Our Role as Individuals in America's Racial History:
by Bert Skellie and Adelaide Solomon-Jordan,
Atlanta Meeting Looks at Racism
Southern Appalachian Yearly Meeting and AssociationAtlanta Friends Meeting began a discussion group on the topic, "Our Role as Individuals in America's Racial History," in November 1997. Through discussions of readings, videos and other personal sharing, we have sought to understand our part in racial history and to support each other in individual and possible group actions against racism. An important concern is to address the work necessary to effect a change in racial sensitivity and attitude, and to effect life-altering behavioral change. An important goal is to make our Meeting more welcoming to everyone.
The title of our group was intended to be non-threatening and indeed inviting. It was intended to convey the personal nature of the work to be done. It was also intended to focus on just our American racial history. Our group's "sense of the Meeting" that we wanted to meet twice a month is also important, showing a significant investment of time. We have evolved toward having planning meetings in weeks in between group meetings. This encourages members to commit even more time to the work, and makes it easier to incorporate individuals' concerns into the work of the group and more specifically into the work of each individual.
African American participants have had the unique role of keeping the focus on racism. The desire and need to discuss class, economic impact, gender, etc., is often central for those who have never discussed the issue of "white privilege." It is not unheard of that in their racial identity development some African Americans may also want to address racism from an economic, class or gender perspective. It is imperative, however, that the group keep its focus on "our role in America's racial history."
We have used a number of resources listed in the next section. In addition, we have purchased small bound composition books with black and white covers for recording and reflection or personal sharing about racial bias incidents, actions or questions related to racism. The small size (4-1/2 by 3-1/4 inches) was selected to make it convenient to carry these emotionally weighty notes around. The black and white cover is symbolic of our focus on Black and White America. The books are bound so that any ripped out pages would be noticed by the owner and would eventually result in the book's falling apart, a sign to the owner that he or she had torn away some of his or her personal racial history. The composition books also allow one to be part of the group when one is "not able" to attend for work, family or race related emotional reasons. Through using these books, a group member can have permission to be absent and yet continue to work.
Publicity for this program was done through the Atlanta Friends Meeting Newsletter as follows:
10/97 Newsletter: SOCIAL CONCERNS DISCUSSION GROUP
For many, indeed most of us, the lessons we learned in history and social studies are somewhat different than the lessons our children and grandchildren are learning. It is not a revision of history to look at history again, but a wonderful opportunity to see our America more completely. One example is that so often we begin looking at the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. and have no knowledge of the generations before, the legacy he inherited that molded the man he became.
Did you know that Southern states paid for African American students to attend such schools as New York University and the University of Chicago in order to avoid integration and/or the cost of setting up a separate law school or other professional school? Are you confused by the attendance, indeed the enthusiastic participation, of your African American male friends in the Million Man March? When looking for a home, have you found yourself comfortable only in neighborhoods where people look like you? In your everyday conversation, what do you mean when you say "lower socioeconomic?" What do you mean when you say "middle class?" What picture comes to mind when you hear the word "criminal?" What kinds of choices do you find yourself making when attending arts or cultural performances or activities? Did you know that a study, including only healthy women from the class of 1973 at Agnes Scott College and Spelman College, showed that the Spelman graduate mom faced an infant mortality rate equivalent to that of an eighth-grade-educated white woman?
If you're interested in the possibility of a forum or discussion group on the history of how we as Americans got where we are today racially and the role each of us plays in the racial current of American history, please contact the Social Concerns Committee. We would like to form a discussion group to consider these issues.
Contact: (four names and telephone numbers were included here).
11/97 Newsletter:
An organizing meeting of those interested in a discussion group on "Our Role as Individuals in America's Racial History" will be held on November 12 at 7:30 p.m. at the Meetinghouse. Members and attenders are encouraged to take part in this organizational meeting.
12/97 Newsletter:
The Social Concerns discussion group, "Our Role as Individuals in America's Racial History," will initially continue to meet every two weeks, on Wednesdays from 7:15-9:00 p.m. at the Meetinghouse. . . . All members and attenders are invited and encouraged to attend. Questions may be addressed to (four names and phone numbers were listed here).
1/98 Newsletter:
The Social Concerns discussion group, "Our Role as Individuals in America's Racial History," meets every two weeks on Wednesdays from 7:15-9:00 p.m. and will meet again January 14. This change from the previously announced date allows time for those interested to view "Amistad" before the January 14th discussion of the film. There will also be time for diary sharing. Those attending the January 27 meeting will view a 20-minute video on white privilege, "Free Indeed." The study guide questions will be used to facilitate a group discussion. Individual group members are also reading books by three African American men and discussions are planned for future meetings. The books are
Maggie's American Dream, by James Comer; Once Upon a Time When We were Colored, by Clifton Taubert; and Colored People, by Henry Louis Gates. The focus in each of these nonfiction books is the supportiveness and cohesion of the African American family. All are invited and encouraged to attend.
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