Brief Report Back Wednesday 10/14 "What Will White Womyn Do To End Racism?"

We began today’s zoom with our normal sharing info about our recent challenges and successes on our journey to honing our anti-racism skills and actions and increasing our understanding of racism 

Some white womyn on this zoom live in the south surrounded by tRump yard signs and confederate flags and old, established white conservative rural areas. We weighed in on the dangers of and strategies to facing angry white men with guns, seeking and finding support and allies, organizing with like-minded people, getting involved on the local level.

Some places to find allies (in times of covid): uu, quaker, synagogues, larger episcopal dieses; food coop, library, book stores, coffee shops.

Some strategies for being visible: put up a rainbow or peace flag; put up your own yard/window/vehicle signs, put out flyer letting folks know you are concerned in this time of increasing hatred about the presence of so many confederate flags, men with guns – or just concerned about hatred and want to take the temperature of your community. Would anybody be willing to put up “hate does not live here” sign or other signs? Or come together (6feet apart) to discuss this? Advertise this zoom and invite other white womyn to join. Let your group of white womyn know that you are learning about racism and white people taking responsibility for ending racism – invite interested womyn to gather to speak about it.

We spoke about the concept of “inclusion”. How can white people attempt to “include” Black or brown people if the barriers to their participation still exist, let alone if whites are inviting people into dangerous or at the least, hurtful situations.

We also discussed our role as white womyn when we witness racism: the dual sides of intercepting racism to try to prevent it from hurting someone, and taking responsibility for challenging the white person, raising their consciousness, but most of all, changing their behavior.

We began touching on the subject of police in our communities: white, male, maybe klan/former or ancestors, being comfortable with our white relationships with the police, attempting to find out how the few people of color around are experiencing policing, prison, etc.

Next week we will continue sharing and working together on our journeys, and probably focus more on police and prison – the prison industrial complex.

Please join in! 10/21, Wednesday 9a.m. pacific, 11a.m. central, noon east coast!