First Congregational Church

Anti-Racism Ministry

             RESOURCES

Videos that can be borrowed from the church:

“Traces of the Trade: A Story from the Deep North” – Descendents of slave traders set off to retrace the Triangle Trade, uncovering the vast Northern complicity in slavery.  86 min; or abridged to 56 min.

“Unnatural Causes:  Is Inequality Making Us Sick?” – PBS documentary in seven segments (most are 30 min).

“We Shall Remain:  America Through Native Eyes”  - PBS documentary on Native history in the US.  Five episodes covering almost 400 years.  (Total is approx 450 min.)

“Tim Wise – Colorblind: The Rise of Post-Racial Politics and the Retreat from Racial Equity” – powerful lecture from Feb 2010.  (77 min.)

“In Conversation: Tim Wise and Eva Paterson – Race in the Age of Obama” – conversation from 2009.  (60 min)

Handout from May 11, 2011

Racism Hurts Everyone – Costs to White People

Part of being committed to eliminating racism is continuing to grow in our understanding of the horrible effects of racism on people of color today.  While there is no comparison with the effects on people of color, white people are also dehumanized and burdened by racism.  It is valuable to also grow in our understanding of this part of the system that affects us all.  For instance, white people often:

• Experience a sense of being cut off from people of color – of not belonging  with, or being welcomed by, people of color (who are a majority of the world’s population)
• Have stereotypes, prejudices, and negative thoughts about people of color, and feelings of superiority, enter our minds against our will
• Are deeply pained by learning about the suffering and inequities experienced by people of color as a result of racism
• Feel hopeless and powerless to create a just society in the face of racism
• Feel guilty about the history of racism and current racism
• Fear making mistakes and being seen as racist
• Have our integrity eroded and our sense of goodness and self-worth undermined by our failures to stand up against racism
• Experience unjustified fears of people of color
• Are separated from other white people by feelings about race
• Are separated from working class and poor people of color, who are our natural allies, with whom we could join forces to bring about a more equitable distribution of wealth that would benefit us all
• Experience unfounded fears of what people of color might do to white people when they have the power to exact revenge or retribution for racism
• Miss out on the benefits of deep human relationships with people of other “races” and cultures, and all that can be learned and enjoyed in such relationships

What would you add to the list?