Day 21 FIGHTING FOR EQUITY & JUSTICE: ADVOCACY AND ALLYSHIP FOR RACIAL JUSTICE |
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Over the last 20 days, we have learned how inequities permeate our communities on individual, institutional and systemic levels. We are all impacted by the system of racism and inequity in our country and therefore all, but particularly those with power, are responsible for dismantling the structures that allow it to persist. Power refers to the ability of individuals or groups to exert influence and control over others based on their race, ethnicity or social status, which underscores how important it is for power to be ceded to dispossessed groups. Today, as we wrap up the 2024 Equity Challenge, we need to bring the focus back to race. The United States operates from a racist foundation that systematically oppresses people who are not part of the dominant group (historically white, male, straight, land- owning, etc.). All work to maintain and protect the system of white supremacy. To work toward equity and justice across all forms of oppression (racism, sexism, ableism, religious persecution, heterosexism, ageism, anti-Semitism and more) we must center race because white supremacy benefits from and expects our silence. With all this at our center, it’s important to remember that to truly work toward a more just and equitable world, it requires white people and others in power to engage in actionable steps to undo their personal behavior that maintains white supremacy. Anti-Racism Daily notes that “When we work, open a bank account, cast a ballot, form a family, shop — we are all engaging with inequitable, exclusionary or oppressive institutions. This doesn’t mean that every person is racist. Instead, racial inequities are so seamlessly embedded in and produced by our everyday lives that it’s become routine. Racism is the default.” Being an ally is not an identity — it is an action. It is an active and consistent practice of using power and privilege to achieve equity, inclusion and justice while holding ourselves accountable to the needs of dispossessed people. Today’s challenge invites us to learn more about the work of antiracism and how we can become allies (and even better—accomplices) in the fight for equity and justice. |
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- All accomplices are allies, but not all allies are accomplices. While an ally is willing to stand in support of a marginalized voice, risk is rarely involved. An accomplice uses the power and privilege they have to challenge the status quo, often risking their physical and social well-being in the process. Watch this YouTube discussion here for more information. (6 minutes)
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- Check out The BIPOC Project—an organization that aims to build authentic and lasting solidarity among Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC), to undo Native invisibility and anti-Blackness, dismantle white supremacy and advance racial justice.
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- What have you learned from your experience with the Equity Challenge?
- Think about how white supremacy culture exists in your day-to-day life. How can you change these norms in the spaces you inhabit? What could you and others do differently?
- Consider: Did your workplace, school, church or other association make a statement in support of Black Lives Matter? If not, why? If so, have practices and norms changed since then? Is anti-racism an ongoing priority? What would that look like?
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Thank you for being a participant in our 21-Day Equity Challenge! As we near the end of our journey, we would like to extend a warm invitation for you to join us for the Final Zoom Equity Discussion on Friday, March 8th at Noon! This session will serve as a culmination of our collective efforts and reflections throughout the challenge. It will provide an opportunity for us to come together, share our insights, and discuss ways to continue fostering equity and inclusion in our community. Thank you for your dedication and engagement throughout the 21-Day Equity Challenge. Together, let's continue to advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of our lives. ZOOM LINK: |
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The 21-Day Equity Challenge was founded by Dr. Eddie Moore, Dr. Marguerite Penick-Parks and Debby Irving, now embraced by a coalition of local leaders, and is being adapted for the United Way of Forsyth County. |
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