"We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.“ - Elie Wiesel
Fellow Pilgrims, Were you galvanized to action by the murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor last summer? Have you felt the momentum of that moment fade with the passage of time, as there seem to be fewer and fewer ways to effect real change?
I’ve been feeling that way myself lately. But antiracist work is a marathon, not a sprint. And as it turns out, a lot of the change that needs to happen is within ourselves. That’s why I am excited to announce the formation of a new antiracism section in our weekly newsletter. The key is making antiracism part of a regular routine--and learning, thinking, questioning are all important parts of antiracist work.
We’re going to start out small, with a weekly quote, or a “Did You Know”, or a “This Day in History” blurb. But as the effort gets underway you will see occasional longer features that take a more in-depth look at racial injustice in our country, calls to action such as signing a petition or attending a demonstration, ideas for more interactive activities such as a book club or discussion group, and many other things.
The first order of business is to come up with a catchy name for this effort. The only thing that came to my mind is “Antiracism Alley” but I’m sure there are better ideas out there. Please send suggestions for names (or anything else regarding this effort) to marentetteL@yahoo.com.
I look forward to taking this journey with all of you. - Lenore Marentette
