Centering Dismantling Racism: How We Got Here and Why We'll Continue

​by Jan Garbosky
Have you heard, said, or thought:

• "Why do we have to keep hearing about racism?" or
• "Why in our service do I have to hear both English and Spanish"? or
• "Why do I hear public apologies during services about things that aren no big deal?"
  

As UUs, we often refer to our covenant to affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person. Yet? just as often, we harm, in words and deeds(intended and not), thoseamong uswho areBlack, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC). Many were surprised to learn this in the Summer 2018 Town Hall meeting where BIPOC shared the pain of their experiences at First UU and presented a document whose introduction states:

​". . . [A] constant that remains. . . is the desire to see the integrity of this community blossom to its fullest potential. Many of us have been wounded too many times for words but continue to meet at the table of our values . . .We do not always feel thewelcomewedesire, but we seeintent. And to avoid the continuation of another road to nowhere paved with good intentions, we seek to offer our guidance with a platform of appeals."

In brief, the platform included four specific requests:

• Adopting the 8th Principle by 2020 as an intentional approach to understanding our community's white supremacy and what adopting it means for non-BIPOC membership. (This will be a focus of the Board's work this year.)
• Implementing a comprehensive 3-year plan for leadership, worship, and program realignment by increasing diversity in staff, musical expression, message delivery, performances, and actively reviewing/revising and creating policies and practices to better reflect the demographics of the city of San Diego (60% BIPOC/40% non-BIPOC).
• Reviewing staff employment policies and agreements, recruitment and hiring practices, and salaries.
• Utilizing the JTW CoreTeam structure, with membership reflecting San Diego's demographics, for policy creation and changes to ensure equity becomes First UU's new standard of practice.

"We understand our petitions will be difficult to achieve, but we also believe this community doesn't understand just how difficult it is for many of us to participate in and relate to our Hillcrest campus . . . [U]nfortunately, the culture making BIPOC members, staff, and friends uncomfortable and even fearful to voice an opinion has continued here . . . rather than . . . a community striving to make space to become a place of diverse expressions and identities. Despite all this we wish to remain at the table. . . and help aim its growth, lest it forget the margins where many of us stand. We believe you should emphatically invite this courage we bring here to you."

Please watch Rev. Katheen's December 16, 2018 message, "A Hope Made Real," where she explains why First UU has intentionally chosen to center anti-racism/anti-oppression/dismantling systemic racism in everything and that all we do will be examined through that lens. In alignment with our UU values and because of the truths shared at the Town Hall, we examine, reflect upon, make change, accept accountability for what we do and don?t do when we fall short of our aspirations, apologize, and make reparations. This is the spiritual work we are called to do individually and a san institution to make real the hope of ending harm to our BIPOC siblings and becoming radically inclusive to all.