The commission was formed to “conduct an audit of the power structures and analyze systemic racism and white supremacy culture within the Unitarian Universalist Association” because, one, “…many of our congregations are in trouble, with dwindling membership, participation, and financial contributions. A factor that contributes to this decline is our inability to address issues of … Continue reading Widening the Circle of Concern

Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man is a safe place to have the uncomfortable conversations about race that many people have never been able to have. But enough is enough – I want to remove the barriers for why we’ve never had these conversations. I want to provide a free space for curious white people to answer the questions they’ve always had but have been too nervous to ask. Like, “How can I have white privilege if I’m not wealthy?” or “is racial profiling ok if black people tend to commit more crimes” and my personal favorite from a 19-year-old girl from rural Alabama named Amy who asked, “if black people can say the ‘N’ word, why can’t I?” And many, many more.

White supremacists vs. white supremacist thinking and culture So, not one person I know at UU is a white supremacist; however, most all of us have been well-taught and trained to think in white supremacist ways to live well in this white supremacist culture. I fully recognize that I have been well-taught and trained, and … Continue reading The Joy of Unchoosing*