AMS Takes Anti-Racism Work to Community Level

A Mighty Stream members share their journey toward becoming antiracist, looking at white privilege and personal bias, with Cincinnati Friends.
A Mighty Stream members share their journey toward becoming antiracist, looking at white privilege and personal bias, with Cincinnati Friends.
  Members of the A Mighty Stream (AMS) nurture group exploring racism believe that, as a beloved community, we attempt not to wound others and , when we do, to apologize and do better. As a larger community, the group sees that separation and isolation make us weaker. Because we, as Quakers and humans, are connected, we must look out for one another. Those beliefs are based on the personal and small group effort guided by a Cincinnati Friend’s Meeting’s 2021 minute. The resolutions were proposed by the local interfaith organization EquaSion’s A Mighty Stream program, named after Scripture (Amos 5:24) often quoted by Martin Luther King: “Let justice roll down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.” Approved resolutions include:
  1. Discern our personal and communal biases and commit to transforming our lives for the
    greater good.  
  1. Listen and learn from each other as we pursue anti-racism and racial justice in our personal
    and corporate lives.
  1. Address racism and racial disparities in our own faith communities.
  2. Eradicate economic disparities and systemic inequities in our spheres of influence.
  3. As an interfaith community, to work with civic leaders and elected officials in advocating for
    policies that dismantle structural racism and the ideology of white supremacy. The next stage of the group’s work, resolution number two, began with two conversations in February and March that drew 25 Cincinnati Friends, mostly women, as members of AMS shared their journey exploring white privilege and personal racial bias. Not an easy, but an honest conversation, the six members talked about: being awakened to their privilege; how their beliefs and awareness changed; when they messed up; the resources that helped them learn; how they continue to grow; and when the meetinghouse has not been a nurturing space for people of color. Cathy Barney, nurturer for spiritual growth and outreach and charged with engaging with this work, shared childhood glimpses of diversity in her white bubble and how the death of Black teen Timothy Thomas in 2001 at the hands of Cincinnati Police pushed her to listen to Black experiences and see her privilege. “It’s a continuing journey,” she said. Linda Daigle learned from staff and patients of color at the Cincinnati Veterans Administration not to “tone police” – white dismissal of an emotional or loud response – and forged friendships. She shared this quote from activist Peggy McIntosh: “White privilege is like an invisible weightless knapsack of special provisions, assurances, tools, maps, guides, codebooks, passports, emergency gear and blank checks.” Linda believes that “changing ourselves and our perceptions is one step to breaking down white privilege.” Dana Neal knows the discomfort of being the new Black family in a white part of town. She bravely shared comments that made her feel uncomfortable at Cincinnati Friends to help us understand where we can grow. Though the intention was not unkind, the remarks stereotyped, tokenized or made her feel responsible for all of Black culture and history. Deidre Hazelbaker grew up in the town next to a Ku Klux Klan’s stronghold and witnessed their violence as a child. She shared a chart showing the spectrum of racism, noting how she has worked from seeing terrorism into trying her best to be an ally. “Racism is not binary,” she said. “You work to be better, but you can slide back.” Nan Hatch watched the white neighbors move when a Black family landed on her childhood block. She understood that was wrong and, as a mother, ensured her daughters attended a diverse preschool. More recently, the shock of hearing Black women talk about not being served in a restaurant pushed her to confront white privilege and racial inequality. Joe Henry – a social worker, community activist trained by Barack Obama and prison chaplain –  sensed growing up in the Deep South that segregation was wrong. He has spent his life working toward racial equality. He currently sees reestablishing diversity, equity and inclusion and countering the white, Christian Nationalist Movement as the responsibility of the religious community. While there was some defensiveness, often an early step in becoming aware of white privilege, comments from the talks indicate an interest in engaging in more conversations, experiences outside of our white bubble, educational opportunities and dissipating racism in our community. The AMS group is seeking ways to move forward with quarterly events and their monthly meetings. They offer the following queries for Cincinnati Friends to consider: Personal
  • Do I see my white privilege? How can I become more aware of the advantages I hold as a caucasian person? As a Person of Color, what would I like people to know about white privilege?
  • Where am I currently on the spectrum of personal racial bias? What personal work must I do to become more of an ally?
  • How can I use my privilege to promote racial equality? If I don’t have that privilege, where it can be used in a positive way?
Community
  • As a beloved community, how do we live the testimony of (racial) equality?
  • What can we change in our local Quaker culture to become more welcoming to people of color?
  • How can we advocate for equality outside of our meeting?
For more information, contact Spiritual Nurturer for Growth & Outreach Cathy Barney, cathybarney@cincinnatifriends.org Resources shared at the conversations: Sites Articles 21 Unwritten Rules that People of Color Follow Every Day https://www.buzzfeed.com/morgansloss1/people-of-color-unwritten-rules Books
  • Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor* by Layla F. Saad
  • The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander
  • Race Matters by Cornel West
Podcasts/Videos Talks to help you understand Racism in America https://www.ted.com/playlists/250/talks_to_help_you_understand_racism_in_america The racism scale created by the Stuart Center for Mission, stuartcenter.org  

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