Fwd: [sq] Seek In Your Heart and Act on Your Street

0 views

Skip to first unread message

Zach Alexander

unread,

Sep 17, 2008, 8:08:15 PM9/17/08

to by...@googlegroups.com

FYI, there will be an open meeting to reflect on race and racism at Beacon Hill this Sunday, 9/21.

(The email below doesn't give more details on the event but does contain thoughts about Quakers and race.)

Zach

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Greg Williams <gcw...@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, Sep 17, 2008 at 2:11 PM
Subject: [sq] Seek In Your Heart and Act on Your Street
To: Beacon Hill <anno...@lists.bhfm.org>, NEYM Salem Quarter <neym-sale...@yahoogroups.com>, jan...@earthlink.net, Emily Garr <emily...@gmail.com>, Friends Cambridge <fmcq...@iecc.com>

"An important opportunity exists to develop a broad coalition based on a nonracial strategy for dealing with the decline of basic industries, with the significant growth in poverty and with the high rates of unemployment that will persist even after our projected economic "recovery."...

"... Today's Quaker agenda must be part and parcel of an agenda for all Americans. It must be an agenda that includes such items as...commitment to excellence in education, programs in vocational training...easing the transition of workers displaced by the changing economy..."

Clearly such an agenda is not specifically Quaker. Rather it is an agenda that can unite a potent coalition of blacks and whites, Christians and Jews, workers and poor. Only such a coalition can help attain the goals that 40 years ago brought 250,000 of us to the edges of Washington's reflecting pool on a scorching August Saturday..."

- Bayard Rustin 1983 - (Adapted)
A Black Quaker 1912 - 1987 (We still have much to learn from him.)

Friends
How do we build a community that is open and inviting to communities of color around New England? I raise up a few thoughs, not a total answer....

It is not about feeling bad about "White Privilege"

It is not about not saying or doing anything that might appear racist

It is about doing things that need to happen in our day, that need to be happening today!

But we are so frozen with fear, or caught up in the comfort of the day, or bog down by spiritual practice that stunts our spiritual growth, we see not how our inward journey lays forth our outward path.

We Friends have to be on an intentional journey, together. We have to be present (Presente) to Spirit, God, Christ, Light, Mist,.......

We Friends have to go deep. Spiritually we have to go very deep. It is in the midst of this deepness that we will find the strength to truly live an action witness.

There are a range of activities in the building up of this kindom. We will each be asked to use our different gifts, as we engage the Powers. But again we must do this from the deepness of our communal adventure, Silent Worship, Prayer, Community Gathered,

A Few Action Ideas:

How do we make this happen? How about turning your Meeting House into a Community Freedom School? What gets taught will depend on gifts present and community need.

Hosting an Open Meeting on Racism between now and January Ask folks to speak from the positive not the negative...invite non-Quakers.

A workshop on, A Living Testimony of Peace ....How can your Town or City be more in sync with the development and growth of a peaceful community?

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]