THE SANKOFA MOMENT

Sankofa is a word in
the Akan language of
Ghana that translates
as "reach back and
get it."
 OPENING WORDS
I do not wish to breathe another
breath
If it is not shared with others.
The breath of life is not mine
alone.
I brought myself to be with you
Hoping that by inhaling
the compassion, the courage, the
hope
found here
I can exhale
the fear, the selfishness, the
separateness
I keep so close to my skin.
I cannot live another moment,
At least not one of joy,
Unless you and I find our
oneness.
Somewhere among each other
Somewhere between the noise
Somewhere within the silence
Of the next breath.
Kristen Harper
Gather here in the
mystery of this hour.
Gather here in one
strong body.
Gather here in the
strong and the power.
Spirit draw near.

Words and tune: Phil Porter

THE NATURE OF
RACISM
And how racism effects us.
 Wh
a
m e t is
mo you
aw ry r e ar
of
are bec lies
of om t
rac ing
e?
NATURE
No one is born a
racist. What we
need is to be held,
fed and feel the
world is absolutely
delighted with
you.
Children are by
nature curious about
everything.
Difference only
momentarily
frightens them. They
will adjust if there is
no danger and their
fear is not
reinforced.
 Childr
en are
emotio natura
nally a lly
fairnes ttuned
s a nd p to
time th rotest
e y se e the fir
a c te d o prejud st
u t. ic e
 If a child knows
nothing else it will
come to accept racism
as normal.
PREJUDICE IS LEARNED

Prejudice is something that

must be systematically
taught and culturally
reinforced.
 t o a
o n s e o n
r e s p b a n d
e n t ’s s s, a t
p a r n n e s th a
A s o p e fl e c t
hi l d ’ t y re r e a l
c ri o s i b o t h
d c u rs –
a n s f e a
r e n t ’ s.
p a t i t i o u
d f i c
an
A parent’s response to a child's
moral protest can be anger –
ranging from violence,
hushing, shaming, scolding,
and the withdrawal of
affection.
 The chi
ld faces
since th a dilemm
e child n a,
idolizes eeds and
t he i r p a
as needi rent(s),
n g t o fe as well
to a gro el they b
up. elong
 c e s m o ra l
l d e x p e ri e n
Th e c hi n a l
an d e m ot i o
confu s i o n h is
c e d w i t h t
h e n f a
pain w
dile m m a .
IN RESPONSE TO THE
DILEMMA, THE CHILD MAY:

 Remain silent, and sacrifice their sense of

justice and fair play.
 Join-in in order to win back approval.
 Narrow their lives to avoid a repeat of the
situation and the unbearable sense of
shame they carry.
 Become fearful of difference.
MIS-EDUCATION
Falsehoods, distortions and
omissions reinforce the sense
of confusion and further
promotes isolation.
 White
Privilege
  You do
not kn
 C
lerks d ow wh
o n at DW
 Y ’t follo B mea
ou tak w you n s.
e a round
behavi pride in yo the sto
or and ur heri re.
 Y
ou do m ores ar t ag e an d b
not fee e norma elieve
credit l t h a l. your
to it. t you rep
 P
eople resent
do not your r
affirm a s ace an
a t iv e a s ume y d mus
c o u g t be
 Y
ou do t ion. ot your jo
not ha b throu
Black ve to e gh
Code i d
n orde ucate your c
r to ke
ep the hildren abou
m safe t t he
.
What is the
Black Male
Code?
 THE BLACK MALE CODE
 Always pay close attention to your surroundings, son,
especially if you are in an affluent neighborhood where black
folks are few. Understand that even though you are not a
criminal, some people might assume you are, especially if you
are wearing certain clothes.
 Never argue with police, but protect your dignity and take pride
in humility. When confronted by someone with a badge or a
gun, do not flee, fight, or put your hands anywhere other than
up.
 Please don't assume, son, that all white people view you as a
threat. America is better than that. Suspicion and bitterness can
imprison you. But as a black male, you must go above and
beyond to show strangers what type of person you really are.
  Whites, since it isn’t a
Because African- problem for them, don’t
see at as a problem and to
Americans and not talk about it.
Euro-Americans  Whites are ignorant and

everyday confused about race.

 Blacks frequently
experiences vary experience micro-
so much from one aggression.
another:  Blacks have a tendency to
see ever problem as an
issue of race.
 Ergo Whites feel Blacks
are exaggerating.
 THE NEW FACE OF RACISM IS
MICRO-AGGRESSION

Microaggression is a form of unintended discrimination. It

is depicted by the use of known social norms of behavior
and/or expression that, while without conscious choice of
the user, has the same effect as conscious, intended
discrimination.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

LIBERALS
In an attempt to bolster our egos, we often
find our value in our actions, rather than
our in our own inherent worth and
goodness.

“I am good, because I do good”

rather than
“I am inherently good”

It is a form of neo-Puritanism.
 GU ILT

Bill Schulz wrote, “Guilt deals cruelly with

vision.”
Guilt may initiate action, but we cannot sustain
the work, if we remain mired in feelings of
shame.
Eventually we will either distance ourselves
from the ego-corroding acid of shame or
become addicted to the moonshine of feeling
holier than thou.
HEALING
The real issue is healing. Our motivation
is to feel whole.
Again, not doing good for them but
healing one’s self.
This is spiritually rooted in the intuition
that we are deeply connected, and that
in healing ourselves, we work to heal
the world as well.
FALL
ON Y
O UR
FACE
In this work, mistakes are
inevitable.
So enjoy making them.
See them as the learning
opportunities that they are.
It is the only way to learn.
YOUR
APPROACH
Be led by your heart,
and a desire for
connection, rather than
by ideology.
AT THE CLOSE OF THE UUA BOARD MEETING IN
SELMA DONALD HARRINGTON READ THESE WORDS
FROM HOWARD ZINN’S SNCC: THE NEW
ABOLITIONISTS

“Finally it all boils down to human

relationships. It is the question of . . .
whether I shall go on living in isolation or
whether there shall be a we. . . . Love alone
is radical. Political statements are not;
programs are not; even going to jail is not.
Love alone is radical.”
 BUILD
RELATIONSHIPS!!!!!!
We can cherish all our individual
diversities as we like, but it will
be those essentials we share in
common that will empower us to
transform the world as we wish it
to become.
- Robert Latham
BE HOPEFUL
Knowing that “the
arc of the moral
universe is long, but
it bends towards
justice,” work in
complete
confidence, rather
than earnestness.
A PRAYER FOR LIVING IN TENSION
If we have any hope of transforming the world and changing
ourselves,
we must be:
bold enough to step into our discomfort,
brave enough to be clumsy there,
loving enough to forgive ourselves and others.
May we, as a people of faith, be granted the strength to be:
so bold,
so brave,
and so loving.
~Joseph M Cherry