“There are two questions that we have to ask ourselves. The first is ‘Where am I going?’ And the second is ‘Who will go with me?’”
– Howard Thurman
#3 The Deceptive Barrier
Getting Connected
One of the biggest challenges for White people committing to challenge racism is to get connected – connected to other individuals for support and connected to groups and organizations to further their missions. This is a deceptively difficult barrier and one that can significantly undermine committed action.
Below are ten key points about connecting with other individuals and ten key points about connecting with groups and organizations. They are not a formula – they are just for guidance in dealing with a deceptively difficult challenge.
10 Key Points Re: Connecting with Other Individuals
#1 Keep it simple.
#2 Use your current network to start.
#3. Look for people already engaged in countering racism and connect with them.
#4. Get clear with others about what the purpose of the connection is.
#5. Focus on strengths.
#6. Set regular times to meet and have a simple agenda, which can change frequently.
#7. Take advantage of educational experiences together.
#8. Use “Dynamic Accountability” to stay on track – celebrate progress; learn from the experience to date; and decide what to keep doing, start doing or stop doing.
#9. Use the rest of site to support you and your colleagues.
#10. Keep it simple. Yes, that’s a repeat of #1.
“There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about.”
Margaret J. Wheatley
10 Key Points Re: Connecting with Groups & Organizations
#1 This is a deceptively tough challenge.
#2 Searching and exploring for appropriate groups and organizations is part of the challenge – part of the work.
#3 This is a question of “Fit.”
#4. Prep like a job search. Go wide in exploring the possible groups and organizations.
#5. Prep like a job search. Prepare your “resume” in order to introduce yourself.
#6. Make it easy for the group or organization to get a good sense of you – a focused snapshot.
#7. Expect natural ambivalence on their part.
#8. Use the other parts of the site.
#9. Combine your actions.
#10. Do this with others.
“A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality.”
– John Lennon