Friends Work on Racism
It is Time for Friends to Learn and Understand Our Complete History
By Vanessa Julye. "Some of my experiences within the Religious Society of Friends have been just as hurtful. Unlike Sarah and her mother I was able to join the Religious Society of Friends, I can sit anywhere I like in the meetinghouse, and my son attends a Quaker school. However, I still experience prejudice from Friends of European descent. I find that some Friends make assumptions about me and act on these assumptions based solely on the color of my skin."
No Easy Solutions
By Vince Buscemi, clerk of Committee for Ministry on Racism. "There is a Spirit spreading out to the Religious Society of Friends. Five years ago, Friends General Conference (FGC) formulated a long term plan for the entire organization with inclusiveness of people of color as a stated objective."
Peacekeeping Forum Gives New Meaning to "ICBM"
By Arlene Johnson and Cynthia Kwalwasser, Summit Monthly Meeting. An account of a forum on peace held in March 2002.
In Response to September 11th
By Jeanne K. Snyder, Sandy Spring Monthly Meeting. Three Meetings reach out to their Muslim neighbors after September 11th.
New England Yearly Meeting Looks At Its Own Racism
By Katherine Brown. "A miracle is beginning to happen in and around New England Yearly Meeting (NEYM): we are beginning to look at our own racism! What brought this about might be helpful to other yearly meetings."
Challenging Racism and White Privilege: University Friends Meeting (UFM)
By Gillian Burlingham. "The process of undertaking anti-racism work on an on-going basis at UFM has begun. With human and divine guidance and support, I trust that UFM will grow in its capacity and ability to be actively anti-racist, both internally and in our community."
Heart and Mind Together Act Against Racism
By Joan Broadfield. "From time to time, I mourn the reality that Quakers are taking a long time to face the racism in our midst. When the intensity of the moment passes, I am left with a remnant of the pain that is the reality of racism. What, I wonder, can help white Friends work through guilt, anger, and defensive reactions to face the realities and commit to change? What inspires Friends meetings to gather the determination to be open and teachable?"
Fit for Freedom, Not For Friendship: A Work in Progress
By Vanessa Julye and Donna McDaniel. The authors are working on a book on Friends and African Americans in North America: "Our research reveals surprising, perhaps to some shocking, levels of ambivalence and ambiguity in Friends' relationships with African Americans throughout our history. We believe Friends today will see their own thoughts and struggles reflected in those who have preceded us."
Black Concerns Committee
By Jeff Hitchcock. An account of New York Yearly Meeting's Black Concerns Committee, which "advocates on behalf of black people, though its purposes and functions are defined more broadly to include antiracist activity, raising awareness of discrimination against all ethnic groups, and deepening 'the multiracial character of the family of Friends'-all of which directly benefit white Friends, along with Friends of color."
Plainfield Minute
A New Jersey Meeting's minute on white privilege and racism.
FGConnections Fall 2001 Home
From FGConnections. Friends General Conference, 1216 Arch Street 2B, Philadelphia, PA 19107. Connections Home and Past Issues
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