What Is the History of Racism and Anti-blackness in Unitarian Universalism?

Part of Mosaic Lifespan Curriculum

Open

Having Been the Other:

“May what we know of suffering, redemption and salvation bring us to Love. Having been the other, may our hearts exclude no one. Having been the slave, may we long to be no one’s master.” 
—Rev. Natalie Fenimore

Voices from the Margins: An Anthology of Meditations. Skinner House Books.

Note: This opening can be introduced in a few different ways. 

  1. Read aloud once with the lighting of a chalice
  2. Read as responsive reading with chalice lighting: 

Facilitator: May what we know of suffering, redemption and salvation

Group: bring us to Love. 

Facilitator: Having been the other,

Group: may our hearts exclude no one. 

Facilitator: Having been the slave,

Group: may we long to be no one’s master.”

Read

Watch

Do

  • List of first steps to ending White Supremacy Culture in your community for BIPOC People

  • Review the“Doing Your Own Work” resources and Characteristics of White Supremacy Culture resources from Allies for Racial Equity

  • Review the resources and discussion questions. Before beginning discussion, give everyone five minutes to write down their honest initial responses to the materials. Be clear that these responses are for their own personal reflection and will not be shared or collected - the purpose is to identify whatever thoughts and feelings come up for us.

  • How does it feel in your body to receive language such as “white supremacy culture” and “white privilege”?

  • Leaning into pluralism - what does it mean to be in different places on the same journey, and to have different work to do than some of our fellow travelers?

  • What do you think could be your personal role or niche in the work of dismantling oppression in our communities and ourselves?

  • What is one specific anti-oppressive practice you can commit to implementing in your life?

Close

Saving Unitarian Universalism 

The thing that will save our faith, and that will allow us to become better lovers, fathers, mothers, daughters, sons, and friends, is building relationships—learning more about each other—seeing God in all people, places, and things. It’s rooted in experience. The more we learn and grow with liberal minds and hearts, the more we see the Spirit emanating. The more we learn about our common destiny, the more we see that we all come from the same source; that we are all capable of good; that “God don’t make no junk”; that the world we have is the world we’ve collectively created through our thoughts, words, and deeds. And when we see things differently, we start doing things differently. -Rev. John T. Crestwell Jr.

Voices from the Margins: An Anthology of Meditations. Skinner House Books.

Check out Questions (Choose one):

  • What is your greatest hope for the future of our faith?

  • How do you intend to help make it so?

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