Monday, October 20

Unpacking My Knapsack

A friend at seminary pointed me to this article - part of a working paper from a smart, smart Canadian ( seems like there are lots of them around, huh ?). Among the flotsam & jetsam that I post & link to, this one is worth spending some time with.

Her opening statement:

I was taught to see racism only in individual acts of meanness, not in invisible systems conferring dominance on my group

hit me like a ton of bricks. I am so often guilty of the most vile liberal guilt reactions to the institutional power that I assume. McIntosh's list of 26 examples of instances of the pervasiveness of racism & its demeaning nature left me silent with shame.

I am reminded that the person I love the most came to Earth in human form, hung out with folks of every stripe & affiliation and saved his sharpest comments for those in power. This week, I'll try to think more on:

Having described it, what will I do to lessen or end it?

posted by lisa | 9:18 AM | |