4pm keynote slides on race: in defense of kindness

In Defense of Kindness: The Power of Treating Humans Like Humans

Bruce Reyes-Chow@breyeschow#4pm2017

4PM Conference“One in Christ”

ANNIE, EVELYN, ABBY

THIS EVENINGIntroductions

Race, Racism, and Racial Justice

In Defense of Kindness

Time for Questions and Response


CONTEXT

Our cultural context, social location, and passions in life are important to know, own, and share.


Bruce Reyes-Chow@breyeschow

#4pm2017

PAPER SON

PRESBYTERIAN

THE EIGHTIES

SOCIAL CHANGE

SOCCER DAD

The church must not only be a safe place to talk about race, it must also be a place where the complex beauty of the created is yearned for and made real.

THE CHURCH


Multiculturalism will always and only be window dressing unless the culture is intentionally, excruciatingly, and consistently diverse.

MULTI-CULTI


The examination of racism cannot be done in the absence of also examining the realities of

sexism, homophobia,transphobia, ableism, xenophobia, classism,etc.

INTERSECTIONALITY


Work around race that is whole and just is aspirational,big picture, and systematic.

It is also concrete, specific, and personal.

— and it’s exhausting.

THE JOURNEY


LET’S TALK ABOUT RACE

Pointing out the divide is not being

divisive.

AVOIDANCE


#4pm2017

We assume relationships will break if we have hard conversations.

We fear that we may not be heard, believed, or understood.

The more we talk, the more likely that we might change in our beliefs and/or behavior.

RISK & FEAR


Privilege allows us choose to avoid

talking about race.

Conversations about race only easier by

having more of them.

We miss out on the possibilities that may

be on the other side of the tensions when we don’t talk about race.

PRIVILEGE


#4pm2017

Relationships are strengthened through moving through conflict.

Our understanding and experience of the world is expanded.

We gain a broader understanding of God’s hopes and intentions for us and the world.

POSSIBILITIES


RACE DIVERSIONS

One person's being “politically correct” or “too sensitive” is another person's remembering that words have power and can impact others more than one knows.

Microagressions

White Supremacy

WE DISMISS


“Racial microaggressions are brief and commonplace daily verbal, behavioral, or environmental indignities, whether intentional or unintentional, that communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative racial slights and insults towards people of color.” - Racial Microaggressions in Everyday Life

MICROAGGRESSIONS


Pup E. ChowI really like animals.I especially love dogs.

MICROAGGRESSIONS


Idealizing whiteness to the point where we subconsciously and/or consciously strive to achieve this ideal: appearance, status, economics, power, and perception

— reinforcing the notion that whiteness is ideal.

WHITE SUPREMACY


VIDEOWhite Supremacy - Peter Kim

https://youtu.be/v9MLZXoQRr0

We use our “intentions” as a way to deny or minimize our impact.

WE DENY


We compartmentalize, justify, and support racist institutions and practices.

WE COMPARTMENTALIZE


When we strip anyone of their humanity, we do damage to the body as a whole.

WE DEHUMANIZE


We fetishize and observe as spectacle instances of racism allowing us to distance ourselves from the repercussions of racism.

WE FETISHIZE


We romanticize youth culture in a way that leads to abdicating our role in raising up and nurturing the next generation of racial justice seekers.

WE ROMANTICIZE


We are patronizing and condescending towards newly realized justice seekers -- often in order to hold onto power, status, and wealth.

WE PATRONIZE


#4pm2017

We believe that we are “beyond color” or that this is a state of being to achieve.

Love is not colorblind. Love sees color and holds with care the history, complexity, joy, struggle, and beauty that lies within.

WE STOP


In an effort to show solidarity we shift focus away from those impacted and re-center the focus on us.

WE DECENTER


“...the most segregated hour of Christian America is eleven o'clock on Sunday morning.” ‘60

“...a riot is the language of the unheard. The Other America” ‘68

“...many among you are more concerned about making a living than making a life. ‘56

WE DILUTE


IN DEFENSE KINDNESS

POSSIBLE SUBTITLES for IN DEFENSE OF KINDNESS:It take more to be kind that just not being an ass.

Why being a decent human being should not be the exception.

The art of treating humans like humans.

IDOK PROJECT


KINDNESS To be kind is to know that each person is a complete and complex human being and then treating them as if one believes this to be true.

KINDNESS IS


Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all.

If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” No, “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.”

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Romans 12:17-21


DO NOT MISTAKE KINDNESS FOR WEAKNESS. Being nice.

Getting along.

Avoiding conflict.

Seeking Pity.

Maintaining “Civility”

KINDNESS IS NOT


PROPHETIC KINDNESSCalls people to account for their words, actions, and apathy that reinforce systems of racial injustice and white supremacy

— while honoring the humanity of the other.

PROPHETIC


PRIESTLEY KINDNESSRemembers and retells the history and ritual of a people in order to remind people of where we have been and where we may be headed.


PRIESTLY


PASTORAL KINDNESSCreates, curates, and nurtures meaningful space for people to engage the difficult situations of life, faith, and society.


PASTORAL


POETIC KINDNESSInspires, provokes, and unleashes the hearts, souls, and imaginations of a people so people can see what may be.


POETIC


IN DEFENSE KINDNESS

REMEMBER THE PERSONIn our fight against racism, we must remember that each and every person is a child of God.

KINDNESS LIVED


BE INTERSECTIONALIn our fight against racial injustice, we must not reinforce the oppression of others: gender, economics, physical ability, sexuality, geography, mental health, family systems, etc.

KINDNESS LIVED


BE HEALINGCombat the violent rhetoric (sexual, physical, emotional, verbal) with words, actions, movements that are about healing.

KINDNESS LIVED


WALK AWAYSometimes the best way to be kind to yourself and others is to walk away for moment, a chapter, or even a lifetime.

KINDNESS LIVED


VIDEOA Generation Asks WTF?

https://youtu.be/bIU8-hlvKXA

questions, comments, musings...

Thanks for being here.

Keep in Touch.

www.slideshare.net/breyeschow

@breyeschow on most social networks: twitter, instagram, snapchat, facebook, skype, youtube, G+, linkedin, goodreads...

4pm keynote slides on race: in defense of kindness

Spiritual