Racial Equity Buddies is a diverse and growing grassroots organization based in Greater Cleveland that takes a holistic approach (via community forums, cultural programs, movies, a buddy partner, book club, and the like) to eliminate racism and promote equity. We advocate, inform, and work cooperatively with
other anti-racist organizations and groups.
20240516_083403.mp4Malcolm X endorses REB Approach
Carmen Cox Harwell and Ruth Twadell introducing the Malcolm X PBS documentary, "Malcolm X : Make it Plain."
We educate, advocate, and organize on behalf of the poor and marginalized communities.
We engage in sustained anti-racist educational work both individually and institutionally.
Individually, we pair with another person - a buddy - to have ongoing consistent, confidential conversations about racism and other equity issues. The partners are encouraged to consistently meet to engage in sacred racial equity conversations to inform and understand various viewpoints and to encourage social/political activism.
We promote institutional change by sponsoring and participating in community events that advocate structural change that promotes equity for all.
We are not in competition with other anti-racist groups. Rather we see ourselves as complementary to their efforts. At events we sponsor, we invite leaders of other groups to speak about their efforts to encourage our members and guests to participate in their anti-racist activities. Some of the representatives that spoke included spokespersons from the ACLU, The Jail Coalition, Black Lives Matter, North Shore AFL-CIO Federation of Labor, Black On Black Crime, Inc., the Frederick Douglass Project For Justice, and the Western Reserve Justice Team.
To facilitate awareness and vigilance, among buddies and the community, Racial Equity Buddies strives to incorporate the entire human spirit into our programs through community forums, book readings/discussions, movies, and cultural events.
HOW WE WORK IN COMMUNITY
Our anti-racist approach is holistic and includes several methods to reducing/eliminating racism: including; book discussions, cultural programming, watching and discussing anti-racist movies, fellowship (picnics for example), community forums, and participating in anti-racist protests, rallies, and voting.
Last year we teamed with labor and the League of Women Voters to help defeat Issue 1. Presently, we are working with both GCC and the ACLU to end gerrymandering in Ohio. Several churches have lent their support to our efforts, including Forest Hill Presbyterian, Disciples Church, Community Church of Chesterland, First Federated Church of Chagrin, and the First Congregational Church of Hudson.
