Friends for Racial Justice Committee

The Friends for Racial Justice Committee aims to draw ourselves and other members of the Meeting community to a deeper understanding of our participation in a culture in which white people benefit from unearned privileges and power solely by virtue of their whiteness. FORJ does this by offering book and video discussion and workshops on structural racism and other racial justice issues at Friends Meeting at Cambridge, in the Religious Society of Friends, and in US society.

As we deepen our understanding of racism we see that it is one of several interconnected systems of oppression, such as sexism, classism, homophobia and anti-Semitism. We currently support the Sharing Circle, which provides a meal each Wednesday evening for formerly incarcerated people and those who care about them, along with a structured opportunity for participants to share what is on their hearts and minds in a safe, spiritually-grounded setting.

We are an active and supportive committee. FORJ encourages individuals in racial justice-related ministries in their communities, engages with others across NEYM about concerns related to racism from how to teach about racism and whiteness to attending events of public witness against racism. For example, we have participated in SURJ (Standing Up for Racial Justice), attended vigils in support of Standing Rock and local Muslim communities, and joined in rallies calling for the end of the killing of young Black lives. We encourage and call for FMC to explore ways to stand in corporate witness that challenges racism.

The FORJ Committee meets on the second Wednesday of the month at 6:30pm. Contact Polly or Nancy at forj@fmcquaker.org for Zoom link.

This committee aims to draw ourselves and other members of the Meeting community to a deeper understanding of our participation in a culture in which white people benefit from unearned privileges and power solely by virtue of their whiteness. FORJ does this by offering book and video discussion and workshops on structural racism and other racial justice issues at Friends Meeting at Cambridge, in the Religious Society of Friends, and in US society.

We recommended:

  • Reading White Supremacy Culture by Tema Okun
  • Watching Code Switch is a lively and thought-provoking podcast. In their words:” Hosted by journalists of color, our podcast tackles the subject of race head-on. We explore how it impacts every part of society — from politics and pop culture to history, sports and everything in between. This podcast makes ALL OF US part of the conversation — because we’re all part of the story.”

The Legacy of Ruskin

REFLECTIONS ON DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING’S LETTER FROM BIRMINGHAM JAIL

FMC Land Acknowledgment

To members of the Friends Meeting at Cambridge community, wherever you may be in your anti-racism journey:

When young people and People of Color come to FMC, those of us who are White are delighted. This delight may be experienced as “over-welcoming”—how very glad “we” are to see “them” and invitations to join every committee. Be mindful of this over-eagerness to connect with an outward identity, rather than connecting with a person, a seeker, someone who brings their individual gifts to this community. Many of us who are White are learning not to be colorblind and to stay aware of what those who are not White might be feeling in a situation, to listen and believe what is said. We who identify as White can help each other to recognize and understand microaggressions and practice pointing them out to each other, with compassion. May we all listen for and answer that of God in everyone, whether newcomer or seasoned Friend.

Please engage with the resources we are sending out, with FORJ’s help. (Do not engage on the List-Serve.) The first is “Worship Sharing and Dialogue with Attention to Oops, Ouch, and Whoa” from Pacific Yearly Meeting. It includes a link to a four-minute video.

With Divine Assistance, may this beloved community continue its halting, imperfect and often-painful anti-racism journey.

Ministry & Counsel

NEYM Noticing Patterns Workshop

A workshop on “Expanding New England Quakers’ Capacity for Noticing Patterns Of Oppression and Faithfulness” was held March 14, 2019. Read the report here.

2018 FGC Institutional Assessment on Systemic Racism

To read Friends General Conference Institutional Assessment on Systemic Racism and next steps at FGC go to their web page.

FMC Forum February 17, 2019: How is God/Spirit Speaking to us through the Friend’s General Conference Institutional Assessment on Systemic Racism? FMC’s own Friends for Racial Justice (FORJ) committee members will share reflections on how they each have felt moved by reading this Assessment on Institutional Racism. 9:30 am in the Parlor.

Reports from the 2016 White Privilege Conference

Eighteen Cambridge Friends attended the White Privilege Conference (WPC), April 14-17, 2016, in Philadelphia, PA, as part of the Meeting’s anti-racism work. Several attendees wrote their reflections on this experience.

Friends for Racial Justice Committee and others at FMC will keep lifting up this work. Christa Frintner and Diana Lopez gave a Sunday morning forum on September 18, 2016, about working on racism from a “spiritual but not religious” perspective.

2016 WPC Plenary Presenters Books and Videos

Jasiri X – founder of 1Hood and activist hip hop artist/emcee

Yusef Salaam – one of the “Central Park Five”, served 12 years in jail before sentence overturned.

Verna Meyers – spirited motivational speaker, an engaging expert facilitator, and a courageous strategic advisor.

  • TedTalk
  • Book: Moving Diversity Forward: How to Move From Well-Meaning to Well-Doing
  • Book: What If I Say the Wrong Thing? 25 Habits for Culturally Effective People

Howard Stevenson

  • Book: Promoting Racial Literacy in Schools: Differences That Make a Difference
  • Video: Interview on racial literacy including racial socialization for white people AND people of color (relates to micro aggressions)
  • Video: Talk on promoting racial literacy in schools begins with lively story of his growing and context out of which his work comes. Can be applied to other settings.