacy among color definitions, in spite of their own >>>>>> pinkish, yellowish and tannish >>>>>> hues, contrasting it deliberately with the blackness of those >>>>>> they enslaved. It was a strategy to justify their oppression >>>>>> of others, and was reinforced by promoting cultural, legal and >>>>>> scientific belief in the mythological concept of "race." As >>>>>> James Baldwin wrote in 1984, "It is not merely that whiteness >>>>>> is oppressive and false; it is that whiteness is nothing but >>>>>> oppressive and false." ("On Being 'White' and Other Lies," >>>>>> Essence Magazine.) >>>>>> >>>>>> It would be healthy for all "white" anti-racists to study >>>>>> carefully and discuss the recent book by Zeus Leonardo, Race, >>>>>> Whiteness and Education. He builds upon David Roediger's 1992 >>>>>> work, Towards the Abolition of Whiteness, exploring the process >>>>>> of transformation and ultimately abolition of the great lie >>>>>> that we are forced to live as the price for the racially >>>>>> shaped privileges we enjoy. Our struggle for transformation >>>>>> demands more from us than collective statements of principle >>>>>> decrying the bigotry around us.. >>>>>> >>>>>> Lou Schoen >>>>>> Minneapolis >>>>>> >>>>>> In a message dated 12/26/09 5:16:36 PM, email at massslaveryapology.org >>>>>> writes: >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> Hi Friends, >>>>>> >>>>>> You might be interested in a statement from http://www.usforallofus.org >>>>>> . >>>>>> Their website says: >>>>>> >>>>>> "We long for a country that lifts all of us up, dares to >>>>>> care, offers >>>>>> love, generosity, and justice. We reject the racism that >>>>>> keeps us divided. >>>>>> We celebrate our interdependence and our capacity to love our >>>>>> neighbors as >>>>>> ourselves...The first step is to say together: "There is no >>>>>> room for >>>>>> racism in a U.S. for all of us." >>>>>> >>>>>> Their statement has been signed by 65 organizations and >>>>>> almost 600 >>>>>> individuals. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>> WAsummit mailing list >>>>> WAsummit at lists.wacan.org >>>>> http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>> WAsummit mailing list >>>>> WAsummit at lists.wacan.org >>>>> http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit >>>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>>> Louisa L. Davis, M.Div., PhD >>>> 11330 Dockside Circle >>>> Reston, VA 20191 >>>> home: (703) 860-1203 >>>> cell: (240) 338-5156 >>>> >>>> ?Get very clear about the kind of world [you] would like and >>>> then start living that way.? >>>> -- Marshall Rosenberg, Center for Nonviolent Communication >>>> >>>> >>>> -----Inline Attachment Follows----- >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> WAsummit mailing list >>>> WAsummit at lists.wacan.org >>> > >>>> http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit >>>> >>> > _______________________________________________ > WAsummit mailing list > WAsummit at lists.wacan.org > http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit Norma Smith The Edge of Each Other's Battles Project 5245 College Ave #424 Oakland, CA 94618 (510) 465-2094 The Edge of Each Other's Battles Project brings together social justice academics and community-based projects to work toward social change. The Edge Project produces community events, organizes sessions at academic conferences, and facilitates interdisciplinary, site- specific, collaboratively designed seminars, conferences, and working groups on themes related to community history, culture, and politics. It provides opportunities for scholars to learn from and with other community members. The Edge Project is inspired by poet-educator- activist Audre Lorde's vision of cross-community alliance building and organizing for social justice. The Edge of Each Other's Battles Project operates under the fiscal sponsorship of the Agape Foundation - Fund for Nonviolent Social Change. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From marycapps at earthlink.net Thu Jan 14 21:16:15 2010 From: marycapps at earthlink.net (Mary Capps) Date: Thu, 14 Jan 2010 21:16:15 -0600 Subject: [WAsummit] U.S. For All of Us/beyond whiteness? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: I agree with the responses to Lou which emphasize the reality of our white-ness & its power & privilege in our everyday lives. I moved from New Orleans to Mississippi a few years ago. Everyday black women, men & children call me "Miss Mary". I'll say "Please just call me "Mary". The response usually is "Yes, Ma'am". This is not a small interpersonal matter. It represents the historical power relationship established under white supremacy. I might wish for a different relationship, & over time might develop genuine friendships with some black people, but the reality is my whiteness is a very real factor in my daily life, interactions, opportunities, etc. Also, as I try to do anti-racist work with other white people I need to meet them at our common point - that is, at our common whiteness. Many of them have very different "takes" on race, racial oppression & injustice than I do, but it is important that I talk with them as another white person. Isn't this the point of white anti-racist activism? Isn't it our whiteness that gives us the opportunity and, hopefully, some effectiveness, in challenging other whites on racism, white supremacy? Of course, as whites we need to be accountable to people of color. We need to recognize the leadership of people of color. One piece of that, in my experience so far, is to acknowledge my/our whiteness, the power & privilege it confers, and to work to challenge that in/with other whites. respectfully Mary Capps On Jan 14, 2010, at 12:28 PM, Frances Kendall wrote: Dear All, I am troubled by this conversation. Like Dottie and Margery I feel that it is essential for those of us who are white (and receive unearned opportunities and access to power and resources because of our skin color) to become comfortable with that moniker. As I know you all know, so much of our history, our laws, and our racialized systems are based on that very concept. Very regularly, participants in my sessions say, ?I don?t see myself as ?white,? I see myself as just a human being.? And, in my mind, I think, ?That?s interesting and not particularly relevant.? I then talk about Allan Johnson?s comment in his book, Power, Privilege, and Difference: ?When it comes to privilege?it doesn?t really matter who we really are. What matters is who other people think we are, which is to say, the social categories they put us in.? So, for now and in the foreseeable future, I believe it?s critical that those of us who are white embody that as part of who we are, comfortable or not. I definitely believe language is important. AND, for us to choose to ?abolish whiteness? seems to me to be a mindset that only the extremely privileged could explore. Thanks for the opportunity to talk about this. Francie On 1/14/10 7:28 AM, "Dottye Burt-Markowitz" wrote: > Ditto to Margery's comments. > > I found myself having a very emotional reaction to Lou's message. > Examining the reasons for that, I realize it is tied to the twenty- > plus years that I have now been doing anti-racism training and > consulting and the many conversations I have had during that work > on this very topic. One of the things we always share at the > beginning of our workshops when we put on the table the assumptions > we are making about racism and white privilege is about the > importance of looking at results rather than intentions. So many > racist statements and behaviors by white people are rationalized by > the statement "I didn't intend it that way." I try to apply > looking at intention vs. results in assessing what works and what > doesn't work in helping people understand and become effective anti- > racist activists. What works consistently is bringing people to an > understanding of the historical roots of whiteness, what whiteness > means in our culture, why we who benefit from white privilege > cannot distance ourselves from being white, and how we can use the > privilege we do carry to act against racism. Maybe others are > finding results (I mean real concrete actions for institutional > change results) by using a different kind of language. For me, I > don't see how we leap over defining and understanding a problem to > speaking a language that implies the problem does not exist. > > I do understand the longing for a less "tainted" terminology. I > often say in workshops when we ask everyone to state their racial > identity that I identify as white and European American, and that I > would really like to be able to just say European American, but > cannot do that as long as my whiteness gives me privileges and > benefits denied to people of color. > > > > > On Thu, 14 Jan 2010 06:34 -0800, "margery freeman" > wrote: >> >> Dear AntiRacist White Friends, >> >> I appreciate the discussion/debate over what language best >> communicates our values and vision. Those of us who use the term >> "antiracist" as a positive short-hand expression of what we are >> often find ourselves challenged by other white progressives who >> think the term is "too negative." I often respond to that >> criticism by noting that "anti-slavery" was not considered >> negative in its day by abolitionists. I also have never heard a >> person of color criticize the phrase "antiracist" as negative. >> >> When it comes to the term white, there is a similar discussion: >> This country set up "white" by law and structured all our systems >> on the supremacist value system of white being the model of >> humanity. Despite it being illegal for 40 years, the ideology of >> white supremacy still undergirds all our institutions and results >> in the massively disproportionate number of People of Color who >> are in prison, failed by schools, jobless, poor, in ill health. >> >> As we create an antiracist white response to this white >> supremacist structure, I think we need to hold on to white (as we >> also must to black and hispanic) because it is socio-political: >> It defines our collective status. If we let go of being "white" >> we may slip down that slope of individualism that diverts our >> attention from the results of white supremacy and lulls by our >> good intentions. >> >> I say kudos to the white antiracists who have begun U.S. For All >> Of US! It's a great movement-starter in a time when even the >> President is not permitted to talk about race. I will publicize >> it as far and wide as I can. >> >> With best New Year wishes to you all, >> >> Margery >> >> Margery Freeman >> The People's Institute for Survival and Beyond >> 718-918-2716; cell: 504-813-2368 >> --- On Wed, 1/13/10, Louisa Davis wrote: >> >>> >>> From: Louisa Davis >>> Subject: Re: [WAsummit] U.S. For All of Us/beyond whiteness? >>> To: "White Anti-racist Summit" >>> Date: Wednesday, January 13, 2010, 5:57 PM >>> >>> Lou and all, Appreciating your call for more careful, inclusive >>> and interruptive language-ing in our work. >>> >>> Of course, I?ve known there was something really weird about the >>> term ?white? for my Euro-american ancestry...but for years I have >>> made myself name ?whiteness? in as many contexts as I could as a >>> way of both respecting my ?black? colleagues use of the terms >>> ?black and white? with the growth of black pride and also wanting >>> to somehow rebalance the lenses of race, as when quoting the >>> white, Prussian theologian Karl Barth in a sermon. >>> >>> But, wow, when I read ? the great lie that we are forced to >>> live as the price for the racially shaped privileges we enjoy? >>> I?m feel shock and recognition and yes, awe?wanting to base my >>> work on common ground- building observables and liking the energy >>> of ?creative interruption? of habits of domination, even verbal >>> habits. >>> >>> However, I?m guessing people who identify as ?of color? are in >>> as many different places on this as ?we? are...so I?m wanting to >>> honor your passion for inclusion but also hold a space for a more >>> humble ?interim ethic? of ?making whiteness visible?. Does this >>> make sense? >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> on 1/13/10 4:43 PM, Nancy at narvold at sfo.com wrote: >>> >>> >>>> Lou - it may be an opportunity to support the group in honing >>>> their message to include your critique. I'd say, write to them. >>>> >>>>> >>>>> ----- Original Message ----- >>>>> >>>>> From: louschoen at aol.com >>>>> >>>>> To: email at massslaveryapology.org ; wasummit at lists.wacan.org ; >>>>> usforallofus at awarela.org >>>>> >>>>> Sent: Tuesday, January 12, 2010 7:36 PM >>>>> >>>>> Subject: Re: [WAsummit] U.S. For All of Us >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> I want very much to sign this statement but, in the >>>>> "usforallofus" web site, the preface to the words quoted >>>>> include, twice, a limiting phrase, which contradicts the broad >>>>> invitation to signatures at the end of the web site. It >>>>> asserts, "We are white people..." That affirmation would make >>>>> it difficult to sign, with conviction, for anyone not defined >>>>> as white.. >>>>> >>>>> It's also a challenge for those of us who are asked by US >>>>> culture to accept "White or Caucasian" identity but who >>>>> understand that the very concept of "white," as a racial >>>>> definition, is at the root of >>>>> our continuing racial crisis and divisions. Europeans and >>>>> Euroamericans claimed that shade for its relative value >>>>> supremacy among color definitions, in spite of their own >>>>> pinkish, yellowish and tannish >>>>> hues, contrasting it deliberately with the blackness of those >>>>> they enslaved. It was a strategy to justify their oppression >>>>> of others, and was reinforced by promoting cultural, legal and >>>>> scientific belief in the mythological concept of "race." As >>>>> James Baldwin wrote in 1984, "It is not merely that whiteness >>>>> is oppressive and false; it is that whiteness is nothing but >>>>> oppressive and false." ("On Being 'White' and Other Lies," >>>>> Essence Magazine.) >>>>> >>>>> It would be healthy for all "white" anti-racists to study >>>>> carefully and discuss the recent book by Zeus Leonardo, Race, >>>>> Whiteness and Education. He builds upon David Roediger's 1992 >>>>> work, Towards the Abolition of Whiteness, exploring the process >>>>> of transformation and ultimately abolition of the great lie >>>>> that we are forced to live as the price for the racially >>>>> shaped privileges we enjoy. Our struggle for transformation >>>>> demands more from us than collective statements of principle >>>>> decrying the bigotry around us.. >>>>> >>>>> Lou Schoen >>>>> Minneapolis >>>>> >>>>> In a message dated 12/26/09 5:16:36 PM, >>>>> email at massslaveryapology.org writes: >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Hi Friends, >>>>> >>>>> You might be interested in a statement from http:// >>>>> www.usforallofus.org. >>>>> Their website says: >>>>> >>>>> "We long for a country that lifts all of us up, dares to >>>>> care, offers >>>>> love, generosity, and justice. We reject the racism that >>>>> keeps us divided. >>>>> We celebrate our interdependence and our capacity to love our >>>>> neighbors as >>>>> ourselves...The first step is to say together: "There is no >>>>> room for >>>>> racism in a U.S. for all of us." >>>>> >>>>> Their statement has been signed by 65 organizations and >>>>> almost 600 >>>>> individuals. >>>>> >>>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> WAsummit mailing list >>>> WAsummit at lists.wacan.org >>>> http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> WAsummit mailing list >>>> WAsummit at lists.wacan.org >>>> http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit >>>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> Louisa L. Davis, M.Div., PhD >>> 11330 Dockside Circle >>> Reston, VA 20191 >>> home: (703) 860-1203 >>> cell: (240) 338-5156 >>> >>> ?Get very clear about the kind of world [you] would like and >>> then start living that way.? >>> -- Marshall Rosenberg, Center for Nonviolent Communication >>> >>> >>> -----Inline Attachment Follows----- >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> WAsummit mailing list >>> WAsummit at lists.wacan.org >> compose?to=WAsummit at lists.wacan.org> >>> http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit >>> >> _______________________________________________ WAsummit mailing list WAsummit at lists.wacan.org http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From francie at franceskendall.com Thu Jan 14 22:12:30 2010 From: francie at franceskendall.com (Frances Kendall) Date: Thu, 14 Jan 2010 20:12:30 -0800 Subject: [WAsummit] U.S. For All of Us/beyond whiteness? In-Reply-To: Message-ID: Thanks, Mary. Good thoughts and specifics. Francie On 1/14/10 7:16 PM, "Mary Capps" wrote: > I agree with the responses to Lou which emphasize the reality of our > white-ness & its power & privilege in our everyday lives. > > I moved from New Orleans to Mississippi a few years ago. Everyday black women, > men & children call me "Miss Mary". I'll say "Please just call me "Mary". The > response usually is "Yes, Ma'am". > > This is not a small interpersonal matter. It represents the historical power > relationship established under white supremacy. I might wish for a different > relationship, & over time might develop genuine friendships with some black > people, but the reality is my whiteness is a very real factor in my daily > life, interactions, opportunities, etc. > > Also, as I try to do anti-racist work with other white people I need to meet > them at our common point - that is, at our common whiteness. Many of them have > very different "takes" on race, racial oppression & injustice than I do, but > it is important that I talk with them as another white person. Isn't this the > point of white anti-racist activism? Isn't it our whiteness that gives us the > opportunity and, hopefully, some effectiveness, in challenging other whites on > racism, white supremacy? > > Of course, as whites we need to be accountable to people of color. We need to > recognize the leadership of people of color. > One piece of that, in my experience so far, is to acknowledge my/our > whiteness, the power & privilege it confers, and to work to challenge that > in/with other whites. > > respectfully > Mary Capps > > > > > On Jan 14, 2010, at 12:28 PM, Frances Kendall wrote: > > Dear All, > I am troubled by this conversation. Like Dottie and Margery I feel that it is > essential for those of us who are white (and receive unearned opportunities > and access to power and resources because of our skin color) to become > comfortable with that moniker. As I know you all know, so much of our history, > our laws, and our racialized systems are based on that very concept. > > Very regularly, participants in my sessions say, ?I don?t see myself as > ?white,? I see myself as just a human being.? And, in my mind, I think, > ?That?s interesting and not particularly relevant.? I then talk about Allan > Johnson?s comment in his book, Power, Privilege, and Difference: > > ?When it comes to privilege?it doesn?t really matter who we really are. What > matters is who other people think we are, which is to say, the social > categories they put us in.? > > So, for now and in the foreseeable future, I believe it?s critical that those > of us who are white embody that as part of who we are, comfortable or not. I > definitely believe language is important. AND, for us to choose to ?abolish > whiteness? seems to me to be a mindset that only the extremely privileged > could explore. > > Thanks for the opportunity to talk about this. > > Francie > > > > On 1/14/10 7:28 AM, "Dottye Burt-Markowitz" > wrote: > > >> Ditto to Margery's comments. >> >> I found myself having a very emotional reaction to Lou's message. Examining >> the reasons for that, I realize it is tied to the twenty-plus years that I >> have now been doing anti-racism training and consulting and the many >> conversations I have had during that work on this very topic. One of the >> things we always share at the beginning of our workshops when we put on the >> table the assumptions we are making about racism and white privilege is about >> the importance of looking at results rather than intentions. So many racist >> statements and behaviors by white people are rationalized by the statement "I >> didn't intend it that way." I try to apply looking at intention vs. results >> in assessing what works and what doesn't work in helping people understand >> and become effective anti-racist activists. What works consistently is >> bringing people to an understanding of the historical roots of whiteness, >> what whiteness means in our culture, why we who benefit from white privilege >> cannot distance ourselves from being white, and how we can use the privilege >> we do carry to act against racism. Maybe others are finding results (I mean >> real concrete actions for institutional change results) by using a different >> kind of language. For me, I don't see how we leap over defining and >> understanding a problem to speaking a language that implies the problem does >> not exist. >> >> I do understand the longing for a less "tainted" terminology. I often say >> in workshops when we ask everyone to state their racial identity that I >> identify as white and European American, and that I would really like to be >> able to just say European American, but cannot do that as long as my >> whiteness gives me privileges and benefits denied to people of color. >> >> >> >> >> On Thu, 14 Jan 2010 06:34 -0800, "margery freeman" >> wrote: >> >>> >>> Dear AntiRacist White Friends, >>> >>> I appreciate the discussion/debate over what language best communicates >>> our values and vision. Those of us who use the term "antiracist" as a >>> positive short-hand expression of what we are often find ourselves >>> challenged by other white progressives who think the term is "too negative." >>> I often respond to that criticism by noting that "anti-slavery" was not >>> considered negative in its day by abolitionists. I also have never heard a >>> person of color criticize the phrase "antiracist" as negative. >>> >>> When it comes to the term white, there is a similar discussion: This >>> country set up "white" by law and structured all our systems on the >>> supremacist value system of white being the model of humanity. Despite it >>> being illegal for 40 years, the ideology of white supremacy still undergirds >>> all our institutions and results in the massively disproportionate number of >>> People of Color who are in prison, failed by schools, jobless, poor, in ill >>> health. >>> >>> As we create an antiracist white response to this white supremacist >>> structure, I think we need to hold on to white (as we also must to black and >>> hispanic) because it is socio-political: It defines our collective status. >>> If we let go of being "white" we may slip down that slope of individualism >>> that diverts our attention from the results of white supremacy and lulls by >>> our good intentions. >>> >>> I say kudos to the white antiracists who have begun U.S. For All Of US! >>> It's a great movement-starter in a time when even the President is not >>> permitted to talk about race. I will publicize it as far and wide as I can. >>> >>> With best New Year wishes to you all, >>> >>> Margery >>> >>> Margery Freeman >>> The People's Institute for Survival and Beyond >>> 718-918-2716; cell: 504-813-2368 >>> --- On Wed, 1/13/10, Louisa Davis wrote: >>> >>> >>>> >>>> From: Louisa Davis >>>> Subject: Re: [WAsummit] U.S. For All of Us/beyond whiteness? >>>> To: "White Anti-racist Summit" >>>> Date: Wednesday, January 13, 2010, 5:57 PM >>>> >>>> Lou and all, Appreciating your call for more careful, inclusive and >>>> interruptive language-ing in our work. >>>> >>>> Of course, I?ve known there was something really weird about the term >>>> ?white? for my Euro-american ancestry...but for years I have made myself >>>> name ?whiteness? in as many contexts as I could as a way of both respecting >>>> my ?black? colleagues use of the terms ?black and white? with the growth of >>>> black pride and also wanting to somehow rebalance the lenses of race, as >>>> when quoting the white, Prussian theologian Karl Barth in a sermon. >>>> >>>> But, wow, when I read ? the great lie that we are forced to live as the >>>> price for the racially shaped privileges we enjoy? I?m feel shock and >>>> recognition and yes, awe?wanting to base my work on common ground- building >>>> observables and liking the energy of ?creative interruption? of habits of >>>> domination, even verbal habits. >>>> >>>> However, I?m guessing people who identify as ?of color? are in as many >>>> different places on this as ?we? are...so I?m wanting to honor your passion >>>> for inclusion but also hold a space for a more humble ?interim ethic? of >>>> ?making whiteness visible?. Does this make sense? >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> on 1/13/10 4:43 PM, Nancy at narvold at sfo.com wrote: >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>>> Lou - it may be an opportunity to support the group in honing their >>>>> message to include your critique. I'd say, write to them. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- >>>>>> >>>>>> From: louschoen at aol.com >>>>>> >>>>>> To: email at massslaveryapology.org ; wasummit at lists.wacan.org ; >>>>>> usforallofus at awarela.org >>>>>> >>>>>> Sent: Tuesday, January 12, 2010 7:36 PM >>>>>> >>>>>> Subject: Re: [WAsummit] U.S. For All of Us >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> I want very much to sign this statement but, in the "usforallofus" web >>>>>> site, the preface to the words quoted include, twice, a limiting >>>>>> phrase, which contradicts the broad invitation to signatures at the end >>>>>> of the web site. It asserts, "We are white people..." That affirmation >>>>>> would make it difficult to sign, with conviction, for anyone not defined >>>>>> as white.. >>>>>> >>>>>> It's also a challenge for those of us who are asked by US culture to >>>>>> accept "White or Caucasian" identity but who understand that the very >>>>>> concept of "white," as a racial definition, is at the root of >>>>>> our continuing racial crisis and divisions. Europeans and >>>>>> Euroamericans claimed that shade for its relative value supremacy among >>>>>> color definitions, in spite of their own pinkish, yellowish and tannish >>>>>> hues, contrasting it deliberately with the blackness of those they >>>>>> enslaved. It was a strategy to justify their oppression of others, and >>>>>> was reinforced by promoting cultural, legal and scientific belief in the >>>>>> mythological concept of "race." As James Baldwin wrote in 1984, "It is >>>>>> not merely that whiteness is oppressive and false; it is that whiteness >>>>>> is nothing but oppressive and false." ("On Being 'White' and Other >>>>>> Lies," Essence Magazine.) >>>>>> >>>>>> It would be healthy for all "white" anti-racists to study carefully >>>>>> and discuss the recent book by Zeus Leonardo, Race, Whiteness and >>>>>> Education. He builds upon David Roediger's 1992 work, Towards the >>>>>> Abolition of Whiteness, exploring the process of transformation and >>>>>> ultimately abolition of the great lie that we are forced to live as the >>>>>> price for the racially shaped privileges we enjoy. Our struggle for >>>>>> transformation demands more from us than collective statements of >>>>>> principle decrying the bigotry around us.. >>>>>> >>>>>> Lou Schoen >>>>>> Minneapolis >>>>>> >>>>>> In a message dated 12/26/09 5:16:36 PM, email at massslaveryapology.org >>>>>> writes: >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> Hi Friends, >>>>>> >>>>>> You might be interested in a statement from >>>>>> http://www.usforallofus.org. >>>>>> Their website says: >>>>>> >>>>>> "We long for a country that lifts all of us up, dares to care, offers >>>>>> love, generosity, and justice. We reject the racism that keeps us >>>>>> divided. >>>>>> We celebrate our interdependence and our capacity to love our >>>>>> neighbors as >>>>>> ourselves...The first step is to say together: "There is no room for >>>>>> racism in a U.S. for all of us." >>>>>> >>>>>> Their statement has been signed by 65 organizations and almost 600 >>>>>> individuals. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>> WAsummit mailing list >>>>> WAsummit at lists.wacan.org >>>>> http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>> WAsummit mailing list >>>>> WAsummit at lists.wacan.org >>>>> http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit >>>>> >>>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>>> Louisa L. Davis, M.Div., PhD >>>> 11330 Dockside Circle >>>> Reston, VA 20191 >>>> home: (703) 860-1203 >>>> cell: (240) 338-5156 >>>> >>>> ?Get very clear about the kind of world [you] would like and then start >>>> living that way.? >>>> -- Marshall Rosenberg, Center for Nonviolent Communication >>>> >>>> >>>> -----Inline Attachment Follows----- >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> WAsummit mailing list >>>> WAsummit at lists.wacan.org >>>> >>>> http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit >>>> >>>> >>> >>> > _______________________________________________ > WAsummit mailing list > WAsummit at lists.wacan.org > http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit > > > > > _______________________________________________ > WAsummit mailing list > WAsummit at lists.wacan.org > http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jeffhitchcock at euroamerican.org Fri Jan 15 05:55:05 2010 From: jeffhitchcock at euroamerican.org (Jeff Hitchcock) Date: Fri, 15 Jan 2010 06:55:05 -0500 Subject: [WAsummit] US for All of Us Message-ID: <7C6BD9EF16AA46D5B50405FB45324363@JeffOffice> I'm on the strategy committee for US for All of Us and also helping with tech support for the project. There is at least one other person from the strategy committee on this list as well. It's helpful to me to hear this conversation, and if people have any thoughts or concerns about the US for All of Us project, I'd like to hear them. I can't promise to establish a dialogue with the planners. Working on US for All of Us, it feels like there are not enough people to do the work. That's just to say it's like most social justice efforts. We're focused on several immediate simultaneous demands on our time just to get the project going. Also, I was not part of the original dialogue and planning among the people who drafted the statement, so I can't speak from experience about what the statement writers discussed. I do know that discussion was long, and probably wide ranging, so I would not be surprised if the matter of it being a white-identified effort was discussed. Now that the statement has been drafted, there is no thought of going back and revising it. Maybe in time something like that will happen. But we have our hands full trying to build on the work that created the statement itself. I'm not sure if the issue Lou raised can be resolved. There seems to be two approaches to white anti-racism, one being to eschew white identity and the other being to work from within it. Somehow I feel they are both directed to the same end, but in the here and now, they seem incompatible. This is not the only contradiction that has arisen among people working for racial justice. The black community, for instance, has long had a debate over integration vs black nationalism (Martin vs Malcolm), and yet historically it has been able to hold both views. It's clear to me the US for All of Us effort is white-identified. Aside from that I think there is a willingness to embrace all views that are directed toward achieving racial justice. People will have to decide for themselves if they are willing to place themselves in the frame of the statement or not. There is a feeling that we are still working out the details, so some things may change or be clarified as we move ahead. But the US for All of Us statement itself will probably stay as is for now. Our concern now is how to shape and grow a network. What will that look like? How can it be a vehicle for encouraging anti-racist action? --Jeff -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From russvj at gmail.com Fri Jan 15 06:18:11 2010 From: russvj at gmail.com (Russ Vernon-Jones) Date: Fri, 15 Jan 2010 07:18:11 -0500 Subject: [WAsummit] U.S. For All of Us/beyond whiteness? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Dear All, I value this discussion about the use of the term ?white? and how those of us who might be given, or take, that label can best identify ourselves. I think it is important to own the category of ?white? as a description of our position in the system of racism. As some others have pointed out, we also need to own the label because that is how we are seen by others in this racist system. Even while we identify as white and acknowledge our whiteness, I think it is useful to remember that there is nothing inherently ?white? about us as human beings. It's good to keep in the back of our minds that "whiteness" is a socially constructed category, not one that describes our inherent nature. White is a category that was created solely for the purposes of exploitation and oppression. However, we can?t eliminate the oppression by no longer using the term or by not acknowledging the identity. It seems to me that once we have dismantled racism, we?ll be able to abandon the identity and abolish the category. That said, let's try to be a community that includes multiple viewpoints. Yours, Russ Vernon-Jones, Amherst, MA On Thu, Jan 14, 2010 at 11:12 PM, Frances Kendall < francie at franceskendall.com> wrote: > Thanks, Mary. Good thoughts and specifics. > Francie > > > > On 1/14/10 7:16 PM, "Mary Capps" wrote: > > I agree with the responses to Lou which emphasize the reality of our > white-ness & its power & privilege in our everyday lives. > > I moved from New Orleans to Mississippi a few years ago. Everyday black > women, men & children call me "Miss Mary". I'll say "Please just call me > "Mary". The response usually is "Yes, Ma'am". > > This is not a small interpersonal matter. It represents the historical > power relationship established under white supremacy. I might wish for a > different relationship, & over time might develop genuine friendships with > some black people, but the reality is my whiteness is a very real factor in > my daily life, interactions, opportunities, etc. > > Also, as I try to do anti-racist work with other white people I need to > meet them at our common point - that is, at our common whiteness. Many of > them have very different "takes" on race, racial oppression & injustice than > I do, but it is important that I talk with them as another white person. > Isn't this the point of white anti-racist activism? Isn't it our whiteness > that gives us the opportunity and, hopefully, some effectiveness, in > challenging other whites on racism, white supremacy? > > Of course, as whites we need to be accountable to people of color. We need > to recognize the leadership of people of color. > One piece of that, in my experience so far, is to acknowledge my/our > whiteness, the power & privilege it confers, and to work to challenge that > in/with other whites. > > respectfully > Mary Capps > > > > > On Jan 14, 2010, at 12:28 PM, Frances Kendall wrote: > > Dear All, > I am troubled by this conversation. Like Dottie and Margery I feel that it > is essential for those of us who are white (and receive unearned > opportunities and access to power and resources because of our skin color) > to become comfortable with that moniker. As I know you all know, so much of > our history, our laws, and our racialized systems are based on that very > concept. > > Very regularly, participants in my sessions say, ?I don?t see myself as > ?white,? I see myself as just a human being.? And, in my mind, I think, > ?That?s interesting and not particularly relevant.? I then talk about Allan > Johnson?s comment in his book, *Power, Privilege, and Difference*: > > ?When it comes to privilege?it doesn?t really matter who we really are. > What matters is who other people think we are, which is to say, the social > categories they put us in.? > > So, for now and in the foreseeable future, I believe it?s critical that > those of us who are white embody that as part of who we are, comfortable or > not. I definitely believe language is important. AND, for us to choose to > ?abolish whiteness? seems to me to be a mindset that only the extremely > privileged could explore. > > Thanks for the opportunity to talk about this. > > Francie > > > > On 1/14/10 7:28 AM, "Dottye Burt-Markowitz" > wrote: > > > > Ditto to Margery's comments. > > I found myself having a very emotional reaction to Lou's message. > Examining the reasons for that, I realize it is tied to the twenty-plus > years that I have now been doing anti-racism training and consulting and the > many conversations I have had during that work on this very topic. One of > the things we always share at the beginning of our workshops when we put on > the table the assumptions we are making about racism and white privilege is > about the importance of looking at results rather than intentions. So many > racist statements and behaviors by white people are rationalized by the > statement "I didn't intend it that way." I try to apply looking at > intention vs. results in assessing what works and what doesn't work in > helping people understand and become effective anti-racist activists. What > works consistently is bringing people to an understanding of the historical > roots of whiteness, what whiteness means in our culture, why we who benefit > from white privilege cannot distance ourselves from being white, and how we > can use the privilege we do carry to act against racism. Maybe others are > finding results (I mean real concrete actions for institutional change > results) by using a different kind of language. For me, I don't see how we > leap over defining and understanding a problem to speaking a language that > implies the problem does not exist. > > I do understand the longing for a less "tainted" terminology. I often say > in workshops when we ask everyone to state their racial identity that I > identify as white and European American, and that I would really like to be > able to just say European American, but cannot do that as long as my > whiteness gives me privileges and benefits denied to people of color. > > > > > On Thu, 14 Jan 2010 06:34 -0800, "margery freeman" < > margeryfreeman at yahoo.com> wrote: > > > > Dear AntiRacist White Friends, > > I appreciate the discussion/debate over what language best communicates > our values and vision. Those of us who use the term "antiracist" as a > positive short-hand expression of what we are often find ourselves > challenged by other white progressives who think the term is "too negative." > I often respond to that criticism by noting that "anti-slavery" was not > considered negative in its day by abolitionists. I also have never heard a > person of color criticize the phrase "antiracist" as negative. > > When it comes to the term white, there is a similar discussion: This > country set up "white" by law and structured all our systems on the > supremacist value system of white being the model of humanity. Despite it > being illegal for 40 years, the ideology of white supremacy still undergirds > all our institutions and results in the massively disproportionate number of > People of Color who are in prison, failed by schools, jobless, poor, in ill > health. > > As we create an antiracist white response to this white supremacist > structure, I think we need to hold on to white (as we also must to black and > hispanic) *because *it is socio-political: It defines our collective > status. If we let go of being "white" we may slip down that slope of > individualism that diverts our attention from the results of white supremacy > and lulls by our good intentions. > > I say kudos to the white antiracists who have begun U.S. For All Of US! > It's a great movement-starter in a time when even the President is not > permitted to talk about race. I will publicize it as far and wide as I can. > > With best New Year wishes to you all, > > Margery > > Margery Freeman > The People's Institute for Survival and Beyond > 718-918-2716; cell: 504-813-2368 > --- On *Wed, 1/13/10, Louisa Davis * wrote: > > > > > From: Louisa Davis > Subject: Re: [WAsummit] U.S. For All of Us/beyond whiteness? > To: "White Anti-racist Summit" > Date: Wednesday, January 13, 2010, 5:57 PM > > Lou and all, Appreciating your call for more careful, inclusive and > interruptive language-ing in our work. > > Of course, I?ve known there was something really weird about the term > ?white? for my Euro-american ancestry...but for years I have made myself > name ?whiteness? in as many contexts as I could as a way of both respecting > my ?black? colleagues use of the terms ?black and white? with the growth of > black pride and also wanting to somehow rebalance the lenses of race, as > when quoting the white, Prussian theologian Karl Barth in a sermon. > > But, wow, when I read ? the great lie that we are forced to live as the > price for the racially shaped privileges we enjoy? I?m feel shock and > recognition and yes, awe?wanting to base my work on common ground- building > observables and liking the energy of ?creative interruption? of habits of > domination, even verbal habits. > > However, I?m guessing people who identify as ?of color? are in as many > different places on this as ?we? are...so I?m wanting to honor your passion > for inclusion but also hold a space for a more humble ?interim ethic? of > ?making whiteness visible?. Does this make sense? > > > > > on 1/13/10 4:43 PM, Nancy at narvold at sfo.com wrote: > > > > > Lou - it may be an opportunity to support the group in honing their message > to include your critique. I'd say, write to them. > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > *From:* louschoen at aol.com > > *To:* email at massslaveryapology.org ; wasummit at lists.wacan.org ; > usforallofus at awarela.org > > *Sent:* Tuesday, January 12, 2010 7:36 PM > > *Subject:* Re: [WAsummit] U.S. For All of Us > > > I want very much to sign this statement but, in the "usforallofus" web > site, the preface to the words quoted include, twice, a limiting phrase, > which contradicts the broad invitation to signatures at the end of the web > site. It asserts, "We are white people..." That affirmation would make it > difficult to sign, with conviction, for anyone not defined as white.. > > It's also a challenge for those of us who are asked by US culture to > accept "White or Caucasian" identity but who understand that the very > concept of "white," as a racial definition, is at the root of > our continuing racial crisis and divisions. Europeans and Euroamericans > claimed that shade for its relative value supremacy among color > definitions, in spite of their own pinkish, yellowish and tannish > hues, contrasting it deliberately with the blackness of those they > enslaved. It was a strategy to justify their oppression of others, and was > reinforced by promoting cultural, legal and scientific belief in the > mythological concept of "race." As James Baldwin wrote in 1984, "It is not > merely that whiteness is oppressive and false; it is that whiteness is *nothing > but *oppressive and false." ("On Being 'White' and Other Lies," *Essence*Magazine.) > > It would be healthy for all "white" anti-racists to study carefully and > discuss the recent book by Zeus Leonardo, *Race, Whiteness and Education. > * He builds upon David Roediger's 1992 work, *Towards the Abolition of > Whiteness,* exploring the process of transformation and ultimately > abolition of the great lie that we are forced to live as the price for the > racially shaped privileges we enjoy. Our struggle for transformation > demands more from us than collective statements of principle decrying the > bigotry around us.. > > Lou Schoen > Minneapolis > > In a message dated 12/26/09 5:16:36 PM, email at massslaveryapology.orgwrites: > > > > Hi Friends, > > You might be interested in a statement from http://www.usforallofus.org. > > Their website says: > > "We long for a country that lifts all of us up, dares to care, offers > love, generosity, and justice. We reject the racism that keeps us > divided. > We celebrate our interdependence and our capacity to love our neighbors > as > ourselves...The first step is to say together: "There is no room for > racism in a U.S. for all of us." > > Their statement has been signed by 65 organizations and almost 600 > individuals. > > > > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------ > > > _______________________________________________ > WAsummit mailing list > WAsummit at lists.wacan.org > http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit > > > > ------------------------------ > _______________________________________________ > WAsummit mailing list > WAsummit at lists.wacan.org > http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit > > > > > > -- > Louisa L. Davis, M.Div., PhD > 11330 Dockside Circle > Reston, VA 20191 > home: (703) 860-1203 > cell: (240) 338-5156 > > ?Get very clear about the kind of world [you] would like and then start > living that way.? > -- Marshall Rosenberg, Center for Nonviolent Communication > > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > _______________________________________________ > WAsummit mailing list > WAsummit at lists.wacan.org < > http://us.mc1101.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=WAsummit at lists.wacan.org> > http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > WAsummit mailing list > WAsummit at lists.wacan.org > http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit > > > > ------------------------------ > _______________________________________________ > WAsummit mailing list > WAsummit at lists.wacan.org > http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit > > > _______________________________________________ > WAsummit mailing list > WAsummit at lists.wacan.org > http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit > > -- Check out "Youth Helping to End Racism" at www.anti-racismonline.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From pasoconsulting at fastmail.fm Fri Jan 15 07:36:25 2010 From: pasoconsulting at fastmail.fm (Dottye Burt-Markowitz) Date: Fri, 15 Jan 2010 08:36:25 -0500 Subject: [WAsummit] US for All of Us In-Reply-To: <7C6BD9EF16AA46D5B50405FB45324363@JeffOffice> References: <7C6BD9EF16AA46D5B50405FB45324363@JeffOffice> Message-ID: <1263562585.4540.1354816765@webmail.messagingengine.com> Jeff, Thank you. It's very helpful to have this information from you about US for All of Us. I'm glad to hear that the group will not be back tracking, but rather focusing on mobilization. We could debate this issue endlessly and get nowhere since, I believe, feelings are very strong on both perspectives. I would hope that anyone whose goal is racial justice would be able to unite around what US for All of Us is doing. We can't afford to work against each other. Dottye On Fri, 15 Jan 2010 06:55 -0500, "Jeff Hitchcock" wrote: I?m on the strategy committee for US for All of Us and also helping with tech support for the project. There is at least one other person from the strategy committee on this list as well. It?s helpful to me to hear this conversation, and if people have any thoughts or concerns about the US for All of Us project, I?d like to hear them. I can?t promise to establish a dialogue with the planners. Working on US for All of Us, it feels like there are not enough people to do the work. That?s just to say it?s like most social justice efforts. We?re focused on several immediate simultaneous demands on our time just to get the project going. Also, I was not part of the original dialogue and planning among the people who drafted the statement, so I can?t speak from experience about what the statement writers discussed. I do know that discussion was long, and probably wide ranging, so I would not be surprised if the matter of it being a white-identified effort was discussed. Now that the statement has been drafted, there is no thought of going back and revising it. Maybe in time something like that will happen. But we have our hands full trying to build on the work that created the statement itself. I?m not sure if the issue Lou raised can be resolved. There seems to be two approaches to white anti-racism, one being to eschew white identity and the other being to work from within it. Somehow I feel they are both directed to the same end, but in the here and now, they seem incompatible. This is not the only contradiction that has arisen among people working for racial justice. The black community, for instance, has long had a debate over integration vs black nationalism (Martin vs Malcolm), and yet historically it has been able to hold both views. It?s clear to me the US for All of Us effort is white-identified. Aside from that I think there is a willingness to embrace all views that are directed toward achieving racial justice. People will have to decide for themselves if they are willing to place themselves in the frame of the statement or not. There is a feeling that we are still working out the details, so some things may change or be clarified as we move ahead. But the US for All of Us statement itself will probably stay as is for now. Our concern now is how to shape and grow a network. What will that look like? How can it be a vehicle for encouraging anti-racist action? --Jeff -- Dottye Burt-Markowitz Paso Training and Consulting 425 South Chester St. Baltimore MD 21231 phone: 410-327-0134 pasoconsulting at fastmail.fm -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From nathpam at gmail.com Fri Jan 15 07:45:22 2010 From: nathpam at gmail.com (Pam Nath) Date: Fri, 15 Jan 2010 07:45:22 -0600 Subject: [WAsummit] U.S. For All of Us/beyond whiteness? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Hi All: I have also appreciated this discussion and a lot of things that have been said. But it is this latest email from Russ that makes me weigh in just to say YES! On Fri, Jan 15, 2010 at 6:18 AM, Russ Vernon-Jones wrote: > Dear All, > > I value this discussion about the use of the term ?white? and > how those of us who might be given, or take, that label can best identify > ourselves. I think it is important to own the category of ?white? as a > description of our position in the system of racism. As some others have > pointed out, we also need to own the label because that is how we are seen > by others in this racist system. > > Even while we identify as white and acknowledge our whiteness, > I think it is useful to remember that there is nothing inherently ?white? > about us as human beings. It's good to keep in the back of our minds that > "whiteness" is a socially constructed category, not one that describes > our inherent nature. White is a category that was created solely for the > purposes of exploitation and oppression. However, we can?t eliminate the > oppression by no longer using the term or by not acknowledging the identity. > It seems to me that once we have dismantled racism, we?ll be able to > abandon the identity and abolish the category. > > That said, let's try to be a community that includes multiple > viewpoints. > > Yours, > > Russ Vernon-Jones, Amherst, MA > > > > > On Thu, Jan 14, 2010 at 11:12 PM, Frances Kendall < > francie at franceskendall.com> wrote: > >> Thanks, Mary. Good thoughts and specifics. >> Francie >> >> >> >> On 1/14/10 7:16 PM, "Mary Capps" wrote: >> >> I agree with the responses to Lou which emphasize the reality of our >> white-ness & its power & privilege in our everyday lives. >> >> I moved from New Orleans to Mississippi a few years ago. Everyday black >> women, men & children call me "Miss Mary". I'll say "Please just call me >> "Mary". The response usually is "Yes, Ma'am". >> >> This is not a small interpersonal matter. It represents the historical >> power relationship established under white supremacy. I might wish for a >> different relationship, & over time might develop genuine friendships with >> some black people, but the reality is my whiteness is a very real factor in >> my daily life, interactions, opportunities, etc. >> >> Also, as I try to do anti-racist work with other white people I need to >> meet them at our common point - that is, at our common whiteness. Many of >> them have very different "takes" on race, racial oppression & injustice than >> I do, but it is important that I talk with them as another white person. >> Isn't this the point of white anti-racist activism? Isn't it our whiteness >> that gives us the opportunity and, hopefully, some effectiveness, in >> challenging other whites on racism, white supremacy? >> >> Of course, as whites we need to be accountable to people of color. We need >> to recognize the leadership of people of color. >> One piece of that, in my experience so far, is to acknowledge my/our >> whiteness, the power & privilege it confers, and to work to challenge that >> in/with other whites. >> >> respectfully >> Mary Capps >> >> >> >> >> On Jan 14, 2010, at 12:28 PM, Frances Kendall wrote: >> >> Dear All, >> I am troubled by this conversation. Like Dottie and Margery I feel that >> it is essential for those of us who are white (and receive unearned >> opportunities and access to power and resources because of our skin color) >> to become comfortable with that moniker. As I know you all know, so much of >> our history, our laws, and our racialized systems are based on that very >> concept. >> >> Very regularly, participants in my sessions say, ?I don?t see myself as >> ?white,? I see myself as just a human being.? And, in my mind, I think, >> ?That?s interesting and not particularly relevant.? I then talk about Allan >> Johnson?s comment in his book, *Power, Privilege, and Difference*: >> >> ?When it comes to privilege?it doesn?t really matter who we really are. >> What matters is who other people think we are, which is to say, the social >> categories they put us in.? >> >> So, for now and in the foreseeable future, I believe it?s critical that >> those of us who are white embody that as part of who we are, comfortable or >> not. I definitely believe language is important. AND, for us to choose to >> ?abolish whiteness? seems to me to be a mindset that only the extremely >> privileged could explore. >> >> Thanks for the opportunity to talk about this. >> >> Francie >> >> >> >> On 1/14/10 7:28 AM, "Dottye Burt-Markowitz" >> wrote: >> >> >> >> Ditto to Margery's comments. >> >> I found myself having a very emotional reaction to Lou's message. >> Examining the reasons for that, I realize it is tied to the twenty-plus >> years that I have now been doing anti-racism training and consulting and the >> many conversations I have had during that work on this very topic. One of >> the things we always share at the beginning of our workshops when we put on >> the table the assumptions we are making about racism and white privilege is >> about the importance of looking at results rather than intentions. So many >> racist statements and behaviors by white people are rationalized by the >> statement "I didn't intend it that way." I try to apply looking at >> intention vs. results in assessing what works and what doesn't work in >> helping people understand and become effective anti-racist activists. What >> works consistently is bringing people to an understanding of the historical >> roots of whiteness, what whiteness means in our culture, why we who benefit >> from white privilege cannot distance ourselves from being white, and how we >> can use the privilege we do carry to act against racism. Maybe others are >> finding results (I mean real concrete actions for institutional change >> results) by using a different kind of language. For me, I don't see how we >> leap over defining and understanding a problem to speaking a language that >> implies the problem does not exist. >> >> I do understand the longing for a less "tainted" terminology. I often >> say in workshops when we ask everyone to state their racial identity that I >> identify as white and European American, and that I would really like to be >> able to just say European American, but cannot do that as long as my >> whiteness gives me privileges and benefits denied to people of color. >> >> >> >> >> On Thu, 14 Jan 2010 06:34 -0800, "margery freeman" < >> margeryfreeman at yahoo.com> wrote: >> >> >> >> Dear AntiRacist White Friends, >> >> I appreciate the discussion/debate over what language best communicates >> our values and vision. Those of us who use the term "antiracist" as a >> positive short-hand expression of what we are often find ourselves >> challenged by other white progressives who think the term is "too negative." >> I often respond to that criticism by noting that "anti-slavery" was not >> considered negative in its day by abolitionists. I also have never heard a >> person of color criticize the phrase "antiracist" as negative. >> >> When it comes to the term white, there is a similar discussion: This >> country set up "white" by law and structured all our systems on the >> supremacist value system of white being the model of humanity. Despite it >> being illegal for 40 years, the ideology of white supremacy still undergirds >> all our institutions and results in the massively disproportionate number of >> People of Color who are in prison, failed by schools, jobless, poor, in ill >> health. >> >> As we create an antiracist white response to this white supremacist >> structure, I think we need to hold on to white (as we also must to black and >> hispanic) *because *it is socio-political: It defines our collective >> status. If we let go of being "white" we may slip down that slope of >> individualism that diverts our attention from the results of white supremacy >> and lulls by our good intentions. >> >> I say kudos to the white antiracists who have begun U.S. For All Of US! >> It's a great movement-starter in a time when even the President is not >> permitted to talk about race. I will publicize it as far and wide as I can. >> >> With best New Year wishes to you all, >> >> Margery >> >> Margery Freeman >> The People's Institute for Survival and Beyond >> 718-918-2716; cell: 504-813-2368 >> --- On *Wed, 1/13/10, Louisa Davis * wrote: >> >> >> >> >> From: Louisa Davis >> Subject: Re: [WAsummit] U.S. For All of Us/beyond whiteness? >> To: "White Anti-racist Summit" >> Date: Wednesday, January 13, 2010, 5:57 PM >> >> Lou and all, Appreciating your call for more careful, inclusive and >> interruptive language-ing in our work. >> >> Of course, I?ve known there was something really weird about the term >> ?white? for my Euro-american ancestry...but for years I have made myself >> name ?whiteness? in as many contexts as I could as a way of both respecting >> my ?black? colleagues use of the terms ?black and white? with the growth of >> black pride and also wanting to somehow rebalance the lenses of race, as >> when quoting the white, Prussian theologian Karl Barth in a sermon. >> >> But, wow, when I read ? the great lie that we are forced to live as the >> price for the racially shaped privileges we enjoy? I?m feel shock and >> recognition and yes, awe?wanting to base my work on common ground- building >> observables and liking the energy of ?creative interruption? of habits of >> domination, even verbal habits. >> >> However, I?m guessing people who identify as ?of color? are in as many >> different places on this as ?we? are...so I?m wanting to honor your passion >> for inclusion but also hold a space for a more humble ?interim ethic? of >> ?making whiteness visible?. Does this make sense? >> >> >> >> >> on 1/13/10 4:43 PM, Nancy at narvold at sfo.com wrote: >> >> >> >> >> Lou - it may be an opportunity to support the group in honing their >> message to include your critique. I'd say, write to them. >> >> >> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> >> *From:* louschoen at aol.com >> >> *To:* email at massslaveryapology.org ; wasummit at lists.wacan.org ; >> usforallofus at awarela.org >> >> *Sent:* Tuesday, January 12, 2010 7:36 PM >> >> *Subject:* Re: [WAsummit] U.S. For All of Us >> >> >> I want very much to sign this statement but, in the "usforallofus" web >> site, the preface to the words quoted include, twice, a limiting phrase, >> which contradicts the broad invitation to signatures at the end of the web >> site. It asserts, "We are white people..." That affirmation would make it >> difficult to sign, with conviction, for anyone not defined as white.. >> >> It's also a challenge for those of us who are asked by US culture to >> accept "White or Caucasian" identity but who understand that the very >> concept of "white," as a racial definition, is at the root of >> our continuing racial crisis and divisions. Europeans and >> Euroamericans claimed that shade for its relative value supremacy among >> color definitions, in spite of their own pinkish, yellowish and tannish >> hues, contrasting it deliberately with the blackness of those they >> enslaved. It was a strategy to justify their oppression of others, and was >> reinforced by promoting cultural, legal and scientific belief in the >> mythological concept of "race." As James Baldwin wrote in 1984, "It is not >> merely that whiteness is oppressive and false; it is that whiteness is *nothing >> but *oppressive and false." ("On Being 'White' and Other Lies," *Essence >> * Magazine.) >> >> It would be healthy for all "white" anti-racists to study carefully >> and discuss the recent book by Zeus Leonardo, *Race, Whiteness and >> Education.* He builds upon David Roediger's 1992 work, *Towards the >> Abolition of Whiteness,* exploring the process of transformation and >> ultimately abolition of the great lie that we are forced to live as the >> price for the racially shaped privileges we enjoy. Our struggle for >> transformation demands more from us than collective statements of principle >> decrying the bigotry around us.. >> >> Lou Schoen >> Minneapolis >> >> In a message dated 12/26/09 5:16:36 PM, email at massslaveryapology.orgwrites: >> >> >> >> Hi Friends, >> >> You might be interested in a statement from >> http://www.usforallofus.org. >> Their website says: >> >> "We long for a country that lifts all of us up, dares to care, offers >> love, generosity, and justice. We reject the racism that keeps us >> divided. >> We celebrate our interdependence and our capacity to love our neighbors >> as >> ourselves...The first step is to say together: "There is no room for >> racism in a U.S. for all of us." >> >> Their statement has been signed by 65 organizations and almost 600 >> individuals. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> ------------------------------ >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> WAsummit mailing list >> WAsummit at lists.wacan.org >> http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit >> >> >> >> ------------------------------ >> _______________________________________________ >> WAsummit mailing list >> WAsummit at lists.wacan.org >> http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit >> >> >> >> >> >> -- >> Louisa L. Davis, M.Div., PhD >> 11330 Dockside Circle >> Reston, VA 20191 >> home: (703) 860-1203 >> cell: (240) 338-5156 >> >> ?Get very clear about the kind of world [you] would like and then start >> living that way.? >> -- Marshall Rosenberg, Center for Nonviolent Communication >> >> >> -----Inline Attachment Follows----- >> >> _______________________________________________ >> WAsummit mailing list >> WAsummit at lists.wacan.org < >> http://us.mc1101.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=WAsummit at lists.wacan.org> >> http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit >> >> >> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> WAsummit mailing list >> WAsummit at lists.wacan.org >> http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit >> >> >> >> ------------------------------ >> _______________________________________________ >> WAsummit mailing list >> WAsummit at lists.wacan.org >> http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> WAsummit mailing list >> WAsummit at lists.wacan.org >> http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit >> >> > > > -- > Check out "Youth Helping to End Racism" at www.anti-racismonline.org > > _______________________________________________ > WAsummit mailing list > WAsummit at lists.wacan.org > http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit > > -- "Human solidarity is not the product of being human; being human is the product of human solidarity....The degree to which one is sensitive to other people's suffering, to another's humanity, is the index of one's own humanity." ---Abraham Heschel -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From sandy.bernabei at gmail.com Fri Jan 15 07:50:24 2010 From: sandy.bernabei at gmail.com (Sandra BERNABEI) Date: Fri, 15 Jan 2010 08:50:24 -0500 Subject: [WAsummit] US for All of Us In-Reply-To: <1263562585.4540.1354816765@webmail.messagingengine.com> References: <7C6BD9EF16AA46D5B50405FB45324363@JeffOffice> <1263562585.4540.1354816765@webmail.messagingengine.com> Message-ID: <565205BE-0953-46D7-9B6A-0B9F2906DECD@gmail.com> a tiny mad idea. There is something that I would like to say about definitions. We find that once people have completed the Undoing Racism? Workshop they are able to move forward with an agreement of definitions and move onto the work....yes the processing continues as many people discuss many facets of the Undoing Racism? modules and content and they struggle or not. The point that I want to stress is that in our organizing we do not get tend to get stuck on definitions...which takes a HUG chunk of time to process. So if you have not completed the workshop- Use the Undoing Racism? Workshop as an organizing tool to create a foundation of agreement that people can build upon. It is a great source of antiracist education and has been for over 30 years of their existence. The source of antiracist education for so many of us. When you say "I completed the UR workshop" at least we all know what the content was. It is a constant antiracist education. Everyone knows what was covered and the definitions presented....THIS MAKES A HUGH DIFFERENCE! The Antiracist Alliance has generated 63 UR workshops in recent year with over 3,200 human service providers and community members in the NYC Metro area...have come through the workshop. We are building crititcal mass, We are working together and moving ahead together. It is devine! Let's do the workshop, lets use the definitions and let's move forward together. peace Sandra Bernabei, LCSW Anti-Racist Alliance Undoing Racism in Our Lifetime! > On Jan 15, 2010, at 8:36 AM, Dottye Burt-Markowitz wrote: > Jeff, > > Thank you. It's very helpful to have this information from you > about US for All of Us. I'm glad to hear that the group will not be > back tracking, but rather focusing on mobilization. We could debate > this issue endlessly and get nowhere since, I believe, feelings are > very strong on both perspectives. > > I would hope that anyone whose goal is racial justice would be able > to unite around what US for All of Us is doing. We can't afford to > work against each other. > > Dottye > > On Fri, 15 Jan 2010 06:55 -0500, "Jeff Hitchcock" > wrote: >> >> I?m on the strategy committee for US for All of Us and also helping >> with tech support for the project. There is at least one other >> person from the strategy committee on this list as well. It?s >> helpful to me to hear this conversation, and if people have any >> thoughts or concerns about theUS for All of Us project, I?d like to >> hear them. I can?t promise to establish a dialogue with the >> planners. Working on US for All of Us, it feels like there are not >> enough people to do the work. That?s just to say it?s like most >> social justice efforts. We?re focused on several immediate >> simultaneous demands on our time just to get the project going. >> Also, I was not part of the original dialogue and planning among >> the people who drafted the statement, so I can?t speak from >> experience about what the statement writers discussed. >> >> I do know that discussion was long, and probably wide ranging, so I >> would not be surprised if the matter of it being a white-identified >> effort was discussed. Now that the statement has been drafted, >> there is no thought of going back and revising it. Maybe in time >> something like that will happen. But we have our hands full trying >> to build on the work that created the statement itself. >> >> I?m not sure if the issue Lou raised can be resolved. There seems >> to be two approaches to white anti-racism, one being to eschew >> white identity and the other being to work from within it. Somehow >> I feel they are both directed to the same end, but in the here and >> now, they seem incompatible. This is not the only contradiction >> that has arisen among people working for racial justice. The black >> community, for instance, has long had a debate over integration vs >> black nationalism (Martin vs Malcolm), and yet historically it has >> been able to hold both views. >> >> It?s clear to me the US for All of Us effort is white-identified. >> Aside from that I think there is a willingness to embrace all views >> that are directed toward achieving racial justice. People will have >> to decide for themselves if they are willing to place themselves in >> the frame of the statement or not. There is a feeling that we are >> still working out the details, so some things may change or be >> clarified as we move ahead. But the US for All of Us statement >> itself will probably stay as is for now. Our concern now is how to >> shape and grow a network. What will that look like? How can it be a >> vehicle for encouraging anti-racist action? >> >> --Jeff > > -- > Dottye Burt-Markowitz > Paso Training and Consulting > 425 South Chester St. > Baltimore MD 21231 > phone: 410-327-0134 > pasoconsulting at fastmail.fm > _______________________________________________ > WAsummit mailing list > WAsummit at lists.wacan.org > http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From timjwise at mac.com Fri Jan 15 08:13:34 2010 From: timjwise at mac.com (Timothy Wise) Date: Fri, 15 Jan 2010 08:13:34 -0600 Subject: [WAsummit] U.S. For All of Us/beyond whiteness? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <46DF8539-5871-422A-897D-850651CDD09E@mac.com> thanks for that russ, I think that says it perfectly... tim wise On Jan 15, 2010, at 7:45 AM, Pam Nath wrote: > Hi All: > > I have also appreciated this discussion and a lot of things that > have been said. But it is this latest email from Russ that makes me > weigh in just to say YES! > > On Fri, Jan 15, 2010 at 6:18 AM, Russ Vernon-Jones > wrote: > Dear All, > I value this discussion about the use of the term > ?white? and how those of us who might be given, or take, that label > can best identify ourselves. I think it is important to own the > category of ?white? as a description of our position in the system > of racism. As some others have pointed out, we also need to own the > label because that is how we are seen by others in this racist system. > > Even while we identify as white and acknowledge our > whiteness, I think it is useful to remember that there is nothing > inherently ?white? about us as human beings. It's good to keep in > the back of our minds that "whiteness" is a socially constructed > category, not one that describes our inherent nature. White is a > category that was created solely for the purposes of exploitation > and oppression. However, we can?t eliminate the oppression by no > longer using the term or by not acknowledging the identity. It > seems to me that once we have dismantled racism, we?ll be able to > abandon the identity and abolish the category. > > That said, let's try to be a community that includes > multiple viewpoints. > > Yours, > > Russ Vernon-Jones, Amherst, MA > > > > > > On Thu, Jan 14, 2010 at 11:12 PM, Frances Kendall > wrote: > Thanks, Mary. Good thoughts and specifics. > Francie > > > > On 1/14/10 7:16 PM, "Mary Capps" wrote: > > I agree with the responses to Lou which emphasize the reality of our > white-ness & its power & privilege in our everyday lives. > > I moved from New Orleans to Mississippi a few years ago. Everyday > black women, men & children call me "Miss Mary". I'll say "Please > just call me "Mary". The response usually is "Yes, Ma'am". > > This is not a small interpersonal matter. It represents the > historical power relationship established under white supremacy. I > might wish for a different relationship, & over time might develop > genuine friendships with some black people, but the reality is my > whiteness is a very real factor in my daily life, interactions, > opportunities, etc. > > Also, as I try to do anti-racist work with other white people I need > to meet them at our common point - that is, at our common whiteness. > Many of them have very different "takes" on race, racial oppression > & injustice than I do, but it is important that I talk with them as > another white person. Isn't this the point of white anti-racist > activism? Isn't it our whiteness that gives us the opportunity and, > hopefully, some effectiveness, in challenging other whites on > racism, white supremacy? > > Of course, as whites we need to be accountable to people of color. > We need to recognize the leadership of people of color. > One piece of that, in my experience so far, is to acknowledge my/our > whiteness, the power & privilege it confers, and to work to > challenge that in/with other whites. > > respectfully > Mary Capps > > > > > On Jan 14, 2010, at 12:28 PM, Frances Kendall wrote: > > Dear All, > I am troubled by this conversation. Like Dottie and Margery I feel > that it is essential for those of us who are white (and receive > unearned opportunities and access to power and resources because of > our skin color) to become comfortable with that moniker. As I know > you all know, so much of our history, our laws, and our racialized > systems are based on that very concept. > > Very regularly, participants in my sessions say, ?I don?t see > myself as ?white,? I see myself as just a human being.? And, in my > mind, I think, ?That?s interesting and not particularly relevant.? I > then talk about Allan Johnson?s comment in his book, Power, > Privilege, and Difference: > > ?When it comes to privilege?it doesn?t really matter who we really > are. What matters is who other people think we are, which is to say, > the social categories they put us in.? > > So, for now and in the foreseeable future, I believe it?s critical > that those of us who are white embody that as part of who we are, > comfortable or not. I definitely believe language is important. AND, > for us to choose to ?abolish whiteness? seems to me to be a mindset > that only the extremely privileged could explore. > > Thanks for the opportunity to talk about this. > > Francie > > > > On 1/14/10 7:28 AM, "Dottye Burt-Markowitz" > wrote: > > > Ditto to Margery's comments. > > I found myself having a very emotional reaction to Lou's message. > Examining the reasons for that, I realize it is tied to the twenty- > plus years that I have now been doing anti-racism training and > consulting and the many conversations I have had during that work on > this very topic. One of the things we always share at the beginning > of our workshops when we put on the table the assumptions we are > making about racism and white privilege is about the importance of > looking at results rather than intentions. So many racist > statements and behaviors by white people are rationalized by the > statement "I didn't intend it that way." I try to apply looking at > intention vs. results in assessing what works and what doesn't work > in helping people understand and become effective anti-racist > activists. What works consistently is bringing people to an > understanding of the historical roots of whiteness, what whiteness > means in our culture, why we who benefit from white privilege cannot > distance ourselves from being white, and how we can use the > privilege we do carry to act against racism. Maybe others are > finding results (I mean real concrete actions for institutional > change results) by using a different kind of language. For me, I > don't see how we leap over defining and understanding a problem to > speaking a language that implies the problem does not exist. > > I do understand the longing for a less "tainted" terminology. I > often say in workshops when we ask everyone to state their racial > identity that I identify as white and European American, and that I > would really like to be able to just say European American, but > cannot do that as long as my whiteness gives me privileges and > benefits denied to people of color. > > > > > On Thu, 14 Jan 2010 06:34 -0800, "margery freeman" > wrote: > > > Dear AntiRacist White Friends, > > I appreciate the discussion/debate over what language best > communicates our values and vision. Those of us who use the term > "antiracist" as a positive short-hand expression of what we are > often find ourselves challenged by other white progressives who > think the term is "too negative." I often respond to that criticism > by noting that "anti-slavery" was not considered negative in its day > by abolitionists. I also have never heard a person of color > criticize the phrase "antiracist" as negative. > > When it comes to the term white, there is a similar discussion: > This country set up "white" by law and structured all our systems on > the supremacist value system of white being the model of humanity. > Despite it being illegal for 40 years, the ideology of white > supremacy still undergirds all our institutions and results in the > massively disproportionate number of People of Color who are in > prison, failed by schools, jobless, poor, in ill health. > > As we create an antiracist white response to this white > supremacist structure, I think we need to hold on to white (as we > also must to black and hispanic) because it is socio-political: It > defines our collective status. If we let go of being "white" we may > slip down that slope of individualism that diverts our attention > from the results of white supremacy and lulls by our good intentions. > > I say kudos to the white antiracists who have begun U.S. For All > Of US! It's a great movement-starter in a time when even the > President is not permitted to talk about race. I will publicize it > as far and wide as I can. > > With best New Year wishes to you all, > > Margery > > Margery Freeman > The People's Institute for Survival and Beyond > 718-918-2716; cell: 504-813-2368 > --- On Wed, 1/13/10, Louisa Davis wrote: > > > > From: Louisa Davis > Subject: Re: [WAsummit] U.S. For All of Us/beyond whiteness? > To: "White Anti-racist Summit" > Date: Wednesday, January 13, 2010, 5:57 PM > > Lou and all, Appreciating your call for more careful, inclusive > and interruptive language-ing in our work. > > Of course, I?ve known there was something really weird about the > term ?white? for my Euro-american ancestry...but for years I have > made myself name ?whiteness? in as many contexts as I could as a way > of both respecting my ?black? colleagues use of the terms ?black and > white? with the growth of black pride and also wanting to somehow > rebalance the lenses of race, as when quoting the white, Prussian > theologian Karl Barth in a sermon. > > But, wow, when I read ? the great lie that we are forced to live > as the price for the racially shaped privileges we enjoy? I?m feel > shock and recognition and yes, awe?wanting to base my work on common > ground- building observables and liking the energy of ?creative > interruption? of habits of domination, even verbal habits. > > However, I?m guessing people who identify as ?of color? are in as > many different places on this as ?we? are...so I?m wanting to honor > your passion for inclusion but also hold a space for a more humble > ?interim ethic? of ?making whiteness visible?. Does this make sense? > > > > > on 1/13/10 4:43 PM, Nancy at narvold at sfo.com wrote: > > > > Lou - it may be an opportunity to support the group in honing their > message to include your critique. I'd say, write to them. > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: louschoen at aol.com > > To: email at massslaveryapology.org ; wasummit at lists.wacan.org ; usforallofus at awarela.org > > Sent: Tuesday, January 12, 2010 7:36 PM > > Subject: Re: [WAsummit] U.S. For All of Us > > > I want very much to sign this statement but, in the > "usforallofus" web site, the preface to the words quoted include, > twice, a limiting phrase, which contradicts the broad invitation to > signatures at the end of the web site. It asserts, "We are white > people..." That affirmation would make it difficult to sign, with > conviction, for anyone not defined as white.. > > It's also a challenge for those of us who are asked by US > culture to accept "White or Caucasian" identity but who understand > that the very concept of "white," as a racial definition, is at the > root of > our continuing racial crisis and divisions. Europeans and > Euroamericans claimed that shade for its relative value supremacy > among color definitions, in spite of their own pinkish, yellowish > and tannish > hues, contrasting it deliberately with the blackness of those > they enslaved. It was a strategy to justify their oppression of > others, and was reinforced by promoting cultural, legal and > scientific belief in the mythological concept of "race." As James > Baldwin wrote in 1984, "It is not merely that whiteness is > oppressive and false; it is that whiteness is nothing but oppressive > and false." ("On Being 'White' and Other Lies," Essence Magazine.) > > It would be healthy for all "white" anti-racists to study > carefully and discuss the recent book by Zeus Leonardo, Race, > Whiteness and Education. He builds upon David Roediger's 1992 > work, Towards the Abolition of Whiteness, exploring the process of > transformation and ultimately abolition of the great lie that we are > forced to live as the price for the racially shaped privileges we > enjoy. Our struggle for transformation demands more from us than > collective statements of principle decrying the bigotry around us.. > > Lou Schoen > Minneapolis > > In a message dated 12/26/09 5:16:36 PM, email at massslaveryapology.org > writes: > > > > Hi Friends, > > You might be interested in a statement from http://www.usforallofus.org > . > Their website says: > > "We long for a country that lifts all of us up, dares to care, > offers > love, generosity, and justice. We reject the racism that keeps > us divided. > We celebrate our interdependence and our capacity to love our > neighbors as > ourselves...The first step is to say together: "There is no room > for > racism in a U.S. for all of us." > > Their statement has been signed by 65 organizations and almost 600 > individuals. > > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > WAsummit mailing list > WAsummit at lists.wacan.org > http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit > > > > _______________________________________________ > WAsummit mailing list > WAsummit at lists.wacan.org > http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit > > > > > -- > Louisa L. Davis, M.Div., PhD > 11330 Dockside Circle > Reston, VA 20191 > home: (703) 860-1203 > cell: (240) 338-5156 > > ?Get very clear about the kind of world [you] would like and then > start living that way.? > -- Marshall Rosenberg, Center for Nonviolent Communication > > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > _______________________________________________ > WAsummit mailing list > WAsummit at lists.wacan.org > > http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit > > > > > _______________________________________________ > WAsummit mailing list > WAsummit at lists.wacan.org > http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit > > > > _______________________________________________ > WAsummit mailing list > WAsummit at lists.wacan.org > http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit > > _______________________________________________ > WAsummit mailing list > WAsummit at lists.wacan.org > http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit > > > > > -- > Check out "Youth Helping to End Racism" at www.anti-racismonline.org > > _______________________________________________ > WAsummit mailing list > WAsummit at lists.wacan.org > http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit > > > > > -- > "Human solidarity is not the product of being human; being human is > the product of human solidarity....The degree to which one is > sensitive to other people's suffering, to another's humanity, is the > index of one's own humanity." ---Abraham Heschel > > _______________________________________________ > WAsummit mailing list > WAsummit at lists.wacan.org > http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From louisaldavis at verizon.net Fri Jan 15 09:41:48 2010 From: louisaldavis at verizon.net (Louisa Davis) Date: Fri, 15 Jan 2010 10:41:48 -0500 Subject: [WAsummit] Sandy, Lou...more on whiteness In-Reply-To: <565205BE-0953-46D7-9B6A-0B9F2906DECD@gmail.com> Message-ID: Sandy, probably like others on this list, I have done so many trainings...Peoples, Crossroads, NCBI, Study Circles, Racial Sobriety...that the definitions blur and new situations stretch them. I?m wondering which definition/principle in UR (People?s Institute, right?) you think is most helpful for how to hold/use the language of ?whiteness? AND why/how you think it is most effective? Not to challenge but to learn and share your excitement and clarity. As an early responder to Lou, I?m feeling a little sad here...guess I?m wanting to be seen for advocating clearly (?) for the use of ?white? as a descriptor both in ?making it visible? as it impacts status and power, but also in support of partnership with activists of color who still find it VERY descriptive in their reality. Was that not clear?did I seem to be advocating otherwise? AND, at the same time, I?m still inspired by Lou?s stronger challenge to, as I hear it, NEVER be comfortable with that term, to always be aware of its oppressive history and toxic psychology. (Lou, I?m wondering if you are feel heard about that point, or what is important to you?) And I?m delighting in the mix of certainties, hopes and possibilities for learning and changing. There may be more to be revealed on this topic....but I?d love a conversation on HOW WE DANCE or hold this work both passionately and lightly in this work?when our American situation is BOTH fluid (Obama, small successes in media, govt) and incredibly stubborn (Black unemployment/incarceration rates growing) and when everyday and often by the hour I am in a different place of identity (around gender, religion, race, class) and in different kinds of power dynamics...and I see fellow white allies and activists of color in so many different places themselves (according to class, personality, life concerns/experience) in general. FWIW, This is why I keep coming back to Nonviolent Communication to keep my language/head focused less on labels, judgments/diagnoses of others and more on how painful/real these patterns of poverty and humiliation are...and the concrete observations and heart-connecting needs that help me every day make ery clear, doable, concrete requests of myself, those around me and of my organization and government...toward having everyone?s needs be heard and matter. Toward a doable connecting request....would one person let me know they read this, and maybe in just a few words, what you heard as important to me in this contribution? Would others like more clarity about how they are being heard? on 1/15/10 8:50 AM, Sandra BERNABEI at sandy.bernabei at gmail.com wrote: > a tiny mad idea. > > There is something that I would like to say about definitions. We find that > once people have completed the Undoing Racism? Workshop they are able to move > forward with an agreement of definitions and move onto the work....yes the > processing continues as many people discuss many facets of the Undoing Racism? > modules and content and they struggle or not. > > The point that I want to stress is that in our organizing we do not get tend > to get stuck on definitions...which takes a HUG chunk of time to process. > So if you have not completed the workshop- Use the Undoing Racism? Workshop as > an organizing tool to create a foundation of agreement that people can build > upon. It is a great source of antiracist education and has been for over 30 > years of their existence. The source of antiracist education for so many of > us. > > When you say "I completed the UR workshop" at least we all know what the > content was. It is a constant antiracist education. Everyone knows what was > covered and the definitions presented....THIS MAKES A HUGH DIFFERENCE! > > The Antiracist Alliance has generated 63 UR workshops in recent year with over > 3,200 human service providers and community members in the NYC Metro > area...have come through the workshop. We are building crititcal mass, We are > working together and moving ahead together. It is devine! > > Let's do the workshop, lets use the definitions and let's move forward > together. > peace > > Sandra Bernabei, LCSW > Anti-Racist Alliance > Undoing Racism in Our Lifetime! > >> > > > > > > > > > > On Jan 15, 2010, at 8:36 AM, Dottye Burt-Markowitz wrote: > >> Jeff, >> >> Thank you. It's very helpful to have this information from you about US for >> All of Us. I'm glad to hear that the group will not be back tracking, but >> rather focusing on mobilization. We could debate this issue endlessly and >> get nowhere since, I believe, feelings are very strong on both perspectives. >> >> I would hope that anyone whose goal is racial justice would be able to unite >> around what US for All of Us is doing. We can't afford to work against each >> other. >> >> Dottye >> >> On Fri, 15 Jan 2010 06:55 -0500, "Jeff Hitchcock" >> wrote: >>> >>> I?m on the strategy committee for US for All of Us and also helping with >>> tech support for the project. There is at least one other person from the >>> strategy committee on this list as well. It?s helpful to me to hear this >>> conversation, and if people have any thoughts or concerns about theUS for >>> All of Us project, I?d like to hear them. I can?t promise to establish a >>> dialogue with the planners. Working on US for All of Us, it feels like there >>> are not enough people to do the work. That?s just to say it?s like most >>> social justice efforts. We?re focused on several immediate simultaneous >>> demands on our time just to get the project going. Also, I was not part of >>> the original dialogue and planning among the people who drafted the >>> statement, so I can?t speak from experience about what the statement writers >>> discussed. >>> >>> I do know that discussion was long, and probably wide ranging, so I would >>> not be surprised if the matter of it being a white-identified effort was >>> discussed. Now that the statement has been drafted, there is no thought of >>> going back and revising it. Maybe in time something like that will happen. >>> But we have our hands full trying to build on the work that created the >>> statement itself. >>> >>> I?m not sure if the issue Lou raised can be resolved. There seems to be two >>> approaches to white anti-racism, one being to eschew white identity and the >>> other being to work from within it. Somehow I feel they are both directed to >>> the same end, but in the here and now, they seem incompatible. This is not >>> the only contradiction that has arisen among people working for racial >>> justice. The black community, for instance, has long had a debate over >>> integration vs black nationalism (Martin vs Malcolm), and yet historically >>> it has been able to hold both views. >>> >>> It?s clear to me the US for All of Us effort is white-identified. Aside from >>> that I think there is a willingness to embrace all views that are directed >>> toward achieving racial justice. People will have to decide for themselves >>> if they are willing to place themselves in the frame of the statement or >>> not. There is a feeling that we are still working out the details, so some >>> things may change or be clarified as we move ahead. But the US for All of Us >>> statement itself will probably stay as is for now. Our concern now is how to >>> shape and grow a network. What will that look like? How can it be a vehicle >>> for encouraging anti-racist action? >>> >>> --Jeff -- Louisa L. Davis, M.Div., PhD 11330 Dockside Circle Reston, VA 20191 home: (703) 860-1203 cell: (240) 338-5156 ?Get very clear about the kind of world [you] would like and then start living that way.? -- Marshall Rosenberg, Center for Nonviolent Communication -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From francie at franceskendall.com Fri Jan 15 13:39:08 2010 From: francie at franceskendall.com (Frances Kendall) Date: Fri, 15 Jan 2010 11:39:08 -0800 Subject: [WAsummit] more on whiteness...stirring the pot In-Reply-To: Message-ID: OK, folks, one last question. How would this conversation be different if we were talking about the word ?men? instead of ?white?? No heady thoughts or philosophizing here. What would the conversation look like? And how would this conversation about ?white? sit with many people of color? My questions are basically rhetorical, and I must say I am mystified by the time that we have spent on this. Respectfully, Francie On 1/15/10 7:41 AM, "Louisa Davis" wrote: > Sandy, probably like others on this list, I have done so many > trainings...Peoples, Crossroads, NCBI, Study Circles, Racial Sobriety...that > the definitions blur and new situations stretch them. I?m wondering which > definition/principle in UR (People?s Institute, right?) you think is most > helpful for how to hold/use the language of ?whiteness? AND why/how you think > it is most effective? Not to challenge but to learn and share your excitement > and clarity. > > As an early responder to Lou, I?m feeling a little sad here...guess I?m > wanting to be seen for advocating clearly (?) for the use of ?white? as a > descriptor both in ?making it visible? as it impacts status and power, but > also in support of partnership with activists of color who still find it VERY > descriptive in their reality. Was that not clear?did I seem to be advocating > otherwise? > > AND, at the same time, I?m still inspired by Lou?s stronger challenge to, as > I hear it, NEVER be comfortable with that term, to always be aware of its > oppressive history and toxic psychology. (Lou, I?m wondering if you are feel > heard about that point, or what is important to you?) And I?m delighting in > the mix of certainties, hopes and possibilities for learning and changing. > > There may be more to be revealed on this topic....but I?d love a conversation > on HOW WE DANCE or hold this work both passionately and lightly in this > work?when our American situation is BOTH fluid (Obama, small successes in > media, govt) and incredibly stubborn (Black unemployment/incarceration rates > growing) and when everyday and often by the hour I am in a different place of > identity (around gender, religion, race, class) and in different kinds of > power dynamics...and I see fellow white allies and activists of color in so > many different places themselves (according to class, personality, life > concerns/experience) in general. > > FWIW, This is why I keep coming back to Nonviolent Communication to keep my > language/head focused less on labels, judgments/diagnoses of others and more > on how painful/real these patterns of poverty and humiliation are...and the > concrete observations and heart-connecting needs that help me every day make > ery clear, doable, concrete requests of myself, those around me and of my > organization and government...toward having everyone?s needs be heard and > matter. > > Toward a doable connecting request....would one person let me know they read > this, and maybe in just a few words, what you heard as important to me in this > contribution? Would others like more clarity about how they are being heard? > > > > on 1/15/10 8:50 AM, Sandra BERNABEI at sandy.bernabei at gmail.com wrote: > >> a tiny mad idea. >> >> There is something that I would like to say about definitions. We find that >> once people have completed the Undoing Racism? Workshop they are able to move >> forward with an agreement of definitions and move onto the work....yes the >> processing continues as many people discuss many facets of the Undoing >> Racism? modules and content and they struggle or not. >> >> The point that I want to stress is that in our organizing we do not get tend >> to get stuck on definitions...which takes a HUG chunk of time to process. >> So if you have not completed the workshop- Use the Undoing Racism? Workshop >> as an organizing tool to create a foundation of agreement that people can >> build upon. It is a great source of antiracist education and has been for >> over 30 years of their existence. The source of antiracist education for so >> many of us. >> >> When you say "I completed the UR workshop" at least we all know what the >> content was. It is a constant antiracist education. Everyone knows what was >> covered and the definitions presented....THIS MAKES A HUGH DIFFERENCE! >> >> The Antiracist Alliance has generated 63 UR workshops in recent year with >> over 3,200 human service providers and community members in the NYC Metro >> area...have come through the workshop. We are building crititcal mass, We >> are working together and moving ahead together. It is devine! >> >> Let's do the workshop, lets use the definitions and let's move forward >> together. >> peace >> >> Sandra Bernabei, LCSW >> Anti-Racist Alliance >> Undoing Racism in Our Lifetime! >> >>> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> On Jan 15, 2010, at 8:36 AM, Dottye Burt-Markowitz wrote: >> >>> Jeff, >>> >>> Thank you. It's very helpful to have this information from you about US for >>> All of Us. I'm glad to hear that the group will not be back tracking, but >>> rather focusing on mobilization. We could debate this issue endlessly and >>> get nowhere since, I believe, feelings are very strong on both perspectives. >>> >>> I would hope that anyone whose goal is racial justice would be able to unite >>> around what US for All of Us is doing. We can't afford to work against each >>> other. >>> >>> Dottye >>> >>> On Fri, 15 Jan 2010 06:55 -0500, "Jeff Hitchcock" >>> wrote: >>>> >>>> I?m on the strategy committee for US for All of Us and also helping with >>>> tech support for the project. There is at least one other person from the >>>> strategy committee on this list as well. It?s helpful to me to hear this >>>> conversation, and if people have any thoughts or concerns about theUS for >>>> All of Us project, I?d like to hear them. I can?t promise to establish a >>>> dialogue with the planners. Working on US for All of Us, it feels like >>>> there are not enough people to do the work. That?s just to say it?s like >>>> most social justice efforts. We?re focused on several immediate >>>> simultaneous demands on our time just to get the project going. Also, I was >>>> not part of the original dialogue and planning among the people who drafted >>>> the statement, so I can?t speak from experience about what the statement >>>> writers discussed. >>>> >>>> I do know that discussion was long, and probably wide ranging, so I would >>>> not be surprised if the matter of it being a white-identified effort was >>>> discussed. Now that the statement has been drafted, there is no thought of >>>> going back and revising it. Maybe in time something like that will happen. >>>> But we have our hands full trying to build on the work that created the >>>> statement itself. >>>> >>>> I?m not sure if the issue Lou raised can be resolved. There seems to be two >>>> approaches to white anti-racism, one being to eschew white identity and the >>>> other being to work from within it. Somehow I feel they are both directed >>>> to the same end, but in the here and now, they seem incompatible. This is >>>> not the only contradiction that has arisen among people working for racial >>>> justice. The black community, for instance, has long had a debate over >>>> integration vs black nationalism (Martin vs Malcolm), and yet historically >>>> it has been able to hold both views. >>>> >>>> It?s clear to me the US for All of Us effort is white-identified. Aside >>>> from that I think there is a willingness to embrace all views that are >>>> directed toward achieving racial justice. People will have to decide for >>>> themselves if they are willing to place themselves in the frame of the >>>> statement or not. There is a feeling that we are still working out the >>>> details, so some things may change or be clarified as we move ahead. But >>>> the US for All of Us statement itself will probably stay as is for now. Our >>>> concern now is how to shape and grow a network. What will that look like? >>>> How can it be a vehicle for encouraging anti-racist action? >>>> >>>> --Jeff > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From cws at igc.org Fri Jan 15 14:58:59 2010 From: cws at igc.org (Sharon Martinas) Date: Fri, 15 Jan 2010 12:58:59 -0800 Subject: [WAsummit] US for All of Us In-Reply-To: <7C6BD9EF16AA46D5B50405FB45324363@JeffOffice> References: <7C6BD9EF16AA46D5B50405FB45324363@JeffOffice> Message-ID: <7DE5A66C-AC7B-40B9-866A-614BBB3EFC5D@igc.org> Hey Jeff, Thank you very much for your email. And for sharing your experience of this process. That inspired me to share mine: As one anti-racist white activist who has had the powerful experience of being part of the conversations around the strategy and messaging of the Statement of Commitment since mid September, I can 'testify' that the process of developing the Statement was one of the most impressive learning experiences I have gone through for many years. There were numerous long conversations by email and conference calls, drafts and re-drafts of the Statement of Commitment, different approaches from white anti-racist activists doing different kinds of work, in different constituencies, and in different parts of the country. The facilitators of each call and email, in my personal experience, were exemplary in treating each differing opinion with great respect, openness, with the goal of developing a genuine consensus. Throughout the process, many activists consulted with their comrades of color about the strategy and the messaging with the goal of keeping accountability to organizers of color both in our theory and in our practice. Speaking very personally, as an old fashioned 'ideologue' in this work of challenging white supremacy, I often listened to these various opinions and said to myself, "Oh, I can't agree with that. I don't think I would want to work with that person." And then, another inner voice said, "Sharon, just keep listening. Maybe you'll learn something." So I kept listening. And what I have learned is how difficult and delicate it is to begin the process of organizing a national anti-racist network; whose core is mostly white anti-racist organizers, activists, educators and trainers; and who struggle to be accountable to, and take leadership from, different organizers and organizations of color. Since I have not experienced anything similar to this since the heydays of Students for a Democratic Society, and the Friends of SNCC, back in the early to mid 1960s,' I would have said, before the fall of 2009, this effort is absolutely impossible. Now, I find myself re-reading and re-applying the amazing wisdom of Anne Braden, when she said, "To build multi-racial organizations in a racist society is virtually impossible. Impossible means it just takes a little longer." (from 'Inside-Out and Upside-Down: An Interview with Anne Braden' by June Rostan. Color Lines, Spring 2001. http://www.arc.org/C_Lines/CLArchive/story4_1_02.html) Please please do not mistake my use of her quote. I am NOT saying that Building a US for all of us is an effort to build a multi-racial organization! What I am taking from her wisdom is that, "Impossible means it just takes a little longer." And reflecting on that wisdom gives me great hope in these troubled times. much love, respect and solidarity to you all, sharon martinas On Jan 15, 2010, at 3:55 AM, Jeff Hitchcock wrote: > > I?m on the strategy committee for US for All of Us and also helping > with tech support for the project. There is at least one other > person from the strategy committee on this list as well. It?s > helpful to me to hear this conversation, and if people have any > thoughts or concerns about the US for All of Us project, I?d like to > hear them. I can?t promise to establish a dialogue with the > planners. Working on US for All of Us, it feels like there are not > enough people to do the work. That?s just to say it?s like most > social justice efforts. We?re focused on several immediate > simultaneous demands on our time just to get the project going. > Also, I was not part of the original dialogue and planning among the > people who drafted the statement, so I can?t speak from experience > about what the statement writers discussed. > > I do know that discussion was long, and probably wide ranging, so I > would not be surprised if the matter of it being a white-identified > effort was discussed. Now that the statement has been drafted, there > is no thought of going back and revising it. Maybe in time something > like that will happen. But we have our hands full trying to build on > the work that created the statement itself. > > I?m not sure if the issue Lou raised can be resolved. There seems to > be two approaches to white anti-racism, one being to eschew white > identity and the other being to work from within it. Somehow I feel > they are both directed to the same end, but in the here and now, > they seem incompatible. This is not the only contradiction that has > arisen among people working for racial justice. The black community, > for instance, has long had a debate over integration vs black > nationalism (Martin vs Malcolm), and yet historically it has been > able to hold both views. > > It?s clear to me the US for All of Us effort is white-identified. > Aside from that I think there is a willingness to embrace all views > that are directed toward achieving racial justice. People will have > to decide for themselves if they are willing to place themselves in > the frame of the statement or not. There is a feeling that we are > still working out the details, so some things may change or be > clarified as we move ahead. But the US for All of Us statement > itself will probably stay as is for now. Our concern now is how to > shape and grow a network. What will that look like? How can it be a > vehicle for encouraging anti-racist action? > > --Jeff > _______________________________________________ > WAsummit mailing list > WAsummit at lists.wacan.org > http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bonniecushing at aol.com Sun Jan 17 11:27:35 2010 From: bonniecushing at aol.com (Bonnie Cushing) Date: Sun, 17 Jan 2010 12:27:35 -0500 Subject: [WAsummit] US for All of Us In-Reply-To: <7DE5A66C-AC7B-40B9-866A-614BBB3EFC5D@igc.org> References: <7C6BD9EF16AA46D5B50405FB45324363@JeffOffice> <7DE5A66C-AC7B-40B9-866A-614BBB3EFC5D@igc.org> Message-ID: Thanks to everyone who has contributed to this conversation. My language keeps changing as I learn more and as I experience the effectiveness or ineffectiveness of my communications with others around issues of race and racism. Recently, I am finding the terms "designated white" or "racialized white" as useful in keeping people in the conversation who might otherwise turn away. I would love to hear what other people have found effective as well. I have personally found The People's Institute's clarity around the inescapable location of EVERYONE in this racially-structured society incredibly helpful in keeping me clear on my own racial identity - which, at this moment in time, is undeniably WHITE. I, too, long, hope and work for a time when this identity no longer holds any meaning in terms of power or privilege. For now, I am grateful for usforusall, The People's Institute for Survival and Beyond, The Center for the Study of White American Culture and so many other efforts to make whiteness visible, de-centered and accountable. Respectfully Yours, Bonnie _____ From: wasummit-bounces at lists.wacan.org [mailto:wasummit-bounces at lists.wacan.org] On Behalf Of Sharon Martinas Sent: Friday, January 15, 2010 3:59 PM To: jeffhitchcock at euroamerican.org; White Anti-racist Summit Subject: Re: [WAsummit] US for All of Us Hey Jeff, Thank you very much for your email. And for sharing your experience of this process. That inspired me to share mine: As one anti-racist white activist who has had the powerful experience of being part of the conversations around the strategy and messaging of the Statement of Commitment since mid September, I can 'testify' that the process of developing the Statement was one of the most impressive learning experiences I have gone through for many years. There were numerous long conversations by email and conference calls, drafts and re-drafts of the Statement of Commitment, different approaches from white anti-racist activists doing different kinds of work, in different constituencies, and in different parts of the country. The facilitators of each call and email, in my personal experience, were exemplary in treating each differing opinion with great respect, openness, with the goal of developing a genuine consensus. Throughout the process, many activists consulted with their comrades of color about the strategy and the messaging with the goal of keeping accountability to organizers of color both in our theory and in our practice. Speaking very personally, as an old fashioned 'ideologue' in this work of challenging white supremacy, I often listened to these various opinions and said to myself, "Oh, I can't agree with that. I don't think I would want to work with that person." And then, another inner voice said, "Sharon, just keep listening. Maybe you'll learn something." So I kept listening. And what I have learned is how difficult and delicate it is to begin the process of organizing a national anti-racist network; whose core is mostly white anti-racist organizers, activists, educators and trainers; and who struggle to be accountable to, and take leadership from, different organizers and organizations of color. Since I have not experienced anything similar to this since the heydays of Students for a Democratic Society, and the Friends of SNCC, back in the early to mid 1960s,' I would have said, before the fall of 2009, this effort is absolutely impossible. Now, I find myself re-reading and re-applying the amazing wisdom of Anne Braden, when she said, "To build multi-racial organizations in a racist society is virtually impossible. Impossible means it just takes a little longer." (from 'Inside-Out and Upside-Down: An Interview with Anne Braden' by June Rostan. Color Lines, Spring 2001. http://www.arc.org/C_Lines/CLArchive/story4_1_02.html) Please please do not mistake my use of her quote. I am NOT saying that Building a US for all of us is an effort to build a multi-racial organization! What I am taking from her wisdom is that, "Impossible means it just takes a little longer." And reflecting on that wisdom gives me great hope in these troubled times. much love, respect and solidarity to you all, sharon martinas On Jan 15, 2010, at 3:55 AM, Jeff Hitchcock wrote: I'm on the strategy committee for US for All of Us and also helping with tech support for the project. There is at least one other person from the strategy committee on this list as well. It's helpful to me to hear this conversation, and if people have any thoughts or concerns about the US for All of Us project, I'd like to hear them. I can't promise to establish a dialogue with the planners. Working on US for All of Us, it feels like there are not enough people to do the work. That's just to say it's like most social justice efforts. We're focused on several immediate simultaneous demands on our time just to get the project going. Also, I was not part of the original dialogue and planning among the people who drafted the statement, so I can't speak from experience about what the statement writers discussed. I do know that discussion was long, and probably wide ranging, so I would not be surprised if the matter of it being a white-identified effort was discussed. Now that the statement has been drafted, there is no thought of going back and revising it. Maybe in time something like that will happen. But we have our hands full trying to build on the work that created the statement itself. I'm not sure if the issue Lou raised can be resolved. There seems to be two approaches to white anti-racism, one being to eschew white identity and the other being to work from within it. Somehow I feel they are both directed to the same end, but in the here and now, they seem incompatible. This is not the only contradiction that has arisen among people working for racial justice. The black community, for instance, has long had a debate over integration vs black nationalism (Martin vs Malcolm), and yet historically it has been able to hold both views. It's clear to me the US for All of Us effort is white-identified. Aside from that I think there is a willingness to embrace all views that are directed toward achieving racial justice. People will have to decide for themselves if they are willing to place themselves in the frame of the statement or not. There is a feeling that we are still working out the details, so some things may change or be clarified as we move ahead. But the US for All of Us statement itself will probably stay as is for now. Our concern now is how to shape and grow a network. What will that look like? How can it be a vehicle for encouraging anti-racist action? --Jeff _______________________________________________ WAsummit mailing list WAsummit at lists.wacan.org http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit = -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From nsmith at igc.org Sun Jan 17 03:47:38 2010 From: nsmith at igc.org (Norma Smith) Date: Sun, 17 Jan 2010 09:47:38 +0000 Subject: [WAsummit] US for All of Us In-Reply-To: References: <7C6BD9EF16AA46D5B50405FB45324363@JeffOffice> <7DE5A66C-AC7B-40B9-866A-614BBB3EFC5D@igc.org> Message-ID: <2F498205-367C-4A0B-92A5-1B583E1D7529@igc.org> This makes me think back on an observation my son made when I first invited him to take part in Challenging White Supremacy workshops a number of years ago. Many of the white activists in the group had grown up in white suburbs pr white communities and were struggling to come to terms with themselves as white. Noah grew up in Oakland, CA, in schools where he was always either the only white kid or one of very few in his classes. He did not find the CWS discussions very helpful. His comment was that, if he ever forgot for a moment that he was white, one of his classmates would remind him very quickly. I think this speaks to (changing/shifting) context, and to the questions about what's most useful and most real to the communities of color we're working in solidarity with. We live at different locations on these several spectra. I also value this conversation that deepens understanding and clarity and is part of a continuing process. I don't think we will reach a final decision, because racism shifts and changes, and our strategies need to change even as our principles remain firm. much respect to all who are in this discussion, Norma On Jan 17, 2010, at 5:27 PM, Bonnie Cushing wrote: > Thanks to everyone who has contributed to this conversation. > > My language keeps changing as I learn more and as I experience the > effectiveness or ineffectiveness of my communications with others > around issues of race and racism. > Recently, I am finding the terms ?designated white? or ?racialized > white? as useful in keeping people in the conversation who might > otherwise turn away. > I would love to hear what other people have found effective as well. > > I have personally found The People?s Institute?s clarity around the > inescapable location of EVERYONE in this racially-structured society > incredibly helpful in keeping me clear on my own racial identity ? > which, at this moment in time, is undeniably WHITE. > > I, too, long, hope and work for a time when this identity no longer > holds any meaning in terms of power or privilege. For now, I am > grateful for usforusall, The People?s Institute for Survival and > Beyond, The Center for the Study of White American Culture and so > many other efforts to make whiteness visible, de-centered and > accountable. > > Respectfully Yours, > Bonnie > > From: wasummit-bounces at lists.wacan.org [mailto:wasummit-bounces at lists.wacan.org > ] On Behalf Of Sharon Martinas > Sent: Friday, January 15, 2010 3:59 PM > To: jeffhitchcock at euroamerican.org; White Anti-racist Summit > Subject: Re: [WAsummit] US for All of Us > > Hey Jeff, > > Thank you very much for your email. And for sharing your > experience of this process. That inspired me to share mine: > > As one anti-racist white activist who has had the powerful > experience of being part of the conversations around the strategy > and messaging of the Statement of Commitment since mid September, I > can 'testify' that the process of developing the Statement was one > of the most impressive learning experiences I have gone through for > many years. > > There were numerous long conversations by email and conference > calls, drafts and re-drafts of the Statement of Commitment, > different approaches from white anti-racist activists doing > different kinds of work, in different constituencies, and in > different parts of the country. The facilitators of each call and > email, in my personal experience, were exemplary in treating each > differing opinion with great respect, openness, with the goal of > developing a genuine consensus. Throughout the process, many > activists consulted with their comrades of color about the strategy > and the messaging with the goal of keeping accountability to > organizers of color both in our theory and in our practice. > > Speaking very personally, as an old fashioned 'ideologue' in > this work of challenging white supremacy, I often listened to these > various opinions and said to myself, "Oh, I can't agree with that. I > don't think I would want to work with that person." And then, > another inner voice said, "Sharon, just keep listening. Maybe > you'll learn something." So I kept listening. > > And what I have learned is how difficult and delicate it is to > begin the process of organizing a national anti-racist network; > whose core is mostly white anti-racist organizers, activists, > educators and trainers; and who struggle to be accountable to, and > take leadership from, different organizers and organizations of > color. Since I have not experienced anything similar to this since > the heydays of Students for a Democratic Society, and the Friends of > SNCC, back in the early to mid 1960s,' I would have said, before > the fall of 2009, this effort is absolutely impossible. > > Now, I find myself re-reading and re-applying the amazing wisdom > of Anne Braden, when she said, "To build multi-racial organizations > in a racist society is virtually impossible. Impossible means it > just takes a little longer." > (from 'Inside-Out and Upside-Down: An Interview with Anne > Braden' by June Rostan. Color Lines, Spring 2001. http://www.arc.org/C_Lines/CLArchive/story4_1_02.html) > > Please please do not mistake my use of her quote. I am NOT saying > that Building a US for all of us is an effort to build a multi- > racial organization! What I am taking from her wisdom is that, > "Impossible means it just takes a little longer." And reflecting on > that wisdom gives me great hope in these troubled times. > > much love, respect and solidarity to you all, sharon martinas > > On Jan 15, 2010, at 3:55 AM, Jeff Hitchcock wrote: > > > > I?m on the strategy committee for US for All of Us and also helping > with tech support for the project. There is at least one other > person from the strategy committee on this list as well. It?s > helpful to me to hear this conversation, and if people have any > thoughts or concerns about the US for All of Us project, I?d like to > hear them. I can?t promise to establish a dialogue with the > planners. Working on US for All of Us, it feels like there are not > enough people to do the work. That?s just to say it?s like most > social justice efforts. We?re focused on several immediate > simultaneous demands on our time just to get the project going. > Also, I was not part of the original dialogue and planning among the > people who drafted the statement, so I can?t speak from experience > about what the statement writers discussed. > > I do know that discussion was long, and probably wide ranging, so I > would not be surprised if the matter of it being a white-identified > effort was discussed. Now that the statement has been drafted, there > is no thought of going back and revising it. Maybe in time something > like that will happen. But we have our hands full trying to build on > the work that created the statement itself. > > I?m not sure if the issue Lou raised can be resolved. There seems to > be two approaches to white anti-racism, one being to eschew white > identity and the other being to work from within it. Somehow I feel > they are both directed to the same end, but in the here and now, > they seem incompatible. This is not the only contradiction that has > arisen among people working for racial justice. The black community, > for instance, has long had a debate over integration vs black > nationalism (Martin vs Malcolm), and yet historically it has been > able to hold both views. > > It?s clear to me the US for All of Us effort is white-identified. > Aside from that I think there is a willingness to embrace all views > that are directed toward achieving racial justice. People will have > to decide for themselves if they are willing to place themselves in > the frame of the statement or not. There is a feeling that we are > still working out the details, so some things may change or be > clarified as we move ahead. But the US for All of Us statement > itself will probably stay as is for now. Our concern now is how to > shape and grow a network. What will that look like? How can it be a > vehicle for encouraging anti-racist action? > > --Jeff > _______________________________________________ > WAsummit mailing list > WAsummit at lists.wacan.org > http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit > > > =_______________________________________________ > WAsummit mailing list > WAsummit at lists.wacan.org > http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit Norma Smith The Edge of Each Other's Battles Project 5245 College Ave #424 Oakland, CA 94618 (510) 465-2094 The Edge of Each Other's Battles Project brings together social justice academics and community-based projects to work toward social change. The Edge Project produces community events, organizes sessions at academic conferences, and facilitates interdisciplinary, site- specific, collaboratively designed seminars, conferences, and working groups on themes related to community history, culture, and politics. It provides opportunities for scholars to learn from and with other community members. The Edge Project is inspired by poet-educator- activist Audre Lorde's vision of cross-community alliance building and organizing for social justice. The Edge of Each Other's Battles Project operates under the fiscal sponsorship of the Agape Foundation - Fund for Nonviolent Social Change. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From coaction at antiracism.com Sun Jan 17 13:25:47 2010 From: coaction at antiracism.com (Lauren Kucera) Date: Sun, 17 Jan 2010 11:25:47 -0800 Subject: [WAsummit] US for All of Us In-Reply-To: <2F498205-367C-4A0B-92A5-1B583E1D7529@igc.org> References: <7C6BD9EF16AA46D5B50405FB45324363@JeffOffice> <7DE5A66C-AC7B-40B9-866A-614BBB3EFC5D@igc.org> <2F498205-367C-4A0B-92A5-1B583E1D7529@igc.org> Message-ID: <563446B9-B6A9-4652-A22E-AB68484DA2F6@antiracism.com> Dear All - Thanks for the interesting and pertinent dialogue on the use of White or European American or other labels that we choose to use as White anti-racist Summit members. At this point, I choose White in my work and daily life. I appreciate that we're putting this out on the table and listening to each other as we struggle with evolving the path toward achieving racial justice. Working often with adults and youth together exploring racism and white privilege, a feeling of "old guard" vs "the new generation" can come up and it's a great opportunity to blend a historical perspective and knowledge into what is happening now and up for youth in the 21st century. Something that I find crazy making is the lack of information and understanding around ethnicity and race and how often the two are blended. I think this waters down the capability of white people to fully challenge racism. For example, on school forms for my son, the boxes asking about ethnicity that I was (optionally) asked to check. A few years back in California, they would offer: White (non- Hispanic), African American, Pacific Islander, Native American, Hispanic, Asian American. I would check White, even though he's 1/4 Peruvian, along with being Euro-American, because he passes as White. I would note on the form though that White is not his ethnicity. As we look at institutional and systemic racism, we have to get clear with institutions what the construct of race in order to address it. One last example is a show on NPR last Friday (Science Friday) that was looking at race and ethnicity. While I didn't hear all of it, what I heard for the first 30 minutes was disturbing at how convoluted the medical professionals and scientists were around what race is. I need to listen to the whole show and hear what they ended on. Here's the link, fyi- http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122620064 Much appreciation and respect to you all- Lauren Lauren Parker Kucera coAction Producer, Shades Of Youth 831 600-7806 www.antiracism.com On Jan 17, 2010, at 1:47 AM, Norma Smith wrote: > This makes me think back on an observation my son made when I first > invited him to take part in Challenging White Supremacy workshops a > number of years ago. Many of the white activists in the group had > grown up in white suburbs pr white communities and were struggling > to come to terms with themselves as white. Noah grew up in Oakland, > CA, in schools where he was always either the only white kid or one > of very few in his classes. He did not find the CWS discussions very > helpful. His comment was that, if he ever forgot for a moment that > he was white, one of his classmates would remind him very quickly. > > I think this speaks to (changing/shifting) context, and to the > questions about what's most useful and most real to the communities > of color we're working in solidarity with. We live at different > locations on these several spectra. I also value this conversation > that deepens understanding and clarity and is part of a continuing > process. I don't think we will reach a final decision, because > racism shifts and changes, and our strategies need to change even as > our principles remain firm. > > much respect to all who are in this discussion, > > Norma > > > On Jan 17, 2010, at 5:27 PM, Bonnie Cushing wrote: > >> Thanks to everyone who has contributed to this conversation. >> >> My language keeps changing as I learn more and as I experience the >> effectiveness or ineffectiveness of my communications with others >> around issues of race and racism. >> Recently, I am finding the terms ?designated white? or ?racialized >> white? as useful in keeping people in the conversation who might >> otherwise turn away. >> I would love to hear what other people have found effective as well. >> >> I have personally found The People?s Institute?s clarity around the >> inescapable location of EVERYONE in this racially-structured >> society incredibly helpful in keeping me clear on my own racial >> identity ? which, at this moment in time, is undeniably WHITE. >> >> I, too, long, hope and work for a time when this identity no longer >> holds any meaning in terms of power or privilege. For now, I am >> grateful for usforusall, The People?s Institute for Survival and >> Beyond, The Center for the Study of White American Culture and so >> many other efforts to make whiteness visible, de-centered and >> accountable. >> >> Respectfully Yours, >> Bonnie >> >> From: wasummit-bounces at lists.wacan.org [mailto:wasummit-bounces at lists.wacan.org >> ] On Behalf Of Sharon Martinas >> Sent: Friday, January 15, 2010 3:59 PM >> To: jeffhitchcock at euroamerican.org; White Anti-racist Summit >> Subject: Re: [WAsummit] US for All of Us >> >> Hey Jeff, >> >> Thank you very much for your email. And for sharing your >> experience of this process. That inspired me to share mine: >> >> As one anti-racist white activist who has had the powerful >> experience of being part of the conversations around the strategy >> and messaging of the Statement of Commitment since mid September, I >> can 'testify' that the process of developing the Statement was one >> of the most impressive learning experiences I have gone through for >> many years. >> >> There were numerous long conversations by email and conference >> calls, drafts and re-drafts of the Statement of Commitment, >> different approaches from white anti-racist activists doing >> different kinds of work, in different constituencies, and in >> different parts of the country. The facilitators of each call and >> email, in my personal experience, were exemplary in treating each >> differing opinion with great respect, openness, with the goal of >> developing a genuine consensus. Throughout the process, many >> activists consulted with their comrades of color about the strategy >> and the messaging with the goal of keeping accountability to >> organizers of color both in our theory and in our practice. >> >> Speaking very personally, as an old fashioned 'ideologue' in >> this work of challenging white supremacy, I often listened to these >> various opinions and said to myself, "Oh, I can't agree with that. >> I don't think I would want to work with that person." And then, >> another inner voice said, "Sharon, just keep listening. Maybe >> you'll learn something." So I kept listening. >> >> And what I have learned is how difficult and delicate it is to >> begin the process of organizing a national anti-racist network; >> whose core is mostly white anti-racist organizers, activists, >> educators and trainers; and who struggle to be accountable to, and >> take leadership from, different organizers and organizations of >> color. Since I have not experienced anything similar to this since >> the heydays of Students for a Democratic Society, and the Friends >> of SNCC, back in the early to mid 1960s,' I would have said, >> before the fall of 2009, this effort is absolutely impossible. >> >> Now, I find myself re-reading and re-applying the amazing >> wisdom of Anne Braden, when she said, "To build multi-racial >> organizations in a racist society is virtually impossible. >> Impossible means it just takes a little longer." >> (from 'Inside-Out and Upside-Down: An Interview with Anne >> Braden' by June Rostan. Color Lines, Spring 2001. http://www.arc.org/C_Lines/CLArchive/story4_1_02.html) >> >> Please please do not mistake my use of her quote. I am NOT saying >> that Building a US for all of us is an effort to build a multi- >> racial organization! What I am taking from her wisdom is that, >> "Impossible means it just takes a little longer." And reflecting >> on that wisdom gives me great hope in these troubled times. >> >> much love, respect and solidarity to you all, sharon martinas >> >> On Jan 15, 2010, at 3:55 AM, Jeff Hitchcock wrote: >> >> >> >> I?m on the strategy committee for US for All of Us and also helping >> with tech support for the project. There is at least one other >> person from the strategy committee on this list as well. It?s >> helpful to me to hear this conversation, and if people have any >> thoughts or concerns about the US for All of Us project, I?d like >> to hear them. I can?t promise to establish a dialogue with the >> planners. Working on US for All of Us, it feels like there are not >> enough people to do the work. That?s just to say it?s like most >> social justice efforts. We?re focused on several immediate >> simultaneous demands on our time just to get the project going. >> Also, I was not part of the original dialogue and planning among >> the people who drafted the statement, so I can?t speak from >> experience about what the statement writers discussed. >> >> I do know that discussion was long, and probably wide ranging, so I >> would not be surprised if the matter of it being a white-identified >> effort was discussed. Now that the statement has been drafted, >> there is no thought of going back and revising it. Maybe in time >> something like that will happen. But we have our hands full trying >> to build on the work that created the statement itself. >> >> I?m not sure if the issue Lou raised can be resolved. There seems >> to be two approaches to white anti-racism, one being to eschew >> white identity and the other being to work from within it. Somehow >> I feel they are both directed to the same end, but in the here and >> now, they seem incompatible. This is not the only contradiction >> that has arisen among people working for racial justice. The black >> community, for instance, has long had a debate over integration vs >> black nationalism (Martin vs Malcolm), and yet historically it has >> been able to hold both views. >> >> It?s clear to me the US for All of Us effort is white-identified. >> Aside from that I think there is a willingness to embrace all views >> that are directed toward achieving racial justice. People will have >> to decide for themselves if they are willing to place themselves in >> the frame of the statement or not. There is a feeling that we are >> still working out the details, so some things may change or be >> clarified as we move ahead. But the US for All of Us statement >> itself will probably stay as is for now. Our concern now is how to >> shape and grow a network. What will that look like? How can it be a >> vehicle for encouraging anti-racist action? >> >> --Jeff >> _______________________________________________ >> WAsummit mailing list >> WAsummit at lists.wacan.org >> http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit >> >> >> =_______________________________________________ >> WAsummit mailing list >> WAsummit at lists.wacan.org >> http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit > > Norma Smith > The Edge of Each Other's Battles Project > 5245 College Ave #424 > Oakland, CA 94618 > (510) 465-2094 > > The Edge of Each Other's Battles Project brings together social > justice academics and community-based projects to work toward social > change. The Edge Project produces community events, organizes > sessions at academic conferences, and facilitates interdisciplinary, > site-specific, collaboratively designed seminars, conferences, and > working groups on themes related to community history, culture, and > politics. It provides opportunities for scholars to learn from and > with other community members. The Edge Project is inspired by poet- > educator-activist Audre Lorde's vision of cross-community alliance > building and organizing for social justice. The Edge of Each Other's > Battles Project operates under the fiscal sponsorship of the Agape > Foundation - Fund for Nonviolent Social Change. > > _______________________________________________ > WAsummit mailing list > WAsummit at lists.wacan.org > http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From arinnaweisman at aol.com Sun Jan 17 13:45:23 2010 From: arinnaweisman at aol.com (arinnaweisman at aol.com) Date: Sun, 17 Jan 2010 14:45:23 -0500 Subject: [WAsummit] A Response Message-ID: <8CC65C4BE6718E4-5360-12DAB@webmail-d024.sysops.aol.com> I also feel grateful for investigating and sharing ourunderstanding and experience. Itfeels like a BOTH /AND conversation. I continue to see more clearly where Ihave unearned access to power and resources and that this conditioning into ?whiteness?and unconscious entitlement is synonomously a conditioning of shutting down theheart. Opening into these spaces with awareness and kindness begins to restorean inner dignity and becomes the field in which I am more willing to learn bymake mistakes and begin again which really describes how it has been for mebuilding relationships across difference. It is this practice of restoring anopen heart, which goes beyond the conditioning of whiteness I also hear needsto be named and acknowledged. Arinna Weisman -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From arinnaweisman at aol.com Sun Jan 17 14:02:59 2010 From: arinnaweisman at aol.com (arinnaweisman at aol.com) Date: Sun, 17 Jan 2010 15:02:59 -0500 Subject: [WAsummit] WAsummit Digest, Vol 19, Issue 22 In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <8CC65C733792D25-5360-13097@webmail-d024.sysops.aol.com> I also feel grateful for investigating and sharing our understanding and experience. It feels like a BOTH /AND conversation. I continue to see more clearly where I have unearned access to power and resources and that this conditioning into ?whiteness? and unconscious entitlement is synonomously a conditioning of shutting down the heart. Opening into these spaces with awareness and kindness begins to restore an inner dignity and becomes the field in which I am more willing to learn by make mistakes and begin again which really describes how it has been for me building relationships across difference. It is this practice of restoring an open heart, which goes beyond the conditioning of whiteness I also hear needs to be named and acknowledged. Arinna Weisman -----Original Message----- From: wasummit-request at lists.wacan.org To: wasummit at lists.wacan.org Sent: Sun, Jan 17, 2010 11:25 am Subject: WAsummit Digest, Vol 19, Issue 21 Send WAsummit mailing list submissions to wasummit at lists.wacan.org To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to wasummit-request at lists.wacan.org You can reach the person managing the list at wasummit-owner at lists.wacan.org When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: Contents of WAsummit digest..." Today's Topics: 1. Re: US for All of Us (Lauren Kucera) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Sun, 17 Jan 2010 11:25:47 -0800 From: Lauren Kucera Subject: Re: [WAsummit] US for All of Us To: White Anti-racist Summit Message-ID: <563446B9-B6A9-4652-A22E-AB68484DA2F6 at antiracism.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1252"; Format="flowed"; DelSp="yes" Dear All - Thanks for the interesting and pertinent dialogue on the use of White or European American or other labels that we choose to use as White anti-racist Summit members. At this point, I choose White in my work and daily life. I appreciate that we're putting this out on the table and listening to each other as we struggle with evolving the path toward achieving racial justice. Working often with adults and youth together exploring racism and white privilege, a feeling of "old guard" vs "the new generation" can come up and it's a great opportunity to blend a historical perspective and knowledge into what is happening now and up for youth in the 21st century. Something that I find crazy making is the lack of information and understanding around ethnicity and race and how often the two are blended. I think this waters down the capability of white people to fully challenge racism. For example, on school forms for my son, the boxes asking about ethnicity that I was (optionally) asked to check. A few years back in California, they would offer: White (non- Hispanic), African American, Pacific Islander, Native American, Hispanic, Asian American. I would check White, even though he's 1/4 Peruvian, along with being Euro-American, because he passes as White. I would note on the form though that White is not his ethnicity. As we look at institutional and systemic racism, we have to get clear with institutions what the construct of race in order to address it. One last example is a show on NPR last Friday (Science Friday) that was looking at race and ethnicity. While I didn't hear all of it, what I heard for the first 30 minutes was disturbing at how convoluted the medical professionals and scientists were around what race is. I need to listen to the whole show and hear what they ended on. Here's the link, fyi- http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122620064 Much appreciation and respect to you all- Lauren Lauren Parker Kucera coAction Producer, Shades Of Youth 831 600-7806 www.antiracism.com On Jan 17, 2010, at 1:47 AM, Norma Smith wrote: > This makes me think back on an observation my son made when I first > invited him to take part in Challenging White Supremacy workshops a > number of years ago. Many of the white activists in the group had > grown up in white suburbs pr white communities and were struggling > to come to terms with themselves as white. Noah grew up in Oakland, > CA, in schools where he was always either the only white kid or one > of very few in his classes. He did not find the CWS discussions very > helpful. His comment was that, if he ever forgot for a moment that > he was white, one of his classmates would remind him very quickly. > > I think this speaks to (changing/shifting) context, and to the > questions about what's most useful and most real to the communities > of color we're working in solidarity with. We live at different > locations on these several spectra. I also value this conversation > that deepens understanding and clarity and is part of a continuing > process. I don't think we will reach a final decision, because > racism shifts and changes, and our strategies need to change even as > our principles remain firm. > > much respect to all who are in this discussion, > > Norma > > > On Jan 17, 2010, at 5:27 PM, Bonnie Cushing wrote: > >> Thanks to everyone who has contributed to this conversation. >> >> My language keeps changing as I learn more and as I experience the >> effectiveness or ineffectiveness of my communications with others >> around issues of race and racism. >> Recently, I am finding the terms ?designated white? or ?racialized >> white? as useful in keeping people in the conversation who might >> otherwise turn away. >> I would love to hear what other people have found effective as well. >> >> I have personally found The People?s Institute?s clarity around the >> inescapable location of EVERYONE in this racially-structured >> society incredibly helpful in keeping me clear on my own racial >> identity ? which, at this moment in time, is undeniably WHITE. >> >> I, too, long, hope and work for a time when this identity no longer >> holds any meaning in terms of power or privilege. For now, I am >> grateful for usforusall, The People?s Institute for Survival and >> Beyond, The Center for the Study of White American Culture and so >> many other efforts to make whiteness visible, de-centered and >> accountable. >> >> Respectfully Yours, >> Bonnie >> >> From: wasummit-bounces at lists.wacan.org [mailto:wasummit-bounces at lists.wacan.org >> ] On Behalf Of Sharon Martinas >> Sent: Friday, January 15, 2010 3:59 PM >> To: jeffhitchcock at euroamerican.org; White Anti-racist Summit >> Subject: Re: [WAsummit] US for All of Us >> >> Hey Jeff, >> >> Thank you very much for your email. And for sharing your >> experience of this process. That inspired me to share mine: >> >> As one anti-racist white activist who has had the powerful >> experience of being part of the conversations around the strategy >> and messaging of the Statement of Commitment since mid September, I >> can 'testify' that the process of developing the Statement was one >> of the most impressive learning experiences I have gone through for >> many years. >> >> There were numerous long conversations by email and conference >> calls, drafts and re-drafts of the Statement of Commitment, >> different approaches from white anti-racist activists doing >> different kinds of work, in different constituencies, and in >> different parts of the country. The facilitators of each call and >> email, in my personal experience, were exemplary in treating each >> differing opinion with great respect, openness, with the goal of >> developing a genuine consensus. Throughout the process, many >> activists consulted with their comrades of color about the strategy >> and the messaging with the goal of keeping accountability to >> organizers of color both in our theory and in our practice. >> >> Speaking very personally, as an old fashioned 'ideologue' in >> this work of challenging white supremacy, I often listened to these >> various opinions and said to myself, "Oh, I can't agree with that. >> I don't think I would want to work with that person." And then, >> another inner voice said, "Sharon, just keep listening. Maybe >> you'll learn something." So I kept listening. >> >> And what I have learned is how difficult and delicate it is to >> begin the process of organizing a national anti-racist network; >> whose core is mostly white anti-racist organizers, activists, >> educators and trainers; and who struggle to be accountable to, and >> take leadership from, different organizers and organizations of >> color. Since I have not experienced anything similar to this since >> the heydays of Students for a Democratic Society, and the Friends >> of SNCC, back in the early to mid 1960s,' I would have said, >> before the fall of 2009, this effort is absolutely impossible. >> >> Now, I find myself re-reading and re-applying the amazing >> wisdom of Anne Braden, when she said, "To build multi-racial >> organizations in a racist society is virtually impossible. >> Impossible means it just takes a little longer." >> (from 'Inside-Out and Upside-Down: An Interview with Anne >> Braden' by June Rostan. Color Lines, Spring 2001. http://www.arc.org/C_Lines/CLArchive/story4_1_02.html) >> >> Please please do not mistake my use of her quote. I am NOT saying >> that Building a US for all of us is an effort to build a multi- >> racial organization! What I am taking from her wisdom is that, >> "Impossible means it just takes a little longer." And reflecting >> on that wisdom gives me great hope in these troubled times. >> >> much love, respect and solidarity to you all, sharon martinas >> >> On Jan 15, 2010, at 3:55 AM, Jeff Hitchcock wrote: >> >> >> >> I?m on the strategy committee for US for All of Us and also helping >> with tech support for the project. There is at least one other >> person from the strategy committee on this list as well. It?s >> helpful to me to hear this conversation, and if people have any >> thoughts or concerns about the US for All of Us project, I?d like >> to hear them. I can?t promise to establish a dialogue with the >> planners. Working on US for All of Us, it feels like there are not >> enough people to do the work. That?s just to say it?s like most >> social justice efforts. We?re focused on several immediate >> simultaneous demands on our time just to get the project going. >> Also, I was not part of the original dialogue and planning among >> the people who drafted the statement, so I can?t speak from >> experience about what the statement writers discussed. >> >> I do know that discussion was long, and probably wide ranging, so I >> would not be surprised if the matter of it being a white-identified >> effort was discussed. Now that the statement has been drafted, >> there is no thought of going back and revising it. Maybe in time >> something like that will happen. But we have our hands full trying >> to build on the work that created the statement itself. >> >> I?m not sure if the issue Lou raised can be resolved. There seems >> to be two approaches to white anti-racism, one being to eschew >> white identity and the other being to work from within it. Somehow >> I feel they are both directed to the same end, but in the here and >> now, they seem incompatible. This is not the only contradiction >> that has arisen among people working for racial justice. The black >> community, for instance, has long had a debate over integration vs >> black nationalism (Martin vs Malcolm), and yet historically it has >> been able to hold both views. >> >> It?s clear to me the US for All of Us effort is white-identified. >> Aside from that I think there is a willingness to embrace all views >> that are directed toward achieving racial justice. People will have >> to decide for themselves if they are willing to place themselves in >> the frame of the statement or not. There is a feeling that we are >> still working out the details, so some things may change or be >> clarified as we move ahead. But the US for All of Us statement >> itself will probably stay as is for now. Our concern now is how to >> shape and grow a network. What will that look like? How can it be a >> vehicle for encouraging anti-racist action? >> >> --Jeff >> _______________________________________________ >> WAsummit mailing list >> WAsummit at lists.wacan.org >> http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit >> >> >> =_______________________________________________ >> WAsummit mailing list >> WAsummit at lists.wacan.org >> http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit > > Norma Smith > The Edge of Each Other's Battles Project > 5245 College Ave #424 > Oakland, CA 94618 > (510) 465-2094 > > The Edge of Each Other's Battles Project brings together social > justice academics and community-based projects to work toward social > change. The Edge Project produces community events, organizes > sessions at academic conferences, and facilitates interdisciplinary, > site-specific, collaboratively designed seminars, conferences, and > working groups on themes related to community history, culture, and > politics. It provides opportunities for scholars to learn from and > with other community members. The Edge Project is inspired by poet- > educator-activist Audre Lorde's vision of cross-community alliance > building and organizing for social justice. The Edge of Each Other's > Battles Project operates under the fiscal sponsorship of the Agape > Foundation - Fund for Nonviolent Social Change. > > _______________________________________________ > WAsummit mailing list > WAsummit at lists.wacan.org > http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: ------------------------------ _______________________________________________ WAsummit mailing list WAsummit at lists.wacan.org http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit End of WAsummit Digest, Vol 19, Issue 21 **************************************** -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From cws at igc.org Sun Jan 17 22:49:19 2010 From: cws at igc.org (Sharon Martinas) Date: Sun, 17 Jan 2010 20:49:19 -0800 Subject: [WAsummit] Fwd: Caricom Blocked References: Message-ID: <49329E8D-9D5A-4D93-9C63-750E2E0BAF68@igc.org> A little more on the situation in Haiti. Not only has Caricom been blocked from landing in Haiti, as indicated in this email which reflects the factual information of people on the ground; but at this point the US military is responsible for blocking all food, water and medicine from getting into the suffering population of Port au Prince until the area can be made 'safe from looters.' This is being done in two ways: (1) All military planes have priority over humanitarian planes for landing rights at the Port au Prince airport, and (2) the huge amount of supplies of medicine, food and water that has already arrived in the airport is not being distributed to the people of Port au Prince until there are 'sufficient' military there to stop the people from 'looting of supplies.' New Orleans all over again. Please please turn of NPR and CNN and turn on to sources from organizations with links to grassroots organizations on the ground. For example, check www.haitisolidarity.net for one of many accurate sources for information. and there are many more. with rage, frustration and love, sharon Begin forwarded message: > From: KA > Date: January 17, 2010 5:02:19 PM PST > To: New Afrika , activistmembers >, Black Left Unity , "Membership at lists.ggjalliance.org > " , katrinasolidarity at googlegroups.com > , GSHRWG at googlegroups.com > Subject: Fwd: [BlackLeftUnity:2535] Caricom Blocked > Reply-To: katrinasolidarity at googlegroups.com > > We must fight against the US tightening its grip on Haiti. We must > demand that the Obama administration let all aid in now and withdraw > the military immediately! > > In Unity and Struggle, > Kali > > ---------- Forwarded message ---------- > From: > Date: Sun, Jan 17, 2010 at 7:33 PM > Subject: [BlackLeftUnity:2535] Caricom Blocked > To: blackleftunity at googlegroups.com > > > > > > > > > FULL STORY > CARICOM BLOCKED > ...as US takes control of airport > Rickey Singh Barbados > Sunday, January 17th 2010 > > > > > > > IN DIRE NEED: A woman reacts in a street in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, > yesterday. Relief groups and officials are focused on moving aid > flowing into Haiti to survivors of the powerful 7.0 earthquake that > hit the country on Tuesday. -Photo: AP > THE CARIBBEAN Community?s emergency aid mission to Haiti, comprising > Heads of Government and leading technical officials, failed to > secure permission Friday to land at that devastated country?s > airport, now under the control of the United States. > Consequently, the Caricom ?assessment mission?, that was to > determine priority humanitarian needs resulting from the mind- > boggling earthquake disaster of Haiti last Tuesday, had to travel > back from Jamaica to their respective home destinations. . > On Friday afternoon the US State Department confirmed signing two > ?Memoranda of Understanding? with the Government of Haiti that made > ?official that the United Stateas is in charge of all inbound and > outbound flights and aid off-loading. ..? > Further, according to the agreements signed, US medical personnel > ?now have the authority to operate on Haitian > citizens and otherwise render medical assistance without having to > wait for licences from Haiti?s government... .? > Prior to the US taking control of Haiti?s airport, a batch of some > 30 Cuban doctors had left Havana, following Wednesday?s earthquake, > to join more than 300 of their colleagues who have been working > there for more than a year. > > Last evening the frustration suffered by the Caricom mission to get > landing permission was expected to be raised in a scheduled meeting > at Jamaica?s Norman Manley International Airport with US Secretary > of State, Hilary Clinton. > Jamaica?s Prime Minister Bruce Golding who was making arrangements > for the meeting with Clinton, following her visit earlier in the day > to witness the devasation of the capital Port-au-Prince, said he > could not comment on details to be discussed. > He, however, told this correspondent: ?I appreciate the chaos and > confusion at Haiti?s airport, where there is just one operational > runway. But Haiti is a member of Caricom and we simply have to be > facilitated and the truth is, there is hardly a functioning > government in Haiti...? > Asked whether the difficulties encountered by the Caricom mission > may be related to reports that US authorities were not anxious to > facilitate landing of aircraft from Cuba and Venezuela, Prime > Minister Golding said he could ?only hope that there is no truth to > such immature thinking in the face of the horrific scale of Haiti?s > tragedy...? > Golding, who has lead portfolio responsibility among Caricom leaders > for external economic relations, had a personal first-hand > assessment when he flew to Haiti on Thursday. > A contingent of some 150 members of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF > has since established a camp with medical facilities in the vicinity > of Haiti?s airport. > Ahead of last evening scheduled meeting with Secretary of State > Clinton, Prime Minister Golding had discussed on Friday in Kingston > some of the problems to be overcome at a meeting he held in Kingston > on Friday with the Prime Ministers of Barbados and Dominica and > including the Community?s Secretary General... > Among urgent matters to be discussed with Secretary Clinton was to > be possible use of the Norman Manley Airport as a primary hub, given > its short distance from Haiti (45 minutes), for all emergency > missions. > The Community?s Secretary General (Edwin Carrington) explained that > proper use of the Norman Manley Airport would be consistent with a > decision last week for Jamaica to serve as the Sub-regional > Operational Focal Point (SOFP) responses to the Haitian humanitarian > crisis. > > > > > > __._,_.___ > Reply to sender | Reply to group > Messages in this topic (1) > RECENT ACTIVITY: > Visit Your Group Start a New Topic > Canada is not immune from the demand for reparations for Afrikan! > MARKETPLACE > Going Green: Your Yahoo! Groups resource for green living > Switch to: Text-Only, Daily Digest ? Unsubscribe ? Terms of Use > . > > __,_._,___ > > > Hotmail: Trusted email with Microsoft?s powerful SPAM protection. > Sign up now. = > > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google > Groups "BlackLeftUnity" group. > To post to this group, send email to blackleftunity at googlegroups.com. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to blackleftunity+unsubscribe at googlegroups.com > . > For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/blackleftunity?hl=en > . > > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google > Groups "bay area katrina solidarity network internal list" group. > To post to this group, send email to katrinasolidarity at googlegroups.com > . > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to katrinasolidarity+unsubscribe at googlegroups.com > . > For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/katrinasolidarity?hl=en > . -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From monacardell at aol.com Mon Jan 18 16:05:07 2010 From: monacardell at aol.com (monacardell at aol.com) Date: Mon, 18 Jan 2010 17:05:07 EST Subject: [WAsummit] Fwd: Caricom Blocked Message-ID: <39a76.6d299e14.38863513@aol.com> Dear Sharon, This is very disturbing. May I forward this on to another listserv of which I am a member? Mona Cardell In a message dated 1/17/2010 11:48:18 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, cws at igc.org writes: A little more on the situation in Haiti. Not only has Caricom been blocked from landing in Haiti, as indicated in this email which reflects the factual information of people on the ground; but at this point the US military is responsible for blocking all food, water and medicine from getting into the suffering population of Port au Prince until the area can be made 'safe from looters.' This is being done in two ways: (1) All military planes have priority over humanitarian planes for landing rights at the Port au Prince airport, and (2) the huge amount of supplies of medicine, food and water that has already arrived in the airport is not being distributed to the people of Port au Prince until there are 'sufficient' military there to stop the people from 'looting of supplies.' New Orleans all over again. Please please turn of NPR and CNN and turn on to sources from organizations with links to grassroots organizations on the ground. For example, check _www.haitisolidarity.net_ (http://www.haitisolidarity.net/) for one of many accurate sources for information. and there are many more. with rage, frustration and love, sharon Begin forwarded message: From: KA <_kaliakuno at gmail.com_ (mailto:kaliakuno at gmail.com) > Date: January 17, 2010 5:02:19 PM PST To: New Afrika <_newafrika at mxgm.org_ (mailto:newafrika at mxgm.org) >, activistmembers <_ActivistMembers at yahoogroups.com_ (mailto:ActivistMembers at yahoogroups.com) >, Black Left Unity <_blackleftunity at googlegroups.com_ (mailto:blackleftunity at googlegroups.com) >, "_Membership at lists.ggjalliance.org_ (mailto:Membership at lists.ggjalliance.org) " <_membership at lists.ggjalliance.org_ (mailto:membership at lists.ggjalliance.org) >, _katrinasolidarity at googlegroups.com_ (mailto:katrinasolidarity at googlegroups.com) , _GSHRWG at googlegroups.com_ (mailto:GSHRWG at googlegroups.com) Subject: Fwd: [BlackLeftUnity:2535] Caricom Blocked Reply-To: _katrinasolidarity at googlegroups.com_ (mailto:katrinasolidarity at googlegroups.com) We must fight against the US tightening its grip on Haiti. We must demand that the Obama administration let all aid in now and withdraw the military immediately! In Unity and Struggle, Kali ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: <_theresaelamin at aol.com_ (mailto:theresaelamin at aol.com) > Date: Sun, Jan 17, 2010 at 7:33 PM Subject: [BlackLeftUnity:2535] Caricom Blocked To: _blackleftunity at googlegroups.com_ (mailto:blackleftunity at googlegroups.com) (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/io_index) FULL STORY CARICOM BLOCKED ...as US takes control of airport Rickey Singh Barbados Sunday, January 17th 2010 IN DIRE NEED: A woman reacts in a street in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, yesterday. Relief groups and officials are focused on moving aid flowing into Haiti to survivors of the powerful 7.0 earthquake that hit the country on Tuesday. -Photo: AP THE CARIBBEAN Community?s emergency aid mission to Haiti, comprising Heads of Government and leading technical officials, failed to secure permission Friday to land at that devastated country?s airport, now under the control of the United States. Consequently, the Caricom ?assessment mission?, that was to determine priority humanitarian needs resulting from the mind-boggling earthquake disaster of Haiti last Tuesday, had to travel back from Jamaica to their respective home destinations. . On Friday afternoon the US State Department confirmed signing two ? Memoranda of Understanding? with the Government of Haiti that made ?official that the United Stateas is in charge of all inbound and outbound flights and aid off-loading. ..? Further, according to the agreements signed, US medical personnel ?now have the authority to operate on Haitian citizens and otherwise render medical assistance without having to wait for licences from Haiti?s government... .? Prior to the US taking control of Haiti?s airport, a batch of some 30 Cuban doctors had left Havana, following Wednesday?s earthquake, to join more than 300 of their colleagues who have been working there for more than a year. Last evening the frustration suffered by the Caricom mission to get landing permission was expected to be raised in a scheduled meeting at Jamaica?s Norman Manley International Airport with US Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton. Jamaica?s Prime Minister Bruce Golding who was making arrangements for the meeting with Clinton, following her visit earlier in the day to witness the devasation of the capital Port-au-Prince, said he could not comment on details to be discussed. He, however, told this correspondent: ?I appreciate the chaos and confusion at Haiti?s airport, where there is just one operational runway. But Haiti is a member of Caricom and we simply have to be facilitated and the truth is, there is hardly a functioning government in Haiti...? Asked whether the difficulties encountered by the Caricom mission may be related to reports that US authorities were not anxious to facilitate landing of aircraft from Cuba and Venezuela, Prime Minister Golding said he could ?only hope that there is no truth to such immature thinking in the face of the horrific scale of Haiti?s tragedy...? Golding, who has lead portfolio responsibility among Caricom leaders for external economic relations, had a personal first-hand assessment when he flew to Haiti on Thursday. A contingent of some 150 members of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF has since established a camp with medical facilities in the vicinity of Haiti?s airport. Ahead of last evening scheduled meeting with Secretary of State Clinton, Prime Minister Golding had discussed on Friday in Kingston some of the problems to be overcome at a meeting he held in Kingston on Friday with the Prime Ministers of Barbados and Dominica and including the Community?s Secretary General... Among urgent matters to be discussed with Secretary Clinton was to be possible use of the Norman Manley Airport as a primary hub, given its short distance from Haiti (45 minutes), for all emergency missions. The Community?s Secretary General (Edwin Carrington) explained that proper use of the Norman Manley Airport would be consistent with a decision last week for Jamaica to serve as the Sub-regional Operational Focal Point (SOFP) responses to the Haitian humanitarian crisis. __._,_.___ _Reply to sender_ (http:///mc/compose?to=etoppin at sympatico.ca&subject=Caricom%20Blocked) | _Reply to group_ (http:///mc/compose?to=GAC_Canada at yahoogroups.com&subject=Caricom%20Blocked) _Messages in this topic_ (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GAC_Canada/message/7297;_ylc=X3oDMTM1bTlvaTRmBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzEyMDY5NTI3BGdycHNwSWQDMTc wNTA2Mzk4NQRtc2dJZAM3Mjk3BHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA3Z0cGMEc3RpbWUDMTI2Mzc1MzQ2MAR0cGN JZAM3Mjk3) (1) Recent Activity: _Visit Your Group_ (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GAC_Canada;_ylc=X3oDMTJmdW9jcThhBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzEyMDY5NTI3BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA2Mzk4NQRzZWMDdn RsBHNsawN2Z2hwBHN0aW1lAzEyNjM3NTM0NjA-) _Start a New Topic_ (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GAC_Canada/post;_ylc=X3oDMTJma2hkZ3M2BF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycEl kAzEyMDY5NTI3BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA2Mzk4NQRzZWMDZnRyBHNsawNudHBjBHN0aW1lAzEyNjM 3NTM0NjA-) Canada is not immune from the demand for reparations for Afrikan! 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To post to this group, send email to _blackleftunity at googlegroups.com_ (mailto:blackleftunity at googlegroups.com) . To unsubscribe from this group, send email to _blackleftunity+unsubscribe at googlegroups.com_ (mailto:blackleftunity+unsubscribe at googlegroups.com) . For more options, visit this group at _http://groups.google.com/group/blackleftunity?hl=en_ (http://groups.google.com/group/blackleftunity?hl=en) . -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "bay area katrina solidarity network internal list" group. To post to this group, send email to _katrinasolidarity at googlegroups.com_ (mailto:katrinasolidarity at googlegroups.com) . To unsubscribe from this group, send email to _katrinasolidarity+unsubscribe at googlegroups.com_ (mailto:katrinasolidarity+unsubscribe at googlegroups.com) . For more options, visit this group at _http://groups.google.com/group/katrinasolidarity?hl=en_ (http://groups.google.com/group/katrinasolidarity?hl=en) . = _______________________________________________ WAsummit mailing list WAsummit at lists.wacan.org http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From cws at igc.org Mon Jan 18 20:27:56 2010 From: cws at igc.org (Sharon Martinas) Date: Mon, 18 Jan 2010 18:27:56 -0800 Subject: [WAsummit] Fwd: Caricom Blocked In-Reply-To: <39a76.6d299e14.38863513@aol.com> References: <39a76.6d299e14.38863513@aol.com> Message-ID: <0E5C79E6-97F0-41BD-8D57-D2788F9B41E5@igc.org> Dear Mona, Please forward it widely. I'll also be sending a powerful historical analysis and strategy perspective from anti-racist organizer and journalist Jordan Flaherty, based in New Orleans. sharon On Jan 18, 2010, at 2:05 PM, monacardell at aol.com wrote: > Dear Sharon, > > This is very disturbing. May I forward this on to another listserv > of which I am a member? > > Mona Cardell > > In a message dated 1/17/2010 11:48:18 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, cws at igc.org > writes: > A little more on the situation in Haiti. Not only has Caricom been > blocked from landing in Haiti, as indicated in this email which > reflects the factual information of people on the ground; but at > this point the US military is responsible for blocking all food, > water and medicine from getting into the suffering population of > Port au Prince until the area can be made 'safe from looters.' > > This is being done in two ways: (1) All military planes have > priority over humanitarian planes for landing rights at the Port au > Prince airport, and (2) the huge amount of supplies of medicine, > food and water that has already arrived in the airport is not being > distributed to the people of Port au Prince until there are > 'sufficient' military there to stop the people from 'looting of > supplies.' > > New Orleans all over again. > > Please please turn of NPR and CNN and turn on to sources from > organizations with links to grassroots organizations on the > ground. For example, check www.haitisolidarity.net for one of many > accurate sources for information. and there are many more. > > with rage, frustration and love, sharon > > > > Begin forwarded message: > >> From: KA >> Date: January 17, 2010 5:02:19 PM PST >> To: New Afrika , activistmembers > >, Black Left Unity , "Membership at lists.ggjalliance.org >> " , katrinasolidarity at googlegroups.com >> , GSHRWG at googlegroups.com >> Subject: Fwd: [BlackLeftUnity:2535] Caricom Blocked >> Reply-To: katrinasolidarity at googlegroups.com >> >> We must fight against the US tightening its grip on Haiti. We must >> demand that the Obama administration let all aid in now and >> withdraw the military immediately! >> >> In Unity and Struggle, >> Kali >> >> ---------- Forwarded message ---------- >> From: >> Date: Sun, Jan 17, 2010 at 7:33 PM >> Subject: [BlackLeftUnity:2535] Caricom Blocked >> To: blackleftunity at googlegroups.com >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> FULL STORY >> CARICOM BLOCKED >> ...as US takes control of airport >> Rickey Singh Barbados >> Sunday, January 17th 2010 >> >> >> >> >> >> >> IN DIRE NEED: A woman reacts in a street in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, >> yesterday. Relief groups and officials are focused on moving aid >> flowing into Haiti to survivors of the powerful 7.0 earthquake that >> hit the country on Tuesday. -Photo: AP >> THE CARIBBEAN Community?s emergency aid mission to Haiti, >> comprising Heads of Government and leading technical officials, >> failed to secure permission Friday to land at that devastated >> country?s airport, now under the control of the United States. >> Consequently, the Caricom ?assessment mission?, that was to >> determine priority humanitarian needs resulting from the mind- >> boggling earthquake disaster of Haiti last Tuesday, had to travel >> back from Jamaica to their respective home destinations. . >> On Friday afternoon the US State Department confirmed signing two >> ?Memoranda of Understanding? with the Government of Haiti that made >> ?official that the United Stateas is in charge of all inbound and >> outbound flights and aid off-loading. ..? >> Further, according to the agreements signed, US medical personnel >> ?now have the authority to operate on Haitian citizens and >> otherwise render medical assistance without having to wait for >> licences from Haiti?s government... .? >> Prior to the US taking control of Haiti?s airport, a batch of some >> 30 Cuban doctors had left Havana, following Wednesday?s earthquake, >> to join more than 300 of their colleagues who have been working >> there for more than a year. >> >> Last evening the frustration suffered by the Caricom mission to get >> landing permission was expected to be raised in a scheduled meeting >> at Jamaica?s Norman Manley International Airport with US Secretary >> of State, Hilary Clinton. >> Jamaica?s Prime Minister Bruce Golding who was making arrangements >> for the meeting with Clinton, following her visit earlier in the >> day to witness the devasation of the capital Port-au-Prince, said >> he could not comment on details to be discussed. >> He, however, told this correspondent: ?I appreciate the chaos and >> confusion at Haiti?s airport, where there is just one operational >> runway. But Haiti is a member of Caricom and we simply have to be >> facilitated and the truth is, there is hardly a functioning >> government in Haiti...? >> Asked whether the difficulties encountered by the Caricom mission >> may be related to reports that US authorities were not anxious to >> facilitate landing of aircraft from Cuba and Venezuela, Prime >> Minister Golding said he could ?only hope that there is no truth to >> such immature thinking in the face of the horrific scale of Haiti?s >> tragedy...? >> Golding, who has lead portfolio responsibility among Caricom >> leaders for external economic relations, had a personal first-hand >> assessment when he flew to Haiti on Thursday. >> A contingent of some 150 members of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF >> has since established a camp with medical facilities in the >> vicinity of Haiti?s airport. >> Ahead of last evening scheduled meeting with Secretary of State >> Clinton, Prime Minister Golding had discussed on Friday in Kingston >> some of the problems to be overcome at a meeting he held in >> Kingston on Friday with the Prime Ministers of Barbados and >> Dominica and including the Community?s Secretary General... >> Among urgent matters to be discussed with Secretary Clinton was to >> be possible use of the Norman Manley Airport as a primary hub, >> given its short distance from Haiti (45 minutes), for all emergency >> missions. >> The Community?s Secretary General (Edwin Carrington) explained that >> proper use of the Norman Manley Airport would be consistent with a >> decision last week for Jamaica to serve as the Sub-regional >> Operational Focal Point (SOFP) responses to the Haitian >> humanitarian crisis. >> >> >> >> >> >> __._,_.___ >> Reply to sender | Reply to group >> Messages in this topic (1) >> RECENT ACTIVITY: >> Visit Your Group Start a New Topic >> Canada is not immune from the demand for reparations for Afrikan! >> MARKETPLACE >> Going Green: Your Yahoo! Groups resource for green living >> Switch to: Text-Only, Daily Digest ? Unsubscribe ? Terms of Use >> . >> >> __,_._,___ >> >> >> Hotmail: Trusted email with Microsoft?s powerful SPAM protection. >> Sign up now. = >> >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >> Groups "BlackLeftUnity" group. >> To post to this group, send email to blackleftunity at googlegroups.com. >> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to blackleftunity+unsubscribe at googlegroups.com >> . >> For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/blackleftunity?hl=en >> . >> >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >> Groups "bay area katrina solidarity network internal list" group. >> To post to this group, send email to katrinasolidarity at googlegroups.com >> . >> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to katrinasolidarity+unsubscribe at googlegroups.com >> . >> For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/katrinasolidarity?hl=en >> . > > = > > _______________________________________________ > WAsummit mailing list > WAsummit at lists.wacan.org > http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit > _______________________________________________ > WAsummit mailing list > WAsummit at lists.wacan.org > http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From cws at igc.org Mon Jan 18 20:28:49 2010 From: cws at igc.org (Sharon Martinas) Date: Mon, 18 Jan 2010 18:28:49 -0800 Subject: [WAsummit] Fwd: [jordannola] New Orleans' Heart is in Haiti References: <65389e831001180958y49bfc961m51c9cfd407ef05aa@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: hi to all, please check out this powerful analysis and strategy from veteran anti-racist organizer and Left Turn journalist, based in New Orleans. sharon Begin forwarded message: > From: jordan flaherty > Date: January 18, 2010 9:58:24 AM PST > To: jordanhurricane at lists.riseup.net > Subject: [jordannola] New Orleans' Heart is in Haiti > > Dear Friends and Allies, > > Today I have posted a new article at Huffington Post (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jordan-flaherty/new-orleans-heart-is-in-h_b_427108.html > ) about the links and lessons between New Orleans and Haiti. Please > check it out and let me know what you think. > > I have also been blogging at the Louisiana Justice Institute blog (http://louisianajusticeinstitute.blogspot.com > ). The blog also features important writing by Bill Quigley, Tracie > Washington, and Jacques Morial, and is a great resource for news and > information from New Orleans and Louisiana. In the past week, we've > posted some great links and information both on the context of the > disaster in Haiti, and ways to help and get involved. > > In solidarity, > > Jordan > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > New Orleans' Heart is in Haiti > By Jordan Flaherty > http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jordan-flaherty/new-orleans-heart-is-in-h_b_427108.html > > New Orleans and Haiti are connected by geography, history, > architecture, and family, and news of mass devastation and loss of > life in the island nation has hit hard in the Crescent City. Almost > every hurricane that has hit our city first brought devastation on > our neighbors in Haiti. We are linked not just by a shared > experience of storms, but also by first-hand understanding of the > ways in which oppression based on race, class and gender interacts > with these disasters. > > Many New Orleanians have roots in Haiti, and their revolution lent > inspiration to our city. The 500 enslaved people from the parishes > outside New Orleans that participated in the 1811 Rebellion to End > Slavery (the largest armed uprising against slavery in the US) were > directly inspired the Haitian revolution. Even much of our housing > design ? such as the Creole cottage and shotgun house - came here > via Haiti. > > As historian Carl A. Brasseaux has noted, "During a six-month period > in 1809, approximately 10,000 refugees from Saint-Domingue (present- > day Haiti) arrived at New Orleans, doubling the Crescent City?s > population...The vast majority of these refugees established > themselves permanently in the Crescent City. [They] had a profound > impact upon New Orleans? development. Refugees established the > state?s first newspaper and introduced opera into the Crescent City. > They also appear to have played a role in the development of Creole > cuisine and the perpetuation of voodoo practices in the New Orleans > area." > > After Katrina, Haitian American writer Edwidge Danticat said New > Orleans looked more like Haiti than the US. ?It?s hard for those of > us who are from places like Freetown or Port-au-Prince not to wonder > why the so-called developed world needs so desperately to distance > itself from us, especially at a time when an unimaginable tragedy > shows exactly how much alike we are,? Danticat said. ?We do share a > planet that is gradually being warmed by mismanagement, unbalanced > exploration, and dismal environmental policies that might one day > render us all, First World and Third World residents alike, helpless > to more disasters like Hurricane Katrina." > > In the days after Katrina, there was no rescue plan for the > thousands of people trapped in Orleans Parish Prison, most of whom > had not been convicted of any crime, the majority held for > nonviolent offenses that ranged from drug violations to traffic > tickets. In Port Au Prince, nearly 4,500 Haitians held in a prison > built for 800 had the walls fall around them. Many died while others > managed to escape. And the corporate media used the fact that these > prisoners had freed themselves as an excuse to sow fear against the > earthquake victims. > > Now, just as after Katrina, the media is eager to demonize and > criminalize the victims as ?looters.? Pat Robertson has even added a > new twist to this old libel, accusing the people of Haiti of > literally making a deal with Satan. > > New Orleans? education, health care, and criminal justice systems > were already in crisis before Katrina. In Haiti, two hundred years > of crippling debt imposed by France, the US and other colonial > powers drained the country's financial resources. Military > occupation and presidential coups coordinated and funded by the US > have devastated the nation's government infrastructure. > > Haitian poet and human rights lawyer Ezili Dant? has written, > "Haiti's poverty began with a US/Euro trade embargo after its > independence, continued with the Independence Debt to France and > ecclesiastical and financial colonialism. Moreover, in more recent > times, the uses of U.S. foreign aid, as administered through USAID > in Haiti, basically serves to fuel conflicts and covertly promote > U.S. corporate interests to the detriment of democracy and Haitian > health, liberty, sovereignty, social justice and political freedoms. > USAID projects have been at the frontlines of orchestrating > undemocratic behavior, bringing underdevelopment, coup d??tat, > impunity of the Haitian Oligarchy, indefinite incarceration of > dissenters, and destroying Haiti's food sovereignty, essentially > promoting famine." > > Author Naomi Klein reported that within 24 hours of the earthquake, > the influential right-wing think tank the Heritage Foundation was > already seeking to use the disaster as an attempt at further > privatization of the country's economy. The Heritage Foundation > released similar recommendations in the days after Katrina, calling > for ?solutions? such as school vouchers. > > Our Katrina experience has taught us to be suspicious of Red Cross > and other large and bureaucratic aid agencies that function without > and means of community accountability. In New Orleans, we've seen > literally tens of billions of dollars in aid pledged in the years > since Katrina, but only a small fraction of that has made it to > those most in need. > > A recent letter signed by six human rights organizations brings > these concerns to the discussion of Haiti relief. ?There is no doubt > that Haiti?s hungry, thirsty, injured, and sick urgently need all > the assistance the international community can provide, but it is > critical that the underlying goal of improving human rights drives > the distribution of every dollar of aid given to Haiti,? said Loune > Viaud, Director of Strategic Planning and Operations at Zanmi > Lasante, one of the drafters of the letter. ?The only way to avoid > escalation of this crisis is for international aid to take a long- > term view and strive to rebuild a stronger Haiti?one that includes a > government that can ensure the basic human rights of all Haitians > and a nation that is empowered to demand those rights.? > > INCITE Women Of Color Against Violence and other feminist > organizations brought attention to the way that disaster in > gendered, noting that women were especially victimized by Katrina > and it?s aftermath. An organization called the Gender and Disaster > Network released six principles for engendered relief and > reconstruction, stating, ?Gender analysis is not optional or > divisive but imperative to direct aid and plan for full and > equitable recovery. Nothing in disaster work is ?gender neutral.?? > INCITE activists forwarded a list of Women-run organizations in > Haiti, encouraging activists to support relief that focuses on those > hardest hit by this disaster. > > The final lesson from New Orleans is this: Haiti will still be in > crisis long after all of the news cameras have left. As concerned > family and friends of Haiti, New Orleanians have pledged to stay > involved and not forget about the continuing needs of rebuilding and > recovery. We share a common history, and we will work for a shared > future of justice and liberation. > > Jordan Flaherty is a journalist, an editor of Left Turn Magazine, > and a staffer with the Louisiana Justice Institute. He was the first > writer to bring the story of the Jena Six to a national audience and > audiences around the world have seen the television reports he?s > produced for Al-Jazeera, TeleSur, GritTV, and Democracy Now. > Haymarket Press will release his new book, FLOODLINES: Stories of > Community and Resistance from Katrina to the Jena Six, in 2010. He > can be reached at neworleans at leftturn.org. > > This is a low-volume email list for Jordan Flaherty's articles and > updates from New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. To subscribe, email jordanhurricane-subscribe at lists.riseup.net > . To unsubscribe, email jordanhurricane-unsubscribe at lists.riseup.net. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From monacardell at aol.com Mon Jan 18 20:49:40 2010 From: monacardell at aol.com (monacardell at aol.com) Date: Mon, 18 Jan 2010 21:49:40 EST Subject: [WAsummit] Fwd: Caricom Blocked Message-ID: <41b07.4103f84e.388677c4@aol.com> Thanks, Sharon. Mona In a message dated 1/18/2010 9:26:21 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, cws at igc.org writes: Dear Mona, Please forward it widely. I'll also be sending a powerful historical analysis and strategy perspective from anti-racist organizer and journalist Jordan Flaherty, based in New Orleans. sharon On Jan 18, 2010, at 2:05 PM, _monacardell at aol.com_ (mailto:monacardell at aol.com) wrote: Dear Sharon, This is very disturbing. May I forward this on to another listserv of which I am a member? Mona Cardell In a message dated 1/17/2010 11:48:18 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, _cws at igc.org_ (mailto:cws at igc.org) writes: A little more on the situation in Haiti. Not only has Caricom been blocked from landing in Haiti, as indicated in this email which reflects the factual information of people on the ground; but at this point the US military is responsible for blocking all food, water and medicine from getting into the suffering population of Port au Prince until the area can be made 'safe from looters.' This is being done in two ways: (1) All military planes have priority over humanitarian planes for landing rights at the Port au Prince airport, and (2) the huge amount of supplies of medicine, food and water that has already arrived in the airport is not being distributed to the people of Port au Prince until there are 'sufficient' military there to stop the people from 'looting of supplies.' New Orleans all over again. Please please turn of NPR and CNN and turn on to sources from organizations with links to grassroots organizations on the ground. For example, check _www.haitisolidarity.net_ (http://www.haitisolidarity.net/) for one of many accurate sources for information. and there are many more. with rage, frustration and love, sharon Begin forwarded message: From: KA <_kaliakuno at gmail.com_ (mailto:kaliakuno at gmail.com) > Date: January 17, 2010 5:02:19 PM PST To: New Afrika <_newafrika at mxgm.org_ (mailto:newafrika at mxgm.org) >, activistmembers <_ActivistMembers at yahoogroups.com_ (mailto:ActivistMembers at yahoogroups.com) >, Black Left Unity <_blackleftunity at googlegroups.com_ (mailto:blackleftunity at googlegroups.com) >, "_Membership at lists.ggjalliance.org_ (mailto:Membership at lists.ggjalliance.org) " <_membership at lists.ggjalliance.org_ (mailto:membership at lists.ggjalliance.org) >, _katrinasolidarity at googlegroups.com_ (mailto:katrinasolidarity at googlegroups.com) , _GSHRWG at googlegroups.com_ (mailto:GSHRWG at googlegroups.com) Subject: Fwd: [BlackLeftUnity:2535] Caricom Blocked Reply-To: _katrinasolidarity at googlegroups.com_ (mailto:katrinasolidarity at googlegroups.com) We must fight against the US tightening its grip on Haiti. We must demand that the Obama administration let all aid in now and withdraw the military immediately! In Unity and Struggle, Kali ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: <_theresaelamin at aol.com_ (mailto:theresaelamin at aol.com) > Date: Sun, Jan 17, 2010 at 7:33 PM Subject: [BlackLeftUnity:2535] Caricom Blocked To: _blackleftunity at googlegroups.com_ (mailto:blackleftunity at googlegroups.com) (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/io_index) FULL STORY CARICOM BLOCKED ...as US takes control of airport Rickey Singh Barbados Sunday, January 17th 2010 IN DIRE NEED: A woman reacts in a street in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, yesterday. Relief groups and officials are focused on moving aid flowing into Haiti to survivors of the powerful 7.0 earthquake that hit the country on Tuesday. -Photo: AP THE CARIBBEAN Community?s emergency aid mission to Haiti, comprising Heads of Government and leading technical officials, failed to secure permission Friday to land at that devastated country?s airport, now under the control of the United States. Consequently, the Caricom ?assessment mission?, that was to determine priority humanitarian needs resulting from the mind-boggling earthquake disaster of Haiti last Tuesday, had to travel back from Jamaica to their respective home destinations. . On Friday afternoon the US State Department confirmed signing two ? Memoranda of Understanding? with the Government of Haiti that made ?official that the United Stateas is in charge of all inbound and outbound flights and aid off-loading. ..? Further, according to the agreements signed, US medical personnel ?now have the authority to operate on Haitian citizens and otherwise render medical assistance without having to wait for licences from Haiti?s government... .? Prior to the US taking control of Haiti?s airport, a batch of some 30 Cuban doctors had left Havana, following Wednesday?s earthquake, to join more than 300 of their colleagues who have been working there for more than a year. Last evening the frustration suffered by the Caricom mission to get landing permission was expected to be raised in a scheduled meeting at Jamaica?s Norman Manley International Airport with US Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton. Jamaica?s Prime Minister Bruce Golding who was making arrangements for the meeting with Clinton, following her visit earlier in the day to witness the devasation of the capital Port-au-Prince, said he could not comment on details to be discussed. He, however, told this correspondent: ?I appreciate the chaos and confusion at Haiti?s airport, where there is just one operational runway. But Haiti is a member of Caricom and we simply have to be facilitated and the truth is, there is hardly a functioning government in Haiti...? Asked whether the difficulties encountered by the Caricom mission may be related to reports that US authorities were not anxious to facilitate landing of aircraft from Cuba and Venezuela, Prime Minister Golding said he could ?only hope that there is no truth to such immature thinking in the face of the horrific scale of Haiti?s tragedy...? Golding, who has lead portfolio responsibility among Caricom leaders for external economic relations, had a personal first-hand assessment when he flew to Haiti on Thursday. A contingent of some 150 members of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF has since established a camp with medical facilities in the vicinity of Haiti?s airport. Ahead of last evening scheduled meeting with Secretary of State Clinton, Prime Minister Golding had discussed on Friday in Kingston some of the problems to be overcome at a meeting he held in Kingston on Friday with the Prime Ministers of Barbados and Dominica and including the Community?s Secretary General... Among urgent matters to be discussed with Secretary Clinton was to be possible use of the Norman Manley Airport as a primary hub, given its short distance from Haiti (45 minutes), for all emergency missions. 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URL: From llyates at shentel.net Mon Jan 18 22:34:52 2010 From: llyates at shentel.net (Larry Yates) Date: Mon, 18 Jan 2010 23:34:52 -0500 Subject: [WAsummit] =?windows-1252?q?Ha=EFti=27s_needs_vs=2E_US_=22nationa?= =?windows-1252?q?l_security=3F=22?= In-Reply-To: <49329E8D-9D5A-4D93-9C63-750E2E0BAF68@igc.org> References: <49329E8D-9D5A-4D93-9C63-750E2E0BAF68@igc.org> Message-ID: If this email makes sense to you, you may want to contact your Member of Congress or the White House to ask that US assistance to Ha?ti be demilitarized. And you may want to pass on this, or pass on these ideas, to people you know. ========= Following the lead of Sharon Martinas' keen mind and keener s**t detector on the White Allies Summit email list, I did a little research. Based on what I found out, I have some serious concerns about what is being done in Haiti in our name, and whether the people's urgent needs will be met by the approach the US government is taking. THE US NATIONAL SECURITY ELITE ON HAITI The Washington Post's front page (which I call the national security elite's bulletin board) headlines today (Monday) "Security fears mount in lawless post-earthquake Haiti." This is a troubling signal. Why the emphasis on lawlessness rather on the clearly more serious concerns of food and water shortages, lack of shelter and medical care? Is law and order really the main concern for Ha?ti right now? Of course, Haitian society is in terrible condition. Tens or hundreds of thousands of people have died, and most people in the Port au Prince area are homeless, jobless, and with no means of support. But is Haiti "lawlessness" the same kind of fantasy as Katrina's looters, snipers and rapists? Is this lawlessness what Washington decision- makers see when they look at a "black rabble" in trouble, yes, even with a Black president? Is the image of lawlessness being used to justify a more military approach than is needed? The right-wing Heritage Foundation at http://www.heritage.org/Research/LatinAmerica/wm2754.cfm has recommended a national security agenda for our intervention in Ha?ti. Is this kind of approach overshadowing or delaying the humanitarian agenda? Is US control more important to our decision- makers than human lives, as it clearly is to the Heritage Foundation writers? PAT ROBERTSON IS RELEVANT It's worth remembering Pat Robertson's comment here. Ol' Pat was not just talking randomly out of his posterior as he did after 9/11. Pat Robertson was citing history, or at least historical myth -- the generations-old myth that the Haitians had a pact with the Devil. This was gospel truth to Pat Robertson's people, from his Jim Crow U.S. Senator father to the slaveholding kinfolk he cites on his official website. The "pact" he talks about is known to Ha?tians as Boukman's prayer -- an appeal for divine justice that was the spark of the Haitian Revolution. Nothing was more threatening to the slavocracy or the segregationists than the possibility of a prosperous and unfettered Haiti. Even after the rise of the Soviet Union, Jim Crow attitudes towards Ha?ti still determined US policy. Today, Ha?ti has no oil, no terrorist training camps. The fact that Ha?ti is close to us geographically is irrelevant in a world where North Korea and Azerbaijan are strategically important. Yet the US elites still find it important to get in Ha?ti's business as recently as when they kidnapped the elected President Aristide. WHY DOES HAITI REALLY MATTER? Think for a moment what a strong Ha?ti would mean to African- Americans. Think of a proud nation, right in the Caribbean, born from the rebellion of slaves, that African-Americans, and all people of good will, could admire rather than pity. Now think of it, as the Heritage Foundation folks do, allied to Cuba and Venezuela. However you think about it, this would be a shock to the US system as we know it. It is not paranoia to believe there are many leaders in Washington DC who would do a lot to prevent this. And unfortunately it is quite believable that they would be willing to see a lot of Ha?tians die unnecessarily -- or at least put saving lives second to what they say as US interests. Is this why the U.S. aid effort is so militarized? IS THE US MILITARY THE RIGHT CHOICE TO RUN HAITI DISASTER RELIEF? Did the US military need to completely take over the sole functioning airport near Port Au Prince? Should the military be controlling the aid flow, and is it qualified to do so? Are Cuban and Venezuelan aid, which are close, culturally appropriate and probably more friendly to the average Ha?tian, being blocked, and at what cost of lives? Why isn't a UN body or the Caribbean entity CARICOM or some other neutral entity in charge of the relief effort? And no matter how pure the US motives, will Ha?tians simply accept total US military control of their situation at face value? Ha?tians who have seen a recent President kidnapped by US forces, and in the last century, in the words of Marine Major General Smedley Butler, saw the Marines invade over and over again to "make Haiti .. a decent place for the National City Bank boys to collect revenues in." The fact is that the US military is the single entity most identified with thwarting the democratic will of the Ha?tian people for more than a century. TELL THE PRESIDENT AND THE CONGRESS TO PUT THE HAITIAN PEOPLE'S URGENT SURVIVAL OVER US NATIONAL SECURITY INTERESTS -- PUT THE RELIEF EFFORT IN INTERNATIONAL CIVILIAN HANDS. (On the immediate situation, I recommend these articles, though I cannot confirm everything stated in them: The Militarization of Emergency Aid to Haiti: Is it a Humanitarian Operation or an Invasion? by Michel Chossudovsky http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=17000) and POLITICS OF THE EARTHQUAKE RESPECT THE PEOPLE OF HAITI By Robert Roth http://haitisolidarity.live.radicaldesigns.org/article.php?id=368 BTW, I am not suggesting that US troops could not or would not do a brave and generous job of helping Ha?tians as part of a broad humanitarian effort. It's their civilian bosses in Washington I'm worried about. ========= Larry Yates llyates at shentel.net www.user.shentel.net/llyates ================================== From louschoen at gmail.com Mon Jan 18 23:27:33 2010 From: louschoen at gmail.com (Louis Schoen) Date: Mon, 18 Jan 2010 23:27:33 -0600 Subject: [WAsummit] more on 'whiteness' Message-ID: Dear anti-racist friends and colleagues: The discussion that I stirred reveals a need for clarification of some points. It illustrates, I suggest, the deep psychological trauma that we share in our "whiteness" - but I emphasize that I was NOT advocating abolishing "white" identity TODAY! The 2010 Census alone makes that quite impossible. I don't expect it to be abolished in my lifetime. Or possibly in any of yours. And, most emphatically, I was NOT suggesting denying or eschewing it. I agree that we have to work within it in the struggle for change. BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE HAVE TO ADVOCATE IT AS A CORRECT IDENTITY - either directly or by inference. My premise and that in the books I cited includes the understanding that we cannot realistically escape the privileged identity which our history, our government and our social system have imposed upon us. We have to accept it and use it in the anti-racist struggle against the pervasive white supremacy that still dominates our culture in ways ranging from subtle to extreme. But our case is strengthened, I believe, if we acknowledge and affirm that this identity is, itself, fundamental to the racist system that we seek to overturn. As we own our "whiteness" we need to also own its inherent oppressiveness (which James Baldwin pointed out), and include it in the agenda for change. We are, in effect, perpetuating the system if we fail to simultaneously challenge the "racial" identity that inherently empowers us. The need for this consciousness is underlined by the relative value that our language gives to "white" in comparison with every other primary color (but especially black) in the dictionary. When we use the term "white," as a racial designation, we can assert that it's a false identity imposed upon us as the price of racial privilege. I find it helpful to put the word "white" in quotes when printed, to support that acknowledgment. Unless the "white" anti-racist movement addresses this issue directly and persistently, it holds great danger of merely strengthening the belief in "whiteness" and, thereby, reinforcing one of the most basic value judgments underlying white supremacist ideology. As to how this sets with people of color: I've used it in a few mixed settings as well as in workshops serving mostly "white" people. In my experience, when presented honestly in the context of an anti-racist message, after an in-depth discussion of white privilege, it is accepted and understood. I believe that it also helps to motivate "white" people to see some personal disadvantages in maintaining their white privilege. I usually offer them a list of "costs of whiteness." Here's my supporting handout: *SOME COSTS OF ?WHITENESS?* It has become well established in teachings and literature since the 1980s that a fundamental reality underlying and resulting from racism in America is the special power and privileges that it grants to people who are identified as white. This condition is mirrored by the immense limitations and destruction imposed by the racist system on people not defined as white (predominantly those with African, Asian, Indigenous American and/or Latino/a ancestry). As we entered the 21st century, it had also become well-established that the very concept of ?race,? as understood in the West, is a product of social, educational, economic and political manipulation. The scientific validity claimed for it in the past three centuries has been acknowledged as false. The terms commonly used to classify people by the U.S. Government and many other institutions are products of this myth-making system. The pseudo-scientific names (especially, Caucasian) and colors (especially, ?white?) associated with these identity classifications are false. History reveals that they were chosen by power elites in Europe and the USA to capitalize on metaphoric differentials in the color definitions that claimed value ascending from darkest to lightest. People classified as ?white? commonly are actually mixed lighter shades of the primary colors of red, yellow and brown. Their benefits from the white supremacist cultural dominance, however, impedes changing understanding. It is seldom acknowledged, openly, that ?white? power and privilege come with distinct costs to everyone benefiting from them. Acknowledging these costs should be helpful in motivating change. Following are some examples applicable to all well-intentioned ?white? people, including the many who mistakenly aspire to ?color-blindness.? 1. We are inherently seen as ?the oppressor? by people not ?white.? 2. Authentic inter-racial relationships are hard to build 3. Prejudices, stereotypes and scapegoating of people who are not ?white? enter our minds against our will 4. We?re trapped into denial by relationships with other ?whites? who refuse to talk about race 5. We?re drawn into conversations & media portrayals that assume ?whiteness? as normative and/or superior 6. It?s hard to find housing in a moderately priced mixed-race neighborhood in most cities 7. It?s often hard to find healthy portrayals of diversity in education or entertainment for children 8. Our children are denied accurate interpretations of American history and heroic figures 9. We are burdened with fear that what we have is unearned and subject to loss if ?white? people become a racial minority 10. We are led to believe that most poor people in the USA are not ?white? ? contrary to statistical reality. 11. We pay an excessive tax burden for criminal justice, for building and operating prisons and for emergency health care services, in preference to assuring quality education, health care and job development that would equitably serve families who are not ?white? and are confined by social and economic practices to predominantly segregated, low-income communities. 12. We know, and (if honestly self-observant) are reminded when looking in a mirror, that we are living a lie, for we are not really white. 13. We are haunted by the fear of being considered ?racist.? The psychological, spiritual, social and economic costs of this system to ?white? people are immense, but predominantly ignored or denied. Some, of course ? especially those most profoundly empowered or enriched by the historic system ? could see their profit more than offsetting the costs. Most ?white? people, however, are misled into ignoring the price they?re paying. Consciousness-raising is a fundamental step toward change. - Louis Stanley Schoen, Minneapoli October 2009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From OppEd at toad.net Tue Jan 19 14:23:03 2010 From: OppEd at toad.net (Lucy Oppenheim) Date: Tue, 19 Jan 2010 15:23:03 -0500 Subject: [WAsummit] =?iso-8859-1?q?Ha=EFti=27s_needs_vs=2E_US_=22national_?= =?iso-8859-1?q?security=3F=22?= In-Reply-To: References: <49329E8D-9D5A-4D93-9C63-750E2E0BAF68@igc.org> Message-ID: <4B5614A7.6090706@toad.net> Larry Yates wrote, in part: > THE US NATIONAL SECURITY ELITE ON HAITI > > The Washington Post's front page (which I call the national security > elite's bulletin board) headlines today (Monday) "Security fears mount > in lawless post-earthquake Haiti." Excellent points and info., as usual, Larry. That headline caught my eye, too. The edition at the house where I'm sitting says "Anxiety mounts in lawless Haiti." One establishment source for challenging that framing appears deep within a McClatchy article: [begin block quote] Navy Rear Adm. Michael Rogers, director of intelligence for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said during a telephone conference call from Haiti that violence was not impeding rescue or relief efforts. He said in spite of ``isolated events'' of unruly crowds at distribution points and some looting, ``there's nothing in the security environment right now that is significantly inhibiting our ability.'' Still, the U.S. government pledged that security and aid distribution would improve with the arrival of additional military personnel in Haiti. Security in Port-au-Prince is led by the U.N. Stabilization Mission in Haiti, a 9,000-member force of international military and police. U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon asked for 1,500 more U.N. police and 2,000 more peacekeepers to bolster security for aid distribution supply efforts. [end block quote] Here's the full article that's from: (Whatever good the U.N. may have done elsewhere, its role in Haiti has not been distinct from that of other forces working to keep Haiti safe for sweatshops.) From Juan Cole's post about Robertson's comments: "Is he saying that Haitians had less right to revolt against European colonialism than did white Americans?" That whole fine post is here: This other post on Cole's blog is also worth a look: Main page of his blog: http://www.juancole.com/ Jeremy Scahill twittered that he was looking into reports about Blackwater in Haiti and would report once he knew something. A quick look through his Twitter page (http://twitter.com/jeremyscahill) produces such gems as this: # Looting is what US corporations did in Iraq & to US treasury. Scavenging for food after a disaster is called surviving. 8:58 AM Jan 18th from Echofon Scahill has done lots of excellent reporting about militarization and profiteering, and now his blog includes several articles about that combination in Haiti: http://rebelreports.com Wishing all of you the best, Silver, or Lucy Annapolis, MD, and surrounding areas From cws at igc.org Sun Jan 24 14:13:52 2010 From: cws at igc.org (Sharon Martinas) Date: Sun, 24 Jan 2010 12:13:52 -0800 Subject: [WAsummit] Fwd: Securing Haiti Rather Than Helping Haitians References: <426120.7752.qm@web82401.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <13E321F2-CE7D-49D8-B7A4-66F19A0BDB6B@igc.org> One of the best articles I've come across on U.S. policy re Haiti sharon Begin forwarded message: > From: Terry Collins > Date: January 23, 2010 8:40:08 PM PST > To: Dennis Perkins > Cc: Clint Rosemond , Joan Mitchell- Stringer >, Donald Smothers , Bernard Stringer >, Sharon Treskunoff , nesbit Crutchfield >, Pat Colbert , Sharon Martinas > Subject: Fw: Securing Haiti Rather Than Helping Haitians > > The Empire will be continually white supremest, no mater what > color of the occupier of the throne. > TC > > --- On Sat, 1/23/10, Kiilu Nyasha wrote: > > From: Kiilu Nyasha > Subject: Securing Haiti Rather Than Helping Haitians > To: "Kiilu Nyasha" > Date: Saturday, January 23, 2010, 9:57 AM > > >> SLATE >> FOREIGNERS >> Why Did We Focus on Securing Haiti Rather Than Helping Haitians? >> Here are two possibilities, neither of them flattering. >> By Ben Ehrenreich >> Posted Thursday, Jan. 21, 2010, at 1:39 PM ET > >> By the weekend, it was clear that something perverse was going on >> in Haiti, something savage and bestial in its lack of concern for >> human life. I'm not talking about the earthquake, and certainly not >> about the so-called "looting," which I prefer to think of as the >> autonomously organized distribution of unjustly hoarded goods. I'm >> talking about the U.S. relief effort. >> >> For two days after the quake, despite almost unimaginable >> destruction, there were reasons to be optimistic. With a few >> notable exceptions? Pat Robertson and David Brooks among them? >> Americans reacted with extraordinary and unhesitating generosity of >> spirit and of purse. Port-au-Prince is not much farther from >> Washington, D.C., than, say, New Orleans, and the current president >> of the United States, unlike his predecessor, was quick to react to >> catastrophe. Taking advantage of "our unique capacity to project >> power around the world," President Barack Obama pledged abundant >> aid and 10,000 troops. >> >> Troops? Port-au-Prince had been leveled by an earthquake, not a >> barbarian invasion, but, OK, troops. Maybe they could put down >> their rifles and, you know, carry stuff, make themselves useful. At >> least they could get there soon: The naval base at Guantanamo was >> barely 200 miles away. >> >> Th e Cubans, at least, would show up quickly. It wasn't until >> Friday, three days after the quake, that the "supercarrier" USS >> Carl Vinson, arrived?and promptly ran out of supplies. "We have >> communications, we have some command and control, but we don't have >> much relief supplies to offer," admitted Rear Adm. Ted Branch. So >> what were they doing there? >> >> "Command and control" turned out to be the key words. The U.S. >> military did what the U.S. military does. Like a slow-witted, >> fearful giant, it built a wall around itself, commandeering the >> Port-au-Prince airport and constructing a mini-Green Zone. As >> thousands of tons of desperately needed food, water, and medical >> supplies piled up behind the airport fences?and thousands of >> corpses piled up outside them?Defense Secretary Robert Gates ruled >> out the possibility of using American aircraft to airdrop supplies: >> "An airdrop is simply going to lead to riots ," he said. The >> military's first priority was to build a "structure for >> distribution" and "to provide security." (Four days and many deaths >> later, the United States began airdropping aid.) >> >> The TV networks and major papers gamely played along. Forget >> hunger, dehydration, gangrene, septicemia?the real concern was "the >> security situation," the possibility of chaos, violence, looting. >> Never mind that the overwhelming majority of on-the-ground accounts >> from people who did not have to answer to editors described >> Haitians taking care of one another, digging through rubble with >> their bare hands, caring for injured loved ones?and strangers?in >> the absence of outside help. Even the evidence of "looting" >> documented something that looked more like mutual aid: The >> photograph that accompanied a Sun day New York Times article >> reporting "pockets of violence and anarchy" showed men standing >> atop the ruins of a store, tossing supplies to the gathered crowd. >> >> The guiding assumption, though, was that Haitian society was on the >> very edge of dissolving into savagery. Suffering from "progress- >> resistant cultural influences" (that's David Brooks finding a >> polite way to call black people primitive), Haitians were expected >> to devour one another and, like wounded dogs, to snap at the hands >> that fed them. As much as any logistical bottleneck, the mania for >> security slowed the distribution of aid. >> >> Air-traffic control in the Haitian capital was outsourced to an Air >> Force base in Florida, which, not surprisingly, gave priority to >> its own pilots. While the military flew in troops and equipment, >> planes bearing supplies for the Red Cross, the World Food Program, >> and Doctors Without Borders were rerouted to Santo Domingo in >> neighboring Dominican Republic. Aid flights from Mexico, Russia, >> and France were refused permission to land. On Monday, the British >> Daily Telegraph reported, the French minister in charge of >> humanitarian aid admitted he had been involved in a "scuffle" with >> a U.S. commander in the airport's control tower. According to the >> Telegraph, it took the intervention of the United Nations for the >> United States to agree to prioritize humanitarian flights over >> military deliveries. >> >> Meanwhile, much of the aid that was arriving remained at the >> airport. Haitians watched American helicopters fly over the >> capital, commanding and controlling, but no aid at all was being >> distributed in most of the city. On Tuesday, a doctor at a field >> hospital within site of the runways complained that five to 10 >> patients were dying each day for lack of the most basic medical >> necessities. " We can look at the supplies sitting there," Alphonse >> Edward told Britain's Channel 4 News. >> >> The much-feared descent into anarchy stubbornly refused to >> materialize. "It is calm at this time," Lt. Gen. Ken Keen, deputy >> commander of the U.S. Southern C ommand, admitted to the AP on >> Monday. "Those who live and work here ? tell me that the level of >> violence that we see right now is below pre-earthquake levels." He >> announced that four?four, in a city of more than 2 million?aid- >> distribution points had been set up on the sixth day of the crisis. >> >> So what happened? Why the mad rush to command and control, with all >> its ultimately murderous consequences? Why the paranoid focus on >> security above saving lives? Clearly, President Obama failed to >> learn one of the basic lessons taught by Hurricane Katrina: You >> can't solve a humanitarian problem by throwing guns at it. Before >> the president had finished insisting that "my national security >> team understands that I will not put up with any excuses," Haiti's >> fate was sealed. National security teams prioritize national >> security, an amorphous and expensive notion that has little to do >> with keeping Haitian citizens alive. >> >> This leaves the more disturbing question of why the Obama >> administration chose to respond as if they were there to confront >> an insurgency, rather than to clear rubble and distribute >> antibiotics and MREs. The beginning of an answer can be found in >> what Rebecca Solnit, author of A Paradise Built in Hell, calls >> "elite panic"?the conviction of the powerful that their own >> Hobbesian corporate ethic is innate in all of us, that in the >> absence of centralized authority, only cannibalism can reign. >> >> But the danger of hunger-crazed mobs never came up after the 2004 >> Pacific tsunami, and no one mentions security when tornados and >> floods wipe out swaths of the American Midwest. This suggests two >> possibilities, neither of them flattering. The first is that the >> administration had strategic reasons for sending 10,000 troops that >> had little to do with disaster relief. T his is the explanation >> favored by the Latin American left and, given the United States' >> history of invasion and occupation in Haiti (and in the Dominican >> Republic and Cuba and Nicaragua and Grenada and Panama), it is >> difficult to dismiss. Only time will tell what "reconstruction" >> means. >> >> Another answer lies closer to home. New Orleans and Port-au-Prince >> have one obvious thing in common: The majority of both cities' >> residents are black and poor. White people who are not poor have >> been known, when confronted with black people who are, to start >> locking their car doors and muttering about their security. It >> doesn't matter what color our president is. Even when it is >> ostensibly doing good, the U.S. government can be racist, and, in >> an entirely civil and bureaucratic fashion, savagely cruel. >> >> Ben Ehrenreich, a journalist and novelist based in Los Angeles, is >> t he author of The Suitors. He reported from Haiti in 2006 for L.A. >> Weekly. >> Article URL: http://www.slate.com/id/2242078/ >> >> >> Copyright 2010 Washingtonpost.Newsweek Interactive Co. LLC > > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From cws at igc.org Mon Jan 25 16:04:07 2010 From: cws at igc.org (Sharon Martinas) Date: Mon, 25 Jan 2010 14:04:07 -0800 Subject: [WAsummit] A little help from my friends In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <0BCC1091-2D26-4506-80C8-D8433889A5A4@igc.org> dearest tema, I am forwarding your request to the WAsummit list serve which has lots of fabulous educators on it. With the strong support that you are one of my mentors in this difficult work of anti-racist education. much love, sharon On Jan 25, 2010, at 8:21 AM, Tema Okun wrote: > Dear good friends, > > Some of you know, and many may not, that I am looking for a job. > Prompted by my good friend Kristin Bradley-Bull, I am sending this > letter asking for help! > > I have completed my doctoral program at UNC-Greensboro and now have > a doctorate in Curriculum and Teaching with a specialization in > Cultural Studies. My dream is to land a full-time job in a > department that appreciates both collaborative and collegial work as > well as the importance of community-based problem-solving. My goal > is to work with students to push/support/help them engage in > community change and justice work (whether as a teacher, social > worker, activist...) as effectively as possible! > > What I am finding, in addition to the challenges of our current > economy, is that I do not quite fit the traditional profile for most > of the job openings that are being posted (what a surprise!). Most > education departments are looking for people with public school > teaching experience, which I do not have. What I do have, as you > know, is an extremely strong background in community-based > facilitation, training, and development with a focus on race, > racism, and oppression issues. While I understand the desire for > faculty with public school experience, I think I do offer a > perspective and experience that is often under-represented and whose > importance is often overlooked -- one that sees the school system as > operating within a larger community affecting and affected by the > politics, egos, social concerns and constraints of all those who > interact with the schools, too often without a critical and/or > compassionate lens. I am hoping to find a position where my > community experience is valued and seen as the asset that I think it > is. > > While I am seeking positions in education departments, I am also > applying to and open to jobs in other departments where the focus is > on working with students to understand and address issues of race, > class, gender, sexuality, oppression, and organizational and > community development. For example, I have applied to a few jobs in > Multicultural and/or Ethnic Studies. While I am not attached to a > particular department or even to a college or university setting per > se, I do want a job where I am teaching, because that is what I both > do best and most love to do (no coincidence). > > I am writing to you to ask for your help, something I am decidedly > uncomfortable doing. Despite my political understanding of our > interconnectedness, I seem to have managed to hold on to the > Puritan, capitalist belief in self-sufficiency and "making it on > your own." Also, I hate to be any trouble!! Realizing, with > Kristin's prompting, that this is ridiculous, I am reaching out to > you to let you know that I am looking, that I am open to moving, > that I would consider any job that makes good use of my skills and > experience. > > I am attaching my CV; you are more than welcome to forward this on > to anyone you think might be interested. > > I realize that there may not be much you can do; just know that I am > grateful for your support in all its various forms. > > Let me know if you have any questions or would like additional > information. > > Thanks so much, > > Tema > > > > > From louisaldavis at verizon.net Mon Jan 25 17:38:00 2010 From: louisaldavis at verizon.net (Louisa Davis) Date: Mon, 25 Jan 2010 18:38:00 -0500 Subject: [WAsummit] Youtube - GAP on racism at World Bank and IAD In-Reply-To: <0BCC1091-2D26-4506-80C8-D8433889A5A4@igc.org> Message-ID: Of interest...esp. regarding treatment of African diaspora: The Government Accountability Project?s recent discussion at Busboys and Poets about racial issues at the World Bank and Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is now available on YouTube at the following links: Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9y_JKAbjM9I Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Qs_WnKkGlQ Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yv-9qA8FqA Part 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6vVLg35yuU&feature=channel In addition, a summary of the event, with photographs, is available on GAP?s blog . We welcome your feedback and encourage you to post your suggestions. We are especially interested in your ideas on two topics: 1) The steps that we, as NGOs, can take to encourage the Banks to advance on this issue; 2) The steps the Banks can take to address the socioeconomic problems that affect the Afro-descendant population. If you would like to receive email updates about GAP?s work and events, please email dylanb at whistleblower.org or sign-up on GAP?s website . Thank you for your support! ************** The Government Accountability Project is the nation's leading whistleblower protection organization. Through litigating whistleblower cases, publicizing concerns and developing legal reforms, GAP's mission is to protect the public interest by promoting government and corporate accountability. Founded in 1977, GAP is a non-profit, non-partisan advocacy organization based in Washington, D.C. To make a tax-deductible donation to GAP, please click here . on 1/25/10 5:04 PM, Sharon Martinas at cws at igc.org wrote: > dearest tema, > > I am forwarding your request to the WAsummit list serve which has > lots of fabulous educators on it. With the strong support that you > are one of my mentors in this difficult work of anti-racist > education. much love, sharon > > On Jan 25, 2010, at 8:21 AM, Tema Okun wrote: > >> Dear good friends, >> >> Some of you know, and many may not, that I am looking for a job. >> Prompted by my good friend Kristin Bradley-Bull, I am sending this >> letter asking for help! >> >> I have completed my doctoral program at UNC-Greensboro and now have >> a doctorate in Curriculum and Teaching with a specialization in >> Cultural Studies. My dream is to land a full-time job in a >> department that appreciates both collaborative and collegial work as >> well as the importance of community-based problem-solving. My goal >> is to work with students to push/support/help them engage in >> community change and justice work (whether as a teacher, social >> worker, activist...) as effectively as possible! >> >> What I am finding, in addition to the challenges of our current >> economy, is that I do not quite fit the traditional profile for most >> of the job openings that are being posted (what a surprise!). Most >> education departments are looking for people with public school >> teaching experience, which I do not have. What I do have, as you >> know, is an extremely strong background in community-based >> facilitation, training, and development with a focus on race, >> racism, and oppression issues. While I understand the desire for >> faculty with public school experience, I think I do offer a >> perspective and experience that is often under-represented and whose >> importance is often overlooked -- one that sees the school system as >> operating within a larger community affecting and affected by the >> politics, egos, social concerns and constraints of all those who >> interact with the schools, too often without a critical and/or >> compassionate lens. I am hoping to find a position where my >> community experience is valued and seen as the asset that I think it >> is. >> >> While I am seeking positions in education departments, I am also >> applying to and open to jobs in other departments where the focus is >> on working with students to understand and address issues of race, >> class, gender, sexuality, oppression, and organizational and >> community development. For example, I have applied to a few jobs in >> Multicultural and/or Ethnic Studies. While I am not attached to a >> particular department or even to a college or university setting per >> se, I do want a job where I am teaching, because that is what I both >> do best and most love to do (no coincidence). >> >> I am writing to you to ask for your help, something I am decidedly >> uncomfortable doing. Despite my political understanding of our >> interconnectedness, I seem to have managed to hold on to the >> Puritan, capitalist belief in self-sufficiency and "making it on >> your own." Also, I hate to be any trouble!! Realizing, with >> Kristin's prompting, that this is ridiculous, I am reaching out to >> you to let you know that I am looking, that I am open to moving, >> that I would consider any job that makes good use of my skills and >> experience. >> >> I am attaching my CV; you are more than welcome to forward this on >> to anyone you think might be interested. >> >> I realize that there may not be much you can do; just know that I am >> grateful for your support in all its various forms. >> >> Let me know if you have any questions or would like additional >> information. >> >> Thanks so much, >> >> Tema >> >> >> >> >> > > _______________________________________________ > WAsummit mailing list > WAsummit at lists.wacan.org > http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit -- Louisa L. Davis, M.Div., PhD 11330 Dockside Circle Reston, VA 20191 home: (703) 860-1203 cell: (240) 338-5156 ?Get very clear about the kind of world [you] would like and then start living that way.? -- Marshall Rosenberg, Center for Nonviolent Communication From cws at igc.org Wed Jan 27 00:47:03 2010 From: cws at igc.org (Sharon Martinas) Date: Tue, 26 Jan 2010 22:47:03 -0800 Subject: [WAsummit] Fwd: in times of horror a little humor References: <6AC91F53-F0E6-4BEA-A6E1-29A6B75E02F8@ix.netcom.com> Message-ID: <0657DBD3-A376-4470-B205-AAC2DF85285F@igc.org> check out the cartoon and pass it on. sharon Begin forwarded message: > From: Rebecca Gordon > Date: January 26, 2010 4:42:35 PM PST > To: Sharon Martinas > Subject: A cartoon sent me by my friend Bea Morris > > Hi, Sharon - > > Thought you might like this Click on the link: > > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/womanist/attachments/folder/1297790261/item/42500264/view > > Love, > Rebecca -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bonniecushing at aol.com Thu Jan 28 11:17:53 2010 From: bonniecushing at aol.com (Bonnie Cushing) Date: Thu, 28 Jan 2010 12:17:53 -0500 Subject: [WAsummit] Fwd: in times of horror a little humor In-Reply-To: <0657DBD3-A376-4470-B205-AAC2DF85285F@igc.org> References: <6AC91F53-F0E6-4BEA-A6E1-29A6B75E02F8@ix.netcom.com> <0657DBD3-A376-4470-B205-AAC2DF85285F@igc.org> Message-ID: <202C5E5CC19C4FA8BBE310EBFB9B8004@BCLAPTOP> Thanks for passing the cartoon on, Sharon. As many ways as we can communicate the truth, the better! Bonnie _____ From: wasummit-bounces at lists.wacan.org [mailto:wasummit-bounces at lists.wacan.org] On Behalf Of Sharon Martinas Sent: Wednesday, January 27, 2010 1:47 AM To: White Anti-racist Summit Subject: [WAsummit] Fwd: in times of horror a little humor check out the cartoon and pass it on. sharon Begin forwarded message: From: Rebecca Gordon Date: January 26, 2010 4:42:35 PM PST To: Sharon Martinas Subject: A cartoon sent me by my friend Bea Morris Hi, Sharon - Thought you might like this Click on the link: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/womanist/attachments/folder/1297790261/item/42 500264/view Love, Rebecca = -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From arthoekstra at yahoo.com Thu Jan 28 12:35:06 2010 From: arthoekstra at yahoo.com (Art Hoekstra) Date: Thu, 28 Jan 2010 10:35:06 -0800 (PST) Subject: [WAsummit] Fwd: in times of horror a little humor In-Reply-To: <202C5E5CC19C4FA8BBE310EBFB9B8004@BCLAPTOP> References: <6AC91F53-F0E6-4BEA-A6E1-29A6B75E02F8@ix.netcom.com> <0657DBD3-A376-4470-B205-AAC2DF85285F@igc.org> <202C5E5CC19C4FA8BBE310EBFB9B8004@BCLAPTOP> Message-ID: <633177.70598.qm@web112009.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> The cartoon has a punch, but isn't the history of People of Color and whites kinda identified as... reduced to the history of Blacks and whites? Art ________________________________ From: Bonnie Cushing To: White Anti-racist Summit Sent: Thu, January 28, 2010 11:17:53 AM Subject: Re: [WAsummit] Fwd: in times of horror a little humor Thanks for passing the cartoon on, Sharon . As many ways as we can communicate the truth, the better! Bonnie ________________________________ From:wasummit-bounces at lists.wacan.org [mailto:wasummit-bounces at lists.wacan.org] On Behalf Of Sharon Martinas Sent: Wednesday, January 27, 2010 1:47 AM To: White Anti-racist Summit Subject: [WAsummit] Fwd: in times of horror a little humor check out the cartoon and pass it on. sharon Begin forwarded message: From: Rebecca Gordon Date: January 26, 2010 4:42:35 PM PST To: Sharon Martinas Subject: A cartoon sent me by my friend Bea Morris Hi, Sharon - Thought you might like this Click on the link: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/womanist/attachments/folder/1297790261/item/42500264/view Love, Rebecca = -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From cws at igc.org Thu Jan 28 15:01:12 2010 From: cws at igc.org (Sharon Martinas) Date: Thu, 28 Jan 2010 13:01:12 -0800 Subject: [WAsummit] Fwd: in times of horror a little humor In-Reply-To: <633177.70598.qm@web112009.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> References: <6AC91F53-F0E6-4BEA-A6E1-29A6B75E02F8@ix.netcom.com> <0657DBD3-A376-4470-B205-AAC2DF85285F@igc.org> <202C5E5CC19C4FA8BBE310EBFB9B8004@BCLAPTOP> <633177.70598.qm@web112009.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: Dear Art, In 1996, in California there was a concerted effort to abolish affirmative action which, sad to say, and in spite of extensive grassroots organizing, the anti-affirmative vote won. All of the anti- affirmative action rhetoric was directed against 'unqualified' Black people. To mobilize the white back lash. With the crap of 'reverse racism.' It worked. I think the cartoon accurately represents how the racist forces ideologically functioned in that struggle, and how pernicious and illogical -- but effective -- they were. Perhaps another cartoon could dramatize the absurdity and murder committed by the Minutemen and ICE against migrants coming across the Arizona border, and then the configuration would look different? sharon On Jan 28, 2010, at 10:35 AM, Art Hoekstra wrote: > The cartoon has a punch, but isn't the history of People of Color > and whites kinda identified as... reduced to the history of Blacks > and whites? > Art > > From: Bonnie Cushing > To: White Anti-racist Summit > Sent: Thu, January 28, 2010 11:17:53 AM > Subject: Re: [WAsummit] Fwd: in times of horror a little humor > > Thanks for passing the cartoon on, Sharon . As many ways as we can > communicate the truth, the better! > > Bonnie > > From: wasummit-bounces at lists.wacan.org [mailto:wasummit-bounces at lists.wacan.org > ] On Behalf Of Sharon Martinas > Sent: Wednesday, January 27, 2010 1:47 AM > To: White Anti-racist Summit > Subject: [WAsummit] Fwd: in times of horror a little humor > > > check out the cartoon and pass it on. sharon > > Begin forwarded message: > > > From: Rebecca Gordon > Date: January 26, 2010 4:42:35 PM PST > To: Sharon Martinas > Subject: A cartoon sent me by my friend Bea Morris > > Hi, Sharon - > > Thought you might like this Click on the link: > > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/womanist/attachments/folder/1297790261/item/42500264/view > > Love, > Rebecca > > = > _______________________________________________ > WAsummit mailing list > WAsummit at lists.wacan.org > http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From cws at igc.org Thu Jan 28 15:29:31 2010 From: cws at igc.org (Sharon Martinas) Date: Thu, 28 Jan 2010 13:29:31 -0800 Subject: [WAsummit] Fwd: Howard Zinn - a Shining Light for Peace and Justice References: <1102971852250.1101202874861.3071.5.1614400C@scheduler> Message-ID: please forward this beautiful picture. Let's hold Howard Zinn's words and life in our spirits. sharon Begin forwarded message: > From: Paul Marcus > Date: January 28, 2010 11:41:00 AM PST > To: cws at igc.org > Subject: Howard Zinn - a Shining Light for Peace and Justice > Reply-To: pmarcus at communitychangeinc.org > > > We Celebrate the Amazing Life and Work of Our Friend Howard Zinn and > Deeply Mourn His Passing > > No pitifully small picket line, > no poorly attended meeting, > no tossing out of an idea > to an audience and even to an individual, > should be scorned as insignificant. > > The power of a bold idea uttered publicly > in defiance of dominant opinion > cannot be easily measured. > Those special people who speak out > in such a way as to shake up > not only the self-assurance of their enemies > but the complacency of their friends > are precious catalysts for change. > > > Howard Zinn > > > > Click Here to Make a Tax Free Contribution to Community Change > Community Change Inc. > 14 Beacon Street Suite 605 > Boston, Massachusetts 02108 > 617-523-0555 > Forward email > > This email was sent to cws at igc.org by pmarcus at communitychangeinc.org. > Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe? > | Privacy Policy. > Email Marketing by > > Community Change Inc. | 14 Beacon Street Suite 605 | Boston | MA | > 02108 > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kliss at igc.org Thu Jan 28 18:20:20 2010 From: kliss at igc.org (Kathryn Liss) Date: Thu, 28 Jan 2010 19:20:20 -0500 Subject: [WAsummit] Building Bridges of Asheville seeks Executive Director In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Building Bridges of Asheville, Inc. Executive Director Search Position Title: Executive Director Position: Half-time Reports to: Building Bridges of Asheville, Inc. Board of Directors Job Qualifications: Building Bridges of Asheville, Inc. (BB) is seeking our first paid part-time Executive Director (ED). It is essential for the new ED to have a basic knowledge of, and commitment to, the philosophy of Building Bridges. In addition, the ED must possess excellent written and oral communications skills and the demonstrated ability to work effectively with diverse individuals and organizations, including direct supervision of others. We seek someone with successful experience in development and delivery of programs in the area of building community amongst diverse people, particularly in the area of black-white relations. Skills in computer use (word processing, data processing/spreadsheets, and presentations) are also required. Job Description Highlights: We seek an ED that will successfully complete the following outcomes: . Effectively recruit, maintain, and interact with a volunteer staff . Explore, research, and compose grants as well as solicit funds from individuals and group sources . Have a knowledge of the Asheville community / history and its' various components . Act as a liaison and active agent in fulfilling our evening program plus additional programs and community needs . Be self - directed, internally motivated, and organized; but able to work with board collaboration . Successfully complete, in collaboration with the Board and volunteers, the outcomes described in the BB Strategic Action Plan Application deadline: February 26, 2010 for more information go to www.buildingbridges-asheville.org From narvold at sfo.com Fri Jan 29 18:21:56 2010 From: narvold at sfo.com (Nancy) Date: Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:21:56 -0800 Subject: [WAsummit] Fw: News & Views | Zinn: How I Want to Be Remembered... Message-ID: <69D5F485F3D7442F9FBDA48570AAD819@OWNERPC> More inspiration from Howard Zinn ----- Original Message ----- From: Common Dreams To: narvold at california.com Sent: Friday, January 29, 2010 3:09 PM Subject: News & Views | Zinn: How I Want to Be Remembered... Home | About Us | Donate | Signup | Archives | Search Friday 01.29.10 Headlines... Defiant Blair: 'No Regrets', Audience Member: 'You Are a Murderer!' http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2010/01/29-6 Remember the Illegal Destruction of Iraq? http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2010/01/29-0 Single Payer Docs Arrested Outside Baltimore Hotel While Obama Speaking to Republicans http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2010/01/29-4 In Brazil's WSF Many Still Believe Another World Is Possible http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2010/01/29-2 US Abortion Doctor's Killer Found Guilty of Murder http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2010/01/29-5 EU Farmers Face Genetic Contamination of Seeds http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2010/01/29-1 Bin Laden Blasts US for Climate Change http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2010/01/29 and more... **************************************************** Video... Howard Zinn: How I Want to Be Remembered... http://www.commondreams.org/video/2010/01/29-2 Democracy Now! Exclusive: Blackwater's Youngest Victim http://www.commondreams.org/video/2010/01/29-1 **************************************************** Views... Jane Hamsher: List of 51 Senate Democrats Who Support a Public Option: What's Stopping Them Now? http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/01/29-11 Matthew Rothschild: Thank You, Howard Zinn http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/01/29-6 Bill Quigley: Hell and Hope in Haiti http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/01/29 Johann Hari: This Corruption in Washington is Smothering America's Future http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/01/29-1 Sarah van Gelder: Can We Still Believe in That Change Obama Ran On? http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/01/29-3 Ronald Dworkin: The 'Devastating' Decision http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/01/29-7 Mary Bottari: This Week in Banking: Root Canals, Rhetoric or Real Reform? http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/01/29-9 Maude Barlow: To Curb Climate Change, We Need to Protect Water http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/01/29-5 Margaret Flowers: Medicare-for-All: The Answer to a President's Call and a Nation's Woes http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/01/29-10 Renee Loth: Fight Campaign Finance Ruling, One Step at a Time http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/01/29-0 and more... **************************************************** Newswire... FAIR: Action Alert: NPR Finds Right-Wing Crank to Spit on Howard Zinn's Grave http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2010/01/29-8 Institute for Public Accuracy (IPA): "Deception and Abuse at the Fed" http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2010/01/29-2 ACLU: ACLU Calls For Passage Of Equal Pay Legislation On Anniversary Of The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2010/01/29 and more... www.commondreams.org CommonDreams.org is an Internet-based progressive news and grassroots activism organization, founded in 1997. We are a nonprofit, progressive, independent and nonpartisan organization. Home | About Us | Donate | Signup | Archives | Search To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. Please let us know if you would like to stop receiving e-mails from us. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: