Lenten Equity Resource
Introduction
The call of the Old St Patrick’s Vision presents us with both the challenge and opportunity to be leaders in a movement of change in the church. We strive to see the world through the eyes of Christ, stand against injustice, and serve a broken world. For the past year, our church and our country have been challenged to reckon with both the coronavirus pandemic and the other deadly virus which grips the nation: racism.
The death of George Floyd was both a tragic and watershed moment for our country. In response, many marched, began educating themselves, read books, engaged in courageous conversations, and sought truth and reconciliation. The work of racial equity continues. Guided by the Gospel, we commit to being active agents of equality, justice, and change in big and small ways. This Lenten season, Old St. Pat’s newly formed Racial Equity & Justice Initiative will offer weekly reflections, questions, prayers, and actions to invite all of us to use this sacred time to unpack the ways in which racism separates us from our neighbor and God. This Lenten Racial Equity Resource, based on the Ignatian Solidarity Network’s 21 Day Racial Equity Challenge, invites you to educate, contemplate and activate around the themes of racial equity. Trusting in the Spirit, we will navigate this wilderness and be formed and prepared leaders of change in our church and our communities.
We encourage you to begin this journey by watching the “Living into the Vision” series which includes reflections from Rabbi Chava Bahle (Radical Inclusivity), Kate Williams (Exquisite Worship) and Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III (Transformative Kinship)
Have questions or need support? Let us know how your journey is going by sending us a message at antiracism@oldstpats.org.
The death of George Floyd was both a tragic and watershed moment for our country. In response, many marched, began educating themselves, read books, engaged in courageous conversations, and sought truth and reconciliation. The work of racial equity continues. Guided by the Gospel, we commit to being active agents of equality, justice, and change in big and small ways. This Lenten season, Old St. Pat’s newly formed Racial Equity & Justice Initiative will offer weekly reflections, questions, prayers, and actions to invite all of us to use this sacred time to unpack the ways in which racism separates us from our neighbor and God. This Lenten Racial Equity Resource, based on the Ignatian Solidarity Network’s 21 Day Racial Equity Challenge, invites you to educate, contemplate and activate around the themes of racial equity. Trusting in the Spirit, we will navigate this wilderness and be formed and prepared leaders of change in our church and our communities.
We encourage you to begin this journey by watching the “Living into the Vision” series which includes reflections from Rabbi Chava Bahle (Radical Inclusivity), Kate Williams (Exquisite Worship) and Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III (Transformative Kinship)
Have questions or need support? Let us know how your journey is going by sending us a message at antiracism@oldstpats.org.
WEEK 3
White Supremacy
One of the first week’s resources, the Racial Equity Tools Glossary, helped us to better understand the meaning of the terms, “white privilege” and “white supremacy” as they relate to our racial equity work. This week, we dig deeper into the ways that whiteness and racism are integrally connected.
EDUCATE:
Getting Started:
Additional resources:
EDUCATE:
Getting Started:
- Deconstructing White Privilege | Dr. Robin DiAngelo (20 minutes) This video provides a strong foundation in concepts around anti-racism.
- Whiteness: Talking about Race | National Museum of African American History and Culture
- Pray: The Ultimate Sacrifice
- Reflect: How does denying the existence of racism and white privilege perpetuate racial inequality and unequal outcomes?
Additional resources:
- “How the Church Can Combat Racism and White Privilege” | Fr. Bryan Massingale
- Dear White Catholics: It’s time to be anti-racist and leave white fragility behind | America Magazine
- The Characteristics of White Supremacy Culture | Showing Up for Racial Justice
WEEK 2
What does it mean to be non-racist and anti-racist?
This week’s resources explore the critical difference between being non-racist and anti-racist, and what that means in the context of faith and justice. Being anti-racist doesn’t mean that you always know the correct action to take or what to say in every situation. It does require that you act and work against racism wherever it arises, especially in yourself, acknowledging that these changes and the conversations around them are difficult.
EDUCATE:
- Getting Started:
- Are you racist? No is not a good enough answer | The Guardian (2 minute video)
- Are you racist? No is not a good enough answer | The Guardian (2 minute video)
- Going Deeper:
- Historian Ibram X. Kendi On ‘How To Be An Antiracist’ | NPR (21 minute listen)
- Being Antiracist | National Museum of African American History and Culture (10 min read with links supporting videos )
- Historian Ibram X. Kendi On ‘How To Be An Antiracist’ | NPR (21 minute listen)
- Often, we are afraid of admitting when our actions are racist. As Peter’s fear caused him to deny his friend Jesus, our fear prevents us from fully facing those moments when we are complicit in and contribute to racism.
- In your daily life, who do you interact with, what media do you consume, where do you shop? Reflect on these and other daily and lifestyle choices—how do the ways you move in the world reflect being anti-racist?
- Explore this Google Doc that contains scaffolded anti-racism resources and attempt to find yourself on the stages of white identity development. Complete one of the activities or “what to do next” steps in that category.
- Podcast: “Catholicism and Race Relations” | National Catholic Reporter (22min podcast discusses how art can improve race relations. Speakers discuss their own experiences of race and solidarity and places where they find hope.)
- “A Decade of Watching Black People Die” | Code Switch by NPR (23 min podcast discussing the killing by police officers of unarmed black individuals)
- ‘There Is No Neutral’: ‘Nice White People’ Can Still Be Complicit In A Racist Society | NPR (8 min podcast with Robin D’Angelo asking us to consider not WHETHER I been shaped by a racist society, but HOW I have been shaped by one, and reminding us that social change is not a sprint, but a marathon)
WEEK 1
Defining the Terms - What does racism mean?
Conversation around racism has increased dramatically in recent months. However, people often use vocabulary around racial injustice in different ways and with different understandings of what words mean. For example, some people hear the term white supremacy and think it is the same as white nationalism. This week, we invite you to explore resources that will help us to define a shared vocabulary for the duration of the challenge. Speaking a COMMON LANGUAGE facilitates the clear communication of our thoughts and beliefs, and can minimize misunderstandings.
EDUCATE:
- Getting Started: Use the Racial Equity Tools glossary to read the definitions for the following words:
- Racial equity
- Racism
- White privilege
- White supremacy
- Commonly used abbreviations:
- BIPOC: Black Indigenous People of Color
- POC: People or Person of Color
- Going Deeper: Under Our Skin | Seattle Times
- Explore these 4-7 minute videos of people of diverse political, social, and racial backgrounds discussing and unpacking terms around racial injustice.
- After reading the definitions, we understand that racism and white supremacy are systems, not simply a matter of an individual’s ill-mannered or bad behavior. All white people benefit from racist systems. Have you ever considered racism to include more than interpersonal interactions, and how do you personally benefit from racist systems?
CONTEMPLATE: An Examen for Racism | Jesuit Conference of the United States and Canada (8 minute long audio available)
This Examen explores how our actions (or inactions) and privilege may damage and deny the dignity and humanity of the Black community in the U.S.
ACTIVATE: Invite a friend to join the challenge so that you have a conversation and/or accountability partner.
Additional Resources:
- Let’s Get to the Root of Racial Injustice | TED Talk (20 minutes)
In this inspiring and powerful talk, Megan Francis traces features of our current racial climate to their core causes, debunking common misconceptions and calling out "fix-all" cures to a complex social problem. Her personal experiences and professional expertise make this a very relatable story. (Megan Francis is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Washington) - White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack | Peggy McIntosh
Have questions or need support? Let us know how your journey is going by sending us a message at antiracism@oldstpats.org