Racial Justice

In 2016, hundreds of members of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) listened as Dr. Shannen Dee Williams described her research into the experiences of women of color with congregations of sisters in the US. LCWR wrote, "The pain and discrimination suffered by women of color who joined religious congregations in this country became a palpably present truth which could not be denied. The words of one of the responders, Dawn Tomazewski, SP, resounded in our hearts: '. . . not only does our country need healing but also our congregations. I want to make amends with these women; I need to make amends with these women.'”
Sister Breege O'Neill's reflections from a different context hit home, and make me ask, what would I do? "“We asked if this was just something about the past or if it had a question and a challenge for the present. We took it as a conversion call to ourselves. It changed the meaning of this issue from being a crisis over which we had no control to being a faith call to look at our lives. While this was painful to us, we were led into a path of intense reflection, as individuals, as leadership, and as a congregation…. Don’t try to sidestep the darkness that is involved in walking this journey, but trust that it can bring you to a new place.”
As Dr. Williams says, "Justice comes after acknowledging and then remembering — from institutionalizing the memory of injustice so that it cannot happen again."
Sister Breege O'Neill's reflections from a different context hit home, and make me ask, what would I do? "“We asked if this was just something about the past or if it had a question and a challenge for the present. We took it as a conversion call to ourselves. It changed the meaning of this issue from being a crisis over which we had no control to being a faith call to look at our lives. While this was painful to us, we were led into a path of intense reflection, as individuals, as leadership, and as a congregation…. Don’t try to sidestep the darkness that is involved in walking this journey, but trust that it can bring you to a new place.”
As Dr. Williams says, "Justice comes after acknowledging and then remembering — from institutionalizing the memory of injustice so that it cannot happen again."
Learn and Act
- Current issues and opportunities to act now - Great monthly digest from the Leadership Conference of Women Religious.
- This 2019 LCWR "resolution to action" may be the best 2-page summary of white privilege I've seen.
- Read this eye-opening essential classic. I can't overstate its value. Especially the list.
- White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack by Peggy McIntosh
- From Sister Tracy Kemme, a brave personal message and a call: "Dear white people, nice doesn't cut it"
- Slavery -- history and meaning, past and present -
- NY Times "1619" podcast series
- Washington Post "Teaching Slavery" series
- NY Times "1619" podcast series
- From Sister Denise LaRock, a call to live with our eyes wide open - "open to the pain we, as individuals and as a nation, have caused those different than us." Ideas for first steps and specific books: "Racial Sobriety by Clarence E. Williams Jr. and Waking Up White by Debby Irving.
- From Sister Patricia Chappell of Pax Christi USA, a call to self-awareness and to action by "Rowing into the Deep."
- LCWR confronts racism in religious life.
- LCWR 2016 assembly experience - powerful
- LCWR Resolution to Action with data, analysis, and actions.
- Learn to live as multi-racial people. Respect and welcome differing perspectives.
- Be an accountable ally to people of color.
- Research and own your complicity in racism.
- Work to change racist institutions, including ones of which you are a part.
- Seek out multi-cultural experiences.
- Read books written by people of color.
- Global Sisters Report continuing coverage attends to both forest and trees, e.g., "Reckoning: White sisters respond to their own racism, to one historian's call for justice"
- How to respond to everyday bigotry plus "what can I do about family?" on same page - excellent examples for many situations; also films and education kits for Teaching Tolerance, more, from the Southern Poverty Law Center
- Have kids or grandkids? Excellent tips, books, etc. for conversations, reading together, to help white kids with racial awareness and racial justice -- from Showing Up for Racial Justice. Find a SURJ group near you.
- What could it mean to make reparation for the sin of slavery? Some simple ideas.
- Racial Justice Resources from Pax Christi USA -- Church teachings, MANY excellent books, films, articles
- For many ways to get involved, in direct service or behind-the-scenes roles, in this or other areas: Call your local Catholic Charities. There’s a very good chance you’ll meet sisters there, too.
More ways to do something for justice and peace
Spiritual leadership - Dialogue that transforms - Eco-Justice - Human Trafficking - Immigration - Nonviolence