Brief Report Back Wednesday zoom Nov 4th "The Day After: What Will White Womyn Do To End Racism?"

We began this morning by taking time to mourn the election results, be that what they may at this early point, but particularly the knowledge that there was not a landslide vote to eliminate the fascist and his cabinet of white supremacists in the white house.

Whatever the end results, we already know that way too many white people have shown their personal racist, sexist, anti-immigrant stance shoring up their symbiotic relationship with institutional and systemic racism, hatred, violence.

We shared our recent challenges and successes in addressing racism this past week: there was a success in confronting and stopping the repeat of a racist practice by a religious leader; and a challenge wearing a Black Lives Matter shirt in a pro-tRump rural area and not being able to engage with fellow white people – getting no response except a positive one from a Black womon.

On the quest to seek white allies in our respective almost all white communities, surprises both negative and positive: the white people approached as potential allies either didn’t respond (yet) or were not interested (yet); and one white person not approached turns out to be a potential anti-racist ally.

Ideas for approaching our individual white neighbors: beginning the discussion re:racism; expanding the definition of racism especially among white ‘liberal’ or ‘christian’ people to include systemic racism, personal racism, cultural racism – not ‘just’ the overt violent kkk’er. Asking the questions “what does racism look like to you? How do you fit into that definition that ALL white people are racist? Expressing your concern about the rise in violence by white vigilantes and police.

Some suggestions for going forward included supporting those Black and brown womyn who are willing to continue running for local, county, and state politics; when we live in a mostly white area, running for political positions ourselves; influencing existing politicians, legislation, attending and participating w/in policy-making meetings, politicians.

It was very affirming to meet together united by our determination as white womyn to continue tackling racism as well as our shared deep sadness, outrage and stress awaiting final results.

Till next Wednesday, same time, same zoom