Lessons from 30 Days of Love 2016

By Unitarian Universalist Association

For Thirty Days of Love: Towards Racial Justice (January 16 - February 14, 2016), Unitarian Universalists and all who stand on the side of love have heard from partner organizations at the frontlines of social justice, focusing on the people most affected by discrimination.

Today, a mass movement towards racial justice is growing across the country. It recognizes that some communities are being systematically left behind. It invites each of us to center the experiences of Black people- across class, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability- as we work to transform ourselves, our communities and our culture towards greater freedom and fairness. This work also happens within Unitarian Universalism today through organizations like DRUUMM and Black Lives of UU that organize, lead and push our faith movement towards racial justice.

Here are some of the lessons from this year's Thirty Days of Love, with more information available for each of this year's partner organizations:

REJECT FEAR and SCARCITY: In 2016, it’s time to bring it all together. To not allow the fear of criminalization to decide how we fight for better immigration policies. To hold up those who are seen as unimportant. To say that everyone deserves to be loved no matter where they’re from, who they love, AND no matter what record they may have. Read more from #Not1More.

OUR WHOLE SELVES ARE NEEDED & WELCOME: Poet and visionary Audre Lorde wrote “There is no such thing as a single-issue struggle because we do not lead single issue lives.” This is how we develop campaigns, build partnership and make change. When and where we enter, matters. The Ohio Students Association knows that each of us are living at an intersection of different identities. Read more from OSA.

OUR FAITH CALLS US TO ACT: Taking on the US prison system can feel overwhelming, and it can be difficult to know where to start. Creating a world free from police and prisons can feel like an utopia that is impossible to reach, but holding up that dream can help us see new possibilities. As Unitarian Universalists who have made a commitment tosupport the Black Lives Matter movement, we must build connections with those who are most directly affected by the violence of the prison system. Read more from Black and Pink.

RELATIONSHIPS MATTER: We are building transformative, long-term coalition relationships rooted in a clear agenda that measures success by more than only electoral outcomes. We must learn how our issues intersect in a big-picture moral agenda so that everyone can find new ways to live in justice and compassion. Read more from NC NAACP.

Send your ideas and comments on the lessons you’ve learned about organizing for racial justice during Thirty Days of Love and beyond tolove@uua.org. May we be honest, bold and committed as we continue to work towards racial justice.

Onward!

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North Carolina Moral March, February 2016 Photo by Tom Rhodes, from Standing on the Side of Love