let's start a mission

[Lauryn]

Hey guys,

So I feel like it'd be a pretty good idea to get on this WORK project pretty soon and I just wanted to touch base with you because it sounds like we'll be working together a lot on this project. One of the emails suggested we set a mission or some kind of "credo" complete with tagline for WORK. Do you have any ideas? I'm just trying to get some thoughts flowing...

[Brittany]

I think that credo is a great idea, but I think we need to decide what exactly we want to focus on as a group before we can really even have a credo.

I know that the name stands for Whites Overcoming Racism through Knowledge, but how exactly are we planning on getting the knowledge to understand, and overome racism to whites? And what type of information do we plan on distributing to whites? Information about white privilege? Information about institutional racism? I think it would be easier for us to start things up if we could narrow our focus. Whites Overcoming Racism through Knowledge just entails so many things, it's hard to know where to start or how we should/can reach out to other whites.

Furthermore, for the time being are we just going to use the internet as a tool to spread knowledge about racism, or do you think it would be more effective to use both the internet and some good old fashioned foot work?

[Brittany]

I guess what I'm trying to say, is that we need to figure out a purpose statement before anything else.

Are we simply going to be a resource for whites who want more information, and advice about overcoming racism, or are we going to interact with both the online and offline community in order to get our message to whites who either have yet to be presented with the reality of racism, or who haven't felt the need to seek out resources on their own?

[Jeff Hitchcock]

The main page lists 4 facilitators and 9 people offering guidance. I'm glad to see that two facilitators, Brittany and Lauryn, have started to talk here about what WORK is about, but I wonder what the other facilitators and people-offering-guidance have to offer in terms of facilitation and guidance. Especially now at the outset.

[Heather Day]

i will be more available once b ack in the states (in mali west africa right now), however, i worked in high school with a group like this and we tried to create a good balance of 'internal' and 'external' work.

internal for ex: challenging our own prejudices, educating ourselves on the institution of whiteness and what it means for us personally, examining the interplay of racial and ethnic identities etc.

external for ex: community workshops to facilitate stuff similar to the above for larger groups of white people , educaton campaigns, political/current events activism (for example organizing around racially discriminatory policies like racial profiling and death penalty cases, critiquing biased media coverage, taking action around sexual violence against woc or internalized racism with children of color - doll test video anyone? - )

[Lauryn]

My apologies for taking so long to respond to this conversation…life got a little crazy and I wanted to be sure to have time to reflect and collect my thoughts before throwing something out here.

In response to your thoughts, I think what we need most is to further this dialogue. We have a really good base with some questions that I think will promote our exploration of our mission. I think Brittany’s right in her saying that we need a mission statement before continuing further. What goal are we working towards? What goals do we feel are most important to work towards?

I’ve interpreted our goal to be ending racism in whites. The only question is how will that be done most effectively? I agree that Knowledge is a big term. Brittany’s asking about information and what kinds of information we should distribute. While I feel knowledge comes from information and we can deliver knowledge through information, I don’t know how much transformation informing people will really bring.

Changing attitudes about racism requires a changing in the very framework in which we perceive the world. We need to change people think by changing the way they live – the way people interact (or not avoid interaction) with others, the way we allow the media to affect us – we need to change the way we perceive ourselves.

There are a lot of resources already available about institutional racism, white privilege, etc. that are very useful. One thing we can do for people using this site is to provide them with the tools they need to do their own research. We can provide links to all kinds of website to account for different learning styles: some are more informative, some are interactive, others are funny and some may just provide access to organizations they can link up with to get involved in movements happening around them.

I think a lot of research/writing has already been done for us that we can use to deliver “Knowledge”. I think what we should focus on is how to change our every day framework of thinking. Heather's "internal for ex" and "external for ex" ideas are totally worth exploring.

As for Jeff's questions about guidance and seeking help from other, more experienced/knowledgeable people...always a good idea. Why not use all the resources we can, especially when it comes from personal input?

[Amina]

I find a really good place to start is to remind White people that we are in the minority. If anyone can tell me where to find accurate figures I would be really grateful. I believe I heard that White people make up 9% of the global population, but I hesitate to quote that until I know where the information came from.
No better way to put people in their place!
I often upset someone's demographic research by filling in the box saying I consider myself to be part of a minority group.

[Heather Day]

that is an interesting comment amina.

whites are most definitely in the minority on a strictly numbers basis ( i should know, i've been in west africa for three months now and white people are few and far between!). at the same time, we have institutional power whether it is in a majority white country like france or one with mostly people of color like south africa. on a global scale whiles are way disproportionately privileged in so many ways...

what do the rest of you think of when you here the term minority (facilitators can move this to a new thread if deemed necessary)

[Dean Korsak]

Briefly, some initial thoughts:

A mission statement would be nice so we can concisely communicate to others the purpose of the forum and to reflect upon so we stay on target in the future.
Here are some items that seem important:

1. Acknowledge racism exists today not only in personal interaction but institutionally. The best example that comes to mind is how many white (European- American / Caucasian) U.S. Senators we have.

2. Seek to identify proven methods to understand racial diversity and challenges each race may encounter so we can develop proven methods to increase the common respect we should have for people on the basis of humanity alone.

These are the two fundamental notions presently on my mind. I’m sure more will follow and that somebody will take issue with something I’ve shared. I’d love to hear some feedback on what else could be included in a mission statement, and I look forward to learning through this forum.

Dean Korsak

[Brittany]

I'm in complete agreement with this mission statement.

I'm sorry I haven't been doing much work around here. School distracted me, but summer is here and I'll have much more time to spend working on this board and (hopefully) organizing larger things.

I think that as we all get more invovled in this group the work we're doing needs to extend beyond the internet and into our communites. I guess what I'm trying to say is that talking about racial problems with open minded individuals, like the people this board will attract, is great but we also need to try to get our message to people who aren't as aware of the role they play in society when it comes to race.

[Lauryn]

I totally agree with Brittany...It's important to talk about racial problems with open minded individuals but that will only go so far. The people who probably need it most are the ones who will never know this site existed (and the many others that focus on racial issues for that matter). Do you have any ideas about how to really reach out? I guess posting this site in places where it'll get seen...facebook, myspace, etc...

[Brittany]

I was thinking that WORK could produce a booklet that people could print off at home. Just something really simple on microsoft word.

I'm not sure what it all would include, but so far I'm thinking it should have definitions of different types of racism, and then explain how those types of racism are perpetuated, and then explain how whoever reading the booklet could do their part to help (this isn't the right word, but it's the only one I can think of) "stop" racism. Then of course a number of online and inprint resources they could look up if they wanted to know more.

I think each of us could print off a couple copies of it, and distribute it to people we know, and then place in somewhere that someone we don't know will find it-like at the bookstore, we could put it (you'd have to be sneaky of course) inside a book that is selling really well, or you could pin a couple to a community bulletin board. Of course this doesn't guarantee that someone will read the booklet, but if they do we'd be reaching out.

Posters would also be kind of nifty, to put on lamp posts. Esspecially if you live in an area where those posts are already covered with concert posters and garage sale ads.

I've also been considering doing some street art having to do with racism and white privilege. It would at least get the people in my neighboorhood thinking, but it isn't exactly the most legal thing for me to be doing.

Any other ideas? Anything that will at least get someone to stop and think is a worthwhile idea. Change starts small.