Issue 35: September 2006, Page 2

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District President Reports

Continuing Our Struggle with Racism

Rev. Brian Eslinger

At the District Ingathering on the first day of General Assembly I was requested by our association moderator, Gini Courtier, to read a statement. The statement asked people to be especially courteous to one another, to be attentive to our relationships and to try to be the change we wish to make. It went on to describe that this is related to our continued attempts to really deal with racism in our association, and told of events which occurred at last year’s GA in Fort Worth concerning young people of color. These events highlight the need to continue our struggle with these issues. This statement at the beginning of GA wasn’t the only way we’re engaging in this work. As a result of these incidents Gini and UUA President, Bill Sinkford appointed a special commission.

Part of the commission’s charge was “To review the trajectory of events that affected the Unitarian Universalist community of color, especially the youth of color community, leading up to and during the Fort Worth GA. The goal is to identify lessons about the structures of racism and ageism both within and outside our faith community, which we must address in our journey toward wholeness.”

When the commission presented the report at General Assembly, commission member Rachel Davis spoke of her heartbreak that one of the young men involved in the incident didn’t feel he could remain a UU. She also spoke with pride about our willingness to deal with such issues and not just hope they’d go away. This is the mixed legacy revealed by the commission’s work, a desire to be a source of radical change, but often falling short of the change we wish to be.

The report states that the trajectory of the incidents in Fort Worth extends back to the merger of the Unitarian and Universalist in 1961. Commission members found that racism is still pervasive in our culture and our association and congregations are not immune from it. Also, we do an especially poor job of supporting our youth of color. Related to youth in general, they found that many youth-related programs substitute abandonment for empowerment, leading our young people to feel empowered to act in inappropriate ways since they have not had the mentoring and training regarding how systems function.

The report describes events leading up to the incident and the misunderstandings around comments, motivation and perceptions. It is heart rending to read and important as well. The entire report can be found at: http://archive.uua.org/TRUS/apr06/D2a-src.pdf. (This link is to a PDF file; see About PDF Files for more information.)

This leads to the question of what we will do to improve our understanding of issues of racism in our own community. At our District Board and Program Council retreat in August we took the first step by engaging in a day of antiracism training. This step is leading us on a parallel track of exploring how we, as a district, can become an antiracist, anti-oppressive institution while providing resources to our congregation to engage in this work. Members of the board would like to begin a dialogue with all of our congregations, especially with those interested in exploring ways to approach this important issue. As we are exploring programs that we might recommend to clusters and congregations so they can begin the process, we’d like to hear about your successes.

The final sentence of the commission’s report both challenges and comforts us: “It is the size of our hearts, of our souls, that will determine the future of Unitarian Universalism.” It is, then, in our power to shape our hearts and souls. In the end, it is up to us.

Award Nominations Sought

This is the year for your congregation to honor the individuals or congregations who are making UUism alive and visible in Prairie Star District. Nomination forms have been posted on PSD website for the following:

• Unsung UU affirming UUs whose actions inspire, support and express UUism;
• Pickett Award honoring a congregation that has made an outstanding contribution to growth of UUism;
• Social Justice awards for adult and youth;
• Keeping the Faith presented to persons working to keep UUism alive in their community.

Take this opportunity to honor your congregation or an individual in your congregation for their contribution. Download and nominate!

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