We do our best to avoid these common pitfalls while discussing white culture, the problem of “colorblindness,” the system of white supremacy, and what our white faith communities have to say about race.
What We’re Reading and Listening to
After falling in love with her writing in Bad Feminist, Katey reads Roxane Gay‘s latest book Hunger, a memoir about her body, food, and pain. This is not a weight loss memoir. It’s a raw, real, and vulnerable story of learning to care for your body. She opens up about sexual trauma, eating, and shame that sheds a light on the complexities of living in our bodies.
As part of her self-care, Ashley has been listening to a lot of music, including “Almost Like Praying” by Lin-Manuel Miranda, the creator of the musical Hamilton. Miranda is from Puerto Rico, and he arranged this song along with many Latin American and Puerto Rican musicians to raise money for Hurricane Maria relief and rebuilding there. All the proceeds go to the Hispanic Federation, and you can also donate directly to the hurricane fund at hispanicfederation.org.
Kindreds of the Moment
This episode’s Kindreds of the Moment is the William Winter Institute for Racial Reconciliation in Mississippi. Their vision is a world where people “honestly engage in their history in order to live more truthfully in the present; where the inequities of the past no longer dictate the possibilities of the future.” The Winter Institute has several youth and adult initiatives aimed at improving racial understanding in Mississippi and creating more equitable systems of healthcare, education, and economy for all people. In 2006, they spearheaded legislation that made Civil Rights and human rights education mandatory in all K-12 public schools in the state. To learn more, you can follow the Winter Institute on Facebook or visit their website at winterinstitute.org.
- Read Robin DiAngelo’s piece “No, I Won’t Stop Saying ‘White Supremacy’“
- Learn why “colorblindness” is another form of racism
- Check out the Challenging White Supremacy workshop for more definitions and resources on dismantling systemic racial oppression