In Seattle, institutional racism is defined as programs and policies work to the benefit of whites and the detriment of people of color. They do not talk about individual racial incidents in the capacity building training. In parallel, however, they have key change agents throughout city government to work with city employees to explore the individual internalized messages they have heard and believe. In Seattle, institutional racism is defined as programs and policies work to the benefit of whites and the detriment of people of color. They do not talk about individual racial incidents in the capacity building training. In parallel, however, they have key change agents throughout city government to work with city employees to explore the individual internalized messages they have heard and believe. All the organizations talk about white privilege in their
training, but they know they are walking a careful line. There must be enough clarity that people see
the need for action without pushing people to be defensive. Following a meeting where people from
different races were sharing their experiences, two white men were heard saying
that they would just scream if they heard one more African American woman talk
about slavery or one more Jewish man talk about the Holocaust. Before we rush to judgment about this
attitude, we need to remember that these men came to the Study Circle meetings hosted by the Jacksonville Human Rights Commission willingly and
probably want to see conditions change.
They just do not want to feel guilty about things they cannot
change.
In Seattle, institutional racism is defined as programs and policies work to the benefit of whites and the detriment of people of color. They do not talk about individual racial incidents in the capacity building training. In parallel, however, they have key change agents throughout city government to work with city employees to explore the individual internalized messages they have heard and believe. Study circles are voluntary, self-organizing adult education groups of 5-20 people who meet three to six times to explore a subject, often a critical social issue. Each meeting commonly lasts 2-3 hours and is directed by a moderator whose role is to aid a lively but focused dialogue. Between meetings participants read materials they were given at the end of the last meeting. These materials are used as springboards for dialogue, not as authoritative conclusions. The materials are usually compiled by the sponsor or organizer of the particular study circle; but groups who want to form a study circle on a particular topic can create their own materials or get ready-to-use packs from organizations like Everyday Democracy.
By encouraging people to formulate their own ideas about issues and to share them with others, the study circle process helps overcome people's lack of information and feelings of inadequacy in the face of complex problems. Community study circle programs with many circles on, for example, race relations often conclude with a large open-space-like gathering in which community members connect up with each other around common interest and planned activities for later.
Study circles, being small, democratic and non-expert, can be adapted to virtually any use. Civic organizations, activists, businesses, unions, churches, discussion groups and governments can all sponsor (and have sponsored) study circles to educate and activate people about social issues. Millions of citizens use study circles. From The Co-Intelligence Institute |