An excellent opportunity to explore the implications of white privilege and the role white folks have in dismantling racism on Vashon, and beyond. Contact Karen Nelson for more information: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and check out on Facebook's Vashon SURJ ~ Showing Up For Racial Justice page.
Vashon Showing Up for Racial Justice [Vashon SURJ] brings you: Waking Up White— reading and study group Weds eves JUNE 7-28, 6:30-8p [get it for 20%off at Vashon Bookshop] How can we white folks on Vashon actively engage in the racial equity movement? One essential way to begin is to discover how white privilege and implicit bias are part of our lives and our culture, and how they contribute to systemic racism, despite our best intentions. As we gain a deeper understanding of white privilege, we can look toward contributing to undoing racism in more effective ways. Please join us on the journey of waking up through thoughtful discourse, sharing and witnessing.
We will be reading and following guiding questions from the book "Waking Up White, and Finding Myself in the Story of Race" by Debby Irving. Over 4 weeks we will cover the book. Please join us if you are moved to, whether you’ve read the chapters or not. Each chapter ends with pithy self-reflective questions which we will use to guide our inquiry. Here is a reading plan: for June 7 intro-p 60 for June 14 pg 61-123 for June 21 pg 124-184 for June 28 pg 185-249 Held at Hanna Barn, close in on Maury Island Everyone welcome We look forward to taking actions steps for racial equity together! *Personal Note from co-facilitator Karen Nelson* I was introduced to this book during a discussion group convened by Sustainable Vashon’s All Island Read on Racism & White Privilege, in 2015. I found the whole experience to be be eye-opening and simultaneously supportive and healing. I realized that even as we were mostly white people in the room, we were embarking on an important piece of work towards acknowledging and ending racism.
Anyone interested in starting something similar on Vashon? Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
To all of you who participated in our launch of Vashon Reads on Thursday, thank you for being part of this initiative. To those of you who weren’t able to come but who have expressed interest in staying involved, there are many ways to participate.
Share our extensive resource list: Vashon_Reads_-_6.19.16.pdf Please send us additons, particularly for our latest section entitled "Projects & Programs".
We held two facilitated community conversations following the kick-off. Our focus included the topics of racism and white privilege, and those who participated expressed both appreciation and a desire for more. We are available to facilitate future conversations for book groups as well as any other group interested in tackling these topics. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you are interested.
Keep the conversation going by reading our selected books as well as other books on racism & white privilege.
You can purchase many of them at Vashon Bookshop or check them out at the Vashon Library.
Picture Books:
Happy in our Skin, Golden Domes & Silver Lanterns, These Hands,
Abuela (English and Spanish)
Young Readers:
Migrant, Mr. Lincoln’s Way
Teen – Adult:
All American Boys
Adult:
Waking Up White and Finding Myself in the Story of Race
Watch this youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpUouaQeUwA White American’s as catalysts for racial justice | Carmen Henne-Ochoa | TEDxBucknellUniversity
Keep us posted on the discussions you have, and the initiatives you take. We will post them here to inspire others. Contact us via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
In order to involve all islanders in Vashon Reads, books have been selected to appeal to all age groups.
Copies will be available at the Bookshop, and at the Vashon Library.
An overview of these books will include the reasoning behind the choices, a brief discussion of white privilege & allies, and the team's vision for on-going action.
Picture Books:
Happy in our Skin, Golden Domes & Silver Lanterns, These Hands,
Abuela (English and Spanish)
Young Readers:
Migrant, Mr. Lincoln’s Way
Teen – Adult:
All American Boys
Adult:
Waking Up White and Finding Myself in the Story of Race
Vashon Reads is part of an island-wide movement to acknowledge and address racism on Vashon and beyond. It emerged from outrage over the murders of innumerable people-of-color nationwide, racist events locally, and confusion about the role white people, in particular, have to play in advocating for racial equity.
Ann Braden, a newspaper journalist, who lived from 1924-2006, wrote,
"The battle is and always has been a battle for the hearts and minds of white people in this country.The fight against racism is our issue. It’s not something that we’re called on to help People of Color with. We need to become involved with it as if our lives depended on it because really, in truth, they do.”
Come meet your neighbors, join the conversation, buy books, and explore ways to make Vashon a welcoming place for all.
Questions? Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Sustainable Vashon is a learning and action network with a shared commitment to discover, model and advocate for the environmental, social and economic sustainability of Vashon/Maury Island, Washington, USA.
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Vashon Showing Up for Racial Justice [Vashon SURJ] brings you:
