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TRANSCRIPT
White Supremacy Teach InMidAmerica Regional Assembly
Saturday, April 29, 2017
http://www.blacklivesuu.com/teachin/
Critics see white supremacy in UUA hiring practices
Latest senior hire, of a white man, highlights staff leadership that remains mostly white.
“White supremacy” is a provocative phrase, as it conjures up images of hoods and mobs. Yet in
2017, actual “white supremacists” are not required in order to uphold white supremacist culture.
Building a faith full of people who understand that key distinction is essential as we work toward a
more just society in difficult political times.
What does it mean?White supremacy is a system or social order that keeps power and resources consolidated among white elites, using an ideology (or way of understanding the world) that upholds whiteness—including white people, white cultural values, and white institutions—as being best or most “normal.”
What It Is Not
It’s not necessarily active hatred of people who are not white or active belief that white people should rule over everyone else. It’s not limited to the most overtly racist fringe elements of society. It’s not a slur or an insult. It’s not an historical artifact.
What It IsIt’s the water most white people swim through without realizing they are wet. It’s a basic fact of U.S. culture and everyday life and a foundational truth of this country.
– Alex Kapitan, “What’s in a Word: White Supremacy”
White Supremacy• Conservatives use the phrase in the service of
a…“colorblind” agenda, evoking extreme imagesof KKK members and Nazis as the exclusive andonly examples of white racism in American lifeand politics.
• Liberals, progressives and anti-racists use thephrase “white supremacy” to describe [both]overt and subtle racist practices [of an] Americansociety…still structured around maintaining andprotecting white privilege.
–1963 General Resolution, “Commission on Religion and Race”
That all member congregations of the UUA be charged to declare and practice their faith in
the dignity and worth of every person and that all member congregations of our
denominations are hereby strongly urged to welcome into their membership and full
participation persons without regard to race, color, or national origin.
–1964 Business Resolution, “Commission on Religion and Race”
That in accordance with the purposes and objectives of the UUA, this Association and its
members hereby declare and affirm their special responsibility to promote the full
participation of persons, without regard to race, color, sex, or national origin, in the Association, in member churches and
fellowships, in associate members, in the ministry and in society.
–1966 Business Resolution, Consensus on Racial Justice
Unitarian Universalists Pledge Themselves to:
Work to eliminate all vestiges of discrimination and segregation in their churches and
fellowships and to encourage the integration of congregations and of the Unitarian
Universalist ministry….
The empowerment tragedy
– 1981 Business Resolution, “Racism Imperative”
Recognizing the fact that institutional racism is still embedded in American society in 1981,
the Unitarian Universalist Association shall seek to eliminate racism in all its institutional
structures, policies, practices, and patterns of behavior, so that it will become a racially
equitable institution and can make an effective contribution toward achieving a
similarly equitable society.
–1992 Resolution of Immediate Witness, “Racial and CulturalDiversity in Unitarian Universalism”
[T]he 1992 General Assembly urges the Board of Trustees of the Unitarian Universalist Association to develop and implement a
process involving a broad representation of congregations, organizations, and staff to
realize this vision of a racially and culturally diverse Unitarian Universalist Association.
–1997 Business Resolution, Toward an Anti-Racist Unitarian UniversalistAssociation
Urges Unitarian Universalists to examine carefully their own conscious and
unconscious racism as participants in a racist society, and the effect that racism has on all
our lives, regardless of color.
–2016 Responsive Resolution, “Reaffirmation of Commitment to RacialJustice”
Board of Trustees of the Unitarian Universalist Association, in their 2016 report to the
Assembly, called upon the Association to “find the will and the way to do a better job” in the
fight for racial justice; [that we] we hold ourselves accountable to less witness
and more action
A Conversation on Race
• Turn to face one another and share your thoughtson race in groups of 3-4.
• Everyone gets five minutes to speak.
• Listen from a place of curiosity and respect.
We will make a commitment to:• Stay engaged
• Speak our truth as much as possible
• Experience discomfort
• Expect/accept non-closure and difference
• Active listening without interruption of one another
• Everyone gets a chance to speak once beforesomeone speaks a second time
• Comments are limited a minute and a half toensure maximum sharing of participants
• Share something you heard someone else saythat was new, inspirational, troubling, informative,etc.
Group Sharing
Use the questions below as needed:• Is it uncomfortable to talk about race?
Why or why not?
• Did you relate to any of the speakers or what wassaid? If so, how and why?
• How does racism or white supremacy affect you?How does it hurt and/or help you?
• Others thoughts on race and white supremacythat you may wish to share.
Rev. Dr. Cornel WestWare Lecture at General Assembly 2015
http://www.uua.org/multiculturalism/ga/ware-west
Questions for Consideration• How do I feel about the phrase “Institutional
White Supremacy?”
• What does Institutional White Supremacy costme?
• Cornel West says that white people have “havegot some work to do.” What is my work? What isour work as UUs?
• Where are your opportunities to resist?
—Mark Morrison-Reed
Our history in regard to racial justice is brave enough to make you proud, tragic enough to make you cry, and inept enough to make you laugh, once the anger passes. We also have a future. Today’s task is to learn from what was
and move on. To move on will mean creating a vision for the future. May concern for our faith
and love for one another guide our efforts.