Exploring the Myth of Racial Justice

Fit for Freedom, Not for Friendship is now a Quaker best-seller. This workshop is an opportunity to share in the excitement, whether you’ve read it (not required) or not (o.k., too). The overall objective is to use the story of our past to understand how Friends of European descent have often been influenced more by the mainstream culture than by their own testimonies. We’ll explore the meaning of “myth” in the subtitle and learn why the authors found that the commitment of a few Friends to ending enslavement and racism has given Quakers a not fully-deserved good reputation. We will look closely at the parts of the book that have especially interested or disturbed readers or that readers find speak to the condition of Friends, including Friends of African descent, past and present. In the end, we expect that a clearer view of our past will contribute to our work for racial justice today.
The leaders will also provide selected excerpts of newly published materials (examples: Slavery By Another Name and the recent Newsweek cover story on race and children, as well as Lies My Teacher Taught Me), selections they find invaluable in understanding the persistence of racism to this day. Participants are invited to bring materials they have found helpful. All in all, discussions are planned to support Friends who are called to end racial distinctions that harm the ability of the United States to be the full democracy we believe it should be....but has never been.