White Ally Community of Practice
Reading the news and being a resident of the greater Portland area, the topic of racism continues to dominate the headlines- AS IT SHOULD. Rather than feeling hopeless that racism is still ever-present and overwhelming, I had to ask myself, “What can I, as a middle-aged white woman of privilege, do to combat this continuing and escalating injustice?”
I felt compelled to examine my own beliefs, actions and work on my own personal “human revolution”. It is not up to the BIPOC communities to solve this problem or give us the answers (as the problem was created and perpetuated by white people). It is up to the white community to stop allowing this travesty to continue.
What does this mean for me? As a white person- I must do better! I am by no means an expert on this subject, and I know that there is not a single answer to this problem, but I am committed to take my first steps to move from spectator to ally. As I commit myself to this journey of action instead of passivity, I must admit that I’m not even sure where to begin. I have questions about what role is even appropriate for me to play.
ORAEYC is creating a virtual space for nonblack people to come together to share perspectives and learn how to support the black community as a way to build and expand alliances. Black people constantly talk about race and how their blackness can be a beacon of change -- in their families, communities, churches and other organizations. It’s time for white people and other groups who have certain privileges based on the color of their skin and family history to start these community talks to explore their racial identity and the impact it has on our nation. This community of practice will provide a space to challenge and inform ourselves and peers about racist systems built to hold black people back.
Please come with your questions, resources and experiences as we “unpack” this very central theme in 2021.
With gratitude and appreciation,
Sara Stearns ORAEYC Executive Director
Visit our website, (www.oraeyc.org)
for more information on these Community of Practice Groups.