Privilege

There were many amazing nuggets, and moving moments.  Here is the overview.

Privilege, as we read in some of the handouts given to the group before the call, is many things.  It is the ability not to think about the color of your skin on a daily basis.  It is the security of going where you want without the threat of harassment, or worse.  It is the ability to speak up about injustice and not be accused of pushing your own agenda.

White privilege…

“The two-word term packs a double whammy that inspires pushback. 1) The word white creates discomfort among those who are not used to being defined or described by their race. And 2) the word privilege, especially for poor and rural white people, sounds like a word that doesn’t belong to them—like a word that suggests they have never struggled.”

-Cory Collins, www.tolerance.org

“COMPASSIONATE LISTENING, LOVE AND UNDERSTANDING ARE A VIABLE ALCHEMY FOR CHANGE.”

Sevonna Brown of Black Women’s Blueprint

We are the privileged, simply by the color or our skin.  And we need to build some tolerance to our discomfort.  “it’s all about awkward”

The greatest danger in the country is the educated white person doing NOTHING.

We need to use our platform, use our voice.  And it’s the willingness to have the conversation.

Once we come to terms with our privilege, how can we use it to help fight inequity in this country?

Some ideas that were discussed:

• Educate ourselves.  Understand the lived experience.  Read the real history of America.  Listen to podcasts, follow influential leaders (see the Egnyte folder for many ideas)

• Start a discussion at church with your congregation  (we have some materials for this from Phil if you are interested)

• Teaching local black writers in your classroom, and even at home

• Bring up the discussion of privilege and racism at home, with your family…at the holidays perhaps.

• In your social circles…enter into a real dialogue with others.  Don’t just walk about the weather

• Be a “self-agitator”

We need to redefine what it is to be American.  This is an American issue.  When recent immigrants (like many of us) are more readily accepted in this country than black people that have been American far longer…THAT is an issue.

Follow Black leaders (Phyllis noted some social media leaders)
Understand the lived experience. Read from Black authors
(Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglas)