Racism/Racial Equality

Religious Society of Friends’ historical relationship with African Americans
Fit for Freedom, Not for Friendship writers Donna McDaniel and Vanessa Julye share some of the findings from their three years of research and writing.

Discussion Aids for Sarah Mapps Douglass

Sarah Douglass and Racial Prejudice within the Society of Friends
A Pendle Hill lecture given by Margaret Hope Bacon.

Religious Society of Friends’ historical relationship with African Americans
A combination of the two yearly meeting talks by Vanessa Julye and Donna McDaniel in the Summer of 2004 by the authors of the forthcoming Fit for Freedom, Not for Friendship.

Seeking Racial and Ethnic Diversity
The Committee for Ministry on Racism of Friends General Conference has called on Friends everywhere to be agents of change, moving us toward greater racial and ethnic diversity. Many Friends fervently wish their meetings included more People of Color, but feel at a loss about how to make this happen.

What Do Quakers Owe Blacks
By Bill Brown. "Don't feel stupid if you're confused by this incredibly baffling question. It's a brainbuster. What Quakers owe blacks, may not be all-embracing as it appears. It is a perplexing proposition. Measurement difficulties may make the question unanswerable. The question, unfitting some may say, is a matter of assessing probabilities upon the basis of evidential behavior and the indeterminacy of religious worship."

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." From FGC Connections, Spring 2002.

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." From FGC Connections, Spring 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. From FGC Connections, Spring 2002.

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." From FGC Connections, Spring 2002.

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." From FGC Connections, Spring 2002..

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?" From FGC Connections, Spring 2002.

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." From FGC Connections, Spring 2002.

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." From FGC Connections, Spring 2002.

Plainfield Minute
A New Jersey Meeting's minute on white privilege and racism. From FGC Connections, Spring 2002.

Epistle from the Committee for Ministry on Racism of FGC
The committee, which has sought racial parity in membership, has met in deeply Spirit-led discernment in both spring and fall of 2001 as well as informally at the annual FGC Gathering and via e-mail, phone and letter throughout the year. We continue to seek and to feel the Lord's blessing in our endeavors. We are clear that our best work together is grounded in worship and acknowledge that when we truly center together, we do not know where we will be led. We have been willingly vulnerable to that process and affirm that there is a fundamental relationship to God in what we are doing. We are clear that eradicating racism is a ministry of healing, education and empowerment. It is time to move beyond guilt toward the center of this work, which is God's love.

Understanding Racism and Privilege among Friends
By the Subcommittee on Ending Racism and Privilege among Friends. "Acknowledging and naming the seen and unseen racism and privilege that pervade our society is the first step to ending it." From FGC Connections.

Racial Assumptions
By Joan Broadfield. "When we hear the word 'racism,' many people think of a perpetrator and a victim. The focus of the reaction seems most to acknowledge a black victim, a white perpetrator.... Indeed, for us who are 'white' it is easy to avoid the pain that comes from being 'black;' we need not recognize the assumption coming to us." From FGC Connections.

Nurturing People of Color: An Interview with Anita Mendes-Lopes
Interview by Marsha Holliday. "We also need to keep talking to each other. When People of Color hear racists things, they could just say, 'I didn't get that. Would you tell me more?' We do not have to label people racists. As we continue in conversation, someone of the offending person's color will often become uncomfortable (where there is conscience) and confront that person. We must not cut each other off. We must stay in dialogue." From FGC Connections.

Racism Hurts and Challenges Everyone
By Vanessa Julye. Racism is a problem for all of us, black or white. The denial of the full humanity of any person diminishes us all...The presentation I facilitated at [the FGC] Central Committee was one of several programs I have participated in this year examining racism within the Religious Society of Friends. Racism is a part of our culture; that includes Friends. From FGC Connections.

Our Role as Individuals in America's (U.S.) Racial History: Atlanta Meeting Looks at Racism
By Bert Skellie & Adelaide Solomon-Jordan. The discoveries and experiences of a discussion group on racism. "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 exclusively on racial history in the United States." From FGC Connections.

RELATED RESOURCES

Resources on: Overcoming Racism and Bias

FGC's Committee for Ministry on Racism