local - course on White people challenging racism

[gingicat]

This showed up in my email; I can't go and want to, but I thought maybe some of you CAN go and want to. :)

White People Challenging Racism: Moving From Talk to Action
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Affordable White People Challenging Racism class starts 9/26


This affordable Cambridge Center for Adult Education workshop, now in its 11th year, is still being offered for just $28 + admin fee (covers all five 2-hour sessions, plus materials). While this course focuses on white people's role in dismantling racism and building a just society, it is open to people of all heritages.

The 5-session class starts Monday, September 26, 2011, with co-facilitators Adam Gibbons and Jennie Msall. both of whom are white. The class meets 6 to 8 pm for five consecutive Thursdays, in Harvard Square, Cambridge.

To register, call 617-547-6789 or sign up online at http://www.ccae.org (course code is WHIT - direct link http://www.ccae.org/catalog/detail.php?id=559176).

Course description: In this course, we'll examine the impact of white privilege and how being unaware of that advantage helps perpetuate racism. We'll share everyday situations in which we did not speak up against racial bias. Using role-plays, we'll develop effective speaking up strategies. Each participants will develop a specific plan for challenging racism in his or her workplace, community or personal circles, and will be encouraged to seek out and develop relationships with people who can serve as allies in efforts to address racism. This workshop is participatory, witha variety of inspiring readings, video clips and exercises. Limited to 15.

For more info (articles about the course, or a sample syllabus), contact Barbara Beckwith at beckwithb@aol.com [mailto:beckwithb@aol.com] or call her at 617-868-3143.

Comments

[ron_newman]

Thanks for posting this. If you can de-italicize it, it will be easier to read.

[gingicat]

Sorry, I was trying to make clear that most of it wasn't my text. I will block-quote instead.

[ron_newman]

Much better, thanks.

[thespian.livejournal.com]

I am a totally affordable white person, for the record.

[gingicat]

It must be all of the Groupons and similar. ;)

[ron_newman]

you got there first ...

[greyling.livejournal.com]

Huh. Yesterday my (white, male) friend told us about the traffic-watching policeman whom he passes regularly on the way to work. He's noticed that every single time he's seen this policeman pull someone over, that person is always colored.

What does one do in that situation? It seems like a poor idea to pull off the highway and lecture this policeman...

[mzrowan.livejournal.com]

In the spirit of speaking up...as far as I understand, the term "colored" is not used in polite conversation any more. Better terms are "person/people of color" or "member(s) of a visible minority".

As to your specific question, I would think that a complaint to the police department or ombudsperson would be the best way to go.

[squirrelitude]

Or "black" or "dark-skinned", if that happens to be the case. -.-

[pklemica]

Perhaps call in to the station? For a longer-term issue like that (since pulling over any one non-white person isn't particularly racist; it's the overall pattern that would be) with someone with whom you've never had a personal interaction, it may be more effective to plant the seed of doubt in people closer to home, who a) have access (I believe?) to his actual record of people-pulled-over and can see if such a pattern exists, and b) he'll be more likely to listen to than some stranger who's approaching him on-duty, in traffic. Passing the onus to someone else is not the best solution, I know, but unless you can arrange an in-person meeting while this person is *not* busy being-a-policeman, I'm not really sure how else to make this work in a way in which you're more likely to be taken seriously than taken as a threat.

[ron_newman]

Where is this specifically?

[greyling.livejournal.com]

No idea. I'm an avid pedestrian, so my eyes kind of glaze over whenever a drive-out-of-town commuter starts mentioning route #s.

[gingicat]

What everyone else says - and also, grab his unit number from the car, as it may not always be the same one (which would be really sad...)

[oneagain.livejournal.com]

Can't make Thursdays (or Tuesdays)--any chance this class might one day be offered on a Monday? (I assume it would not be given on a Friday night)