Wink: Youth Office Editorial
By Betty Jeanne Rueters-WardCommenting on a theme as crucial and complex as Anti-Racism may be my most daunting task yet as a Young Religious Unitarian Universalist (YRUU) Programs Specialist. I've been thinking about all the people reading this; people who have worked night and day doing Anti-racism work, and people who are just beginning to grasp how racism affects them and their communities, people who have been taught that racism is a thing of the past, and folks who point out again and again how our society continues to oppress People of Color, youth who have been involved with YRUU for years, and youth who, as they read this, are asking the question: "YRUU? What the heck is that?"
I am sharply aware that my own White privilege informs not only how I experience the world as a whole, but also how I approach this editorial. I am also conscious of the fact that it was my experience in YRUU that first pushed me to examine this privilege, and my understandings of race and racism. YRUU's commitment to Anti-Racism impacted me greatly as a Unitarian Universalist youth, and supported me in a challenging, rewarding, and incredibly important process of becoming an Anti-Racist White Ally.
As I debated what to write, I read copy after copy of past issues of Synapse and "People Soup" (the magazine of Liberal Religious Youth, YRUU's predecessor). It's amazing to read about all the amazing work that Unitarian Universalists (UU) youth have been doing over the past five, ten, even twenty or thirty years, yet I'm also struck by the fact that YRUU has been dealing with many of the same issues for years and years—connecting to youth in congregations, empowering youth leadership within the Unitarian Universalist Association and Canadian Unitarian Council, challenging oppressions such as racism, classism, ableism, homophobia, and sexism in all their forms, and making YRUU's Youth Council an effective, anti-oppressive model of governance that supports and reaches all its constituents. One of the big reasons these same issues keep coming up is that youth only stay youth for so long—the turnover rate in YRUU leadership is tremendous, and it's one of the many reasons we have to stay at the table when it comes to creating an Anti-Racist YRUU.
In this issue, you'll find an amazing timeline of YRUU Anti-Racism work (compiled by Jennifer Dunmore, one of my role models). We have so much to celebrate, but we also need to be honest about what we haven't been doing well. Racism continues to be a huge issue in YRUU, as the voices and contributions of People of Color are being tokenized, ignored, and underrepresented in our faith. Yet we still hear that racism is "not an issue," that Anti-Racism work is unnecessary, or not worth it.
As I helped put together this issue of Synapse, it was brought to my attention how much emotion, pain and struggle is reflected in its content. While some of the writings may be difficult to read and comprehend, I am humbled by—and extremely grateful for—the honesty and generosity of the authors, as well as so many other leaders in our Anti-Racism movement. Many of them have taken great risks to share their experiences with us. I urge you all to honor their contributions and take seriously what they have to say.
I am so inspired by Unitarian Universalist youth—past, present, and future—and it is an honor to support and work for you. You continue to demonstrate an incredible commitment to justice, and give me great hope for what our faith can be. Keep rocking your youth groups, congregations, schools, workplaces, and communities. Explore this issue of Synapse, and consider submitting something yourself. Check out the Anti-Racism resources we listed, and remember that there are so many more available to you. Don't forget to tell us about it—the Youth Office is here for you. We are inspired by you every day.
In faith,
Betty
Jeanne
For more information contact youth @ uua.org.
Last updated on Saturday, April 19, 2008.
