n 1965 New York Yearly Meeting (NYYM) established a standing Race Relations Committee, and in 1980 the same committee became the Friends Committee on Black Concerns (Black Concerns). Today Black Concerns continues its work as part of the Witness Section of NYYM.

As the name implies, Black Concerns 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.

How does Black Concerns do this? In the past four years the committee has responded to requests from monthly and regional meetings in NYYM to provide antiracism and racial sensitivity training and dialogue. During the annual NYYM sessions at Silver Bay, NY, the committee has sponsored workshops, interest groups, and dialogue sessions. Leading up to the August 2001 UN World Conference on Racism (WCAR) the commit-tee worked with the Quaker United Nations Office to develop awareness of the event among Friends. A member of the committee attended WCAR as a delegate, and later helped the committee disseminate WCAR findings. Last October Black Concerns sponsored a weekend conference at Pendle Hill on racial justice that drew together more than 50 Friends from across the country. At the conclusion of the weekend participants approved an epistle voicing the pressing need to examine privilege and racism among Friends. The committee has provided consultation to other Quaker groups, including FGC, and non-Quaker groups as well.

Within the past year the committee has begun studying the question of reparations for slavery. Black Concerns has now developed an information program on reparations and presented a well-received trial run at a regional meeting. The committee also lent support to an African American church in a dispute over ownership of a burial ground holding the remains of African Americans formerly enslaved, then later released, by Quakers near Purchase, NY. The local municipality asserted ownership of the property despite historic ties of the church to the site. Last summer the committee journeyed to Auburn, NY, connected with local Friends, and shared a moving period of Quaker worship in the historic home of Harriet Tubman.

The committee is planning another trip in the coming months, this time to Connecticut to visit the home of Harriet Beecher Stowe, Yale University, and the Prudence Crandall Museum. Along the way the committee will reach out to Friends, including those invited as fellow travelers, and those local to the areas we visit. Black Concerns is also making progress on a long standing project to develop a recommended reading list. And following on the success of the Pendle Hill conference last fall, the committee has committed to holding another conference at Pendle Hill in 2002.

Members of Black Concerns come from throughout NYYM and include both white Friends and Friends of Color. Uniting committee members is an antiracist witness that is reflected in their lives outside of the committee as well.

Many Friends, principally those of European descent, feel that racism is a thing of the past. Yet this belief seems to be changing among Friends. The committee has seen a quiet but substantial growth in interest and support for its activity over the last few years. We welcome those Friends who are starting to question the need to examine race and racism. We hope to provide a supportive resource and Friendly presence to Friends who struggle with the difficult and pressing concerns regarding privilege and racism among Friends and within society at large.

FGConnections Spring 2002 Home