Merrill Aldrich, On Behalf of the Beloved Community Communications Team

​Anti-racism books are at the top of the best-seller lists this year. It seems we are wondering more urgently how to help in a way that is constructive and impactful. It’s a desire both to understand and to address questions about what we ought to be doing differently. This is also a conversation that has been ongoing at Unity Church, and our community is here to support one another as we decide what right action looks like.

Scholar Ibram X. Kendi describes parallel processes of introspection — critically examining our own assumptions, attitudes, and even vocabulary — and meaningful anti-racist action. He argues that the two activities could work together to move us past arguments of overtly held racist beliefs and into more effective actions against racist structures deeply embedded in our culture. So, what are some sustaining steps that we can take on these twin paths, working on ourselves (within) and in the world (beyond)?

First, the study of these issues is not in vain! Reading, watching, listening — learning — is absolutely helpful, especially as the result better informs our actions. A huge number of resources exist, and lately many folks have collected and listed and cataloged hundreds of them. Here is a sampling of the very tip of the iceberg:

• Remember, working on yourself is real. In fact, “doing our own work” is a request many people of color have made of white people about these issues — if you’re a white person reading this, that is its own call to action.
• “Begin where you are.” Perhaps do a little work to understand where that is relative to others, so you can choose a starting point that makes sense. 

​We are in a state of emergency here in the Twin Cities, and increasingly across the nation and beyond, following George Floyd's brutal murder last week. 
 
The crisis is real and raging. #WeCantBreathe. For some, it is taking everything we have and then some. Every day presents more to do (and learn) than there is time for doing and learning. For many, especially black, indigenous, and people of color, trauma current and old alike is setting off overwhelming alarms, in the sometimes conflicting ways trauma does. For all of us, we are asked to consider how we will live out our values in the double pandemic of racism and Covid.
 
This week (starting tonight), the UUA and Unity Church (informed by our collaboration with black leaders) will be offering several invitations meant to help us share these questions in a supportive and deeply challenging way that will lead to action and lasting change.
 
We, the ministers of Unity Church, hope you will attend one or more these offerings online. We hope you will find your own next right action, as the teachers tell us to do. We hope none of us will let the pain and terror of these times pass unused in our desire for and our commitment to a world of justice for all.
 
Rev. Janne Eller-Isaacs
Rev. Rob Eller-Isaacs
Rev. Lisa Friedman
Rev. Karen Hering
Rev. KP Hong
 
UUA Prayer Vigil and Call to Action: #WeCantBreathe
Tuesday, June 2 • 7:00-8:30 p.m. CST 
Join us as we gather to reclaim black freedom, decry white supremacy, grieve the murder of black lives, and recommit to living our Unitarian Universalist values. Speakers include Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray, Rev. Carlton Elliott Smith, Everette Thompson, Rev. Michael J. Crumpler, Paige Ingram. Musician: Melanie DeMore.
 
Unity Church: #WeCantBreathe
Wednesday, June 3 • 7:00 p.m.
Honoring George Floyd with prayerful vigil and an invitation into personal reflection in writing, silence, and facilitated conversation, on the meaning of these events and our call to respond. Open to all. Led by the Rev. KP Hong and Karen Hering, with Unity's ministers and staff.
 
Finding Our Next Right Action
Thursday, June 4 • 7:00 p.m. 
Unity ministers open a space for understanding the many options for supporting change in this moment. Facilitated small groups will help you connect with others and information for making donations, hands on helping, legislative action, and protest.