Tapestry of Faith: Building the World We Dream About: An Anti-racism Multicultural Program

Introduction

Although race has become such an obvious source of conflict, identity, and debate in almost every arena of our lives, few attempts are made to clarify what we mean by the term "race." Immeasurable confusion develops wherever peoples talk about racial issues because they are not speaking the same language. — Julio Noboa, contemporary educator and author, member of Latino/a Unitarian Universalist Networking Association (LUUNA)

This workshop offers a variety of experiential ways to explore definitions of racism and invites participants to consider the difference between racial prejudice and racism. Participants are introduced to the ideas that racism is a system that leads to particular economic, cultural, sociological, and political outcomes; and that those outcomes exist independent of the intentions of individuals in the culturally dominant group.

Before leading this workshop, review the accessibility guidelines in the program Introduction under Integrating All Participants.

Goals

This workshop will:

  • Introduce definitions of different representations of racism
  • Deepen participants' understanding of racism by inviting them to explore their own life experiences.

Learning Objectives

Participants will:

  • Understand the difference between racial prejudice and racism
  • Understand the systemic nature of racism
  • Learn to recognize racism through outcomes, rather than intentions
  • Share with one another life experiences that provide examples of racism as a system.