Day 17. Anti-Racism as a Spiritual Practice – How We Commit to Dismantling Systemic Racism.
Let’s explore anti-racism as a spiritual practice. Our faith calls us to address the moral and spiritual harm of systemic racism through sustained action, self-reflection, and community transformation.
Why Anti-Racism is a Spiritual Practice
Anti-racism aligns deeply with our values, particularly our commitment to the value of each of us as unique individuals and our interconnectedness. We are challenged to live our values authentically by examining and dismantling the structures and biases that perpetuate inequality.
Engaging in anti-racism work as a spiritual practice involves:
- Accountability: Facing uncomfortable truths about racism in ourselves and our institutions
- Compassion: Recognizing the humanity in everyone and fostering relationships rooted in justice and equity
- Action: Translating our values into meaningful, consistent advocacy for racial justice
What Anti-Racism Work Looks Like in Practice
- Education and Self Reflection:
- Workshops that provide tools to understand systemic racism and personal bias
- Congregations that engage in book studies, films, and discussions centered on anti-racism
- Institutional Change:
- Reviewing policies, practices, and structures to ensure inclusivity
- Adopting resolutions that prioritize racial justice
- Community Partnerships:
- Collaborating with local organizations led by and for communities of color
- Supporting movements like Black Lives Matter and Indigenous land sovereignty efforts
- Advocacy and Activism:
- Advocating for policies that address systemic racism, from voting rights to criminal justice reform
- Participating in public demonstrations, petitions, and educational campaigns
Resources to Deepen Your Practice
- Books:
- “How to Be an Antiracist,” by Ibram X Kendi – A guide to transforming systems and selves through anti-racism
- “Me and White Supremacy,” by Layla F Saad – A workbook for self-reflection on privilege and systemic racism
- Media:
- Code Switch – A podcast produced and hosted by a multi-racial, multi-generational group of journalists. They discuss the subject of race and the impacts on society
- The Difference Between Being “Not Racist” and Antiracist – Ted Talk by Ibram X Kendi, anti-racist educator
An Invitation to Reflect
How does anti-racism show up in your life as a spiritual practice? What steps can you take—individually or collectively—to contribute to dismantling systemic racism?
Today, let us recommit to the ongoing work of anti-racism, not as a checklist but as a daily expression of our faith. In this practice, we honor our interconnectedness and move closer to the vision of wholeness we all seek.
Learn more: Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) is a network for white allies in racial justice work.
Wholeness is not a fixed state; it is an evolving practice of acceptance, compassion, and justice. Together, let us explore what it means to bring wholeness into our own lives, our congregations, and the broader world.
#UU #UUA #CelebrateDiversity #AntiRacism #RacialJustice #SURJ
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