Stand in Support of Black Lives Matter
In the spirit of our “Equity Value” that every person is inherently worthy and has the right to flourish with dignity, love, and compassion, KUUF emphatically declares, Black lives do matter! The Social Justice Committee urges all at KUUF to engage with the dismantling of White supremacy and racism in our nation, communities and our own faith community. How to do this isn't always exactly clear, but it is imperative that we give our best selves to this critically important work. Options for action include but are not limited to:
Donating to and taking direction and learning from Black Live of Unitarian Universalism (BLUU) and Diverse and Revolutionary Unitarian Universalist Multicultural Ministries (DRUUMM);
Joining as an ally to one or more race equity organizations in Kitsap County, such as Kitsap Equity, Race and Community Engagement (ERACE) Coalition and SURJ (Showing Up for Racial Justice);
Donating to local black run organizations including the ones identified by our Charitable Giving Team;
Responding to action alerts and participating in demonstrations when occurrences of racial injustices dictate the need for an urgent response;
Standing up, calling out and owning (when our own) race based macro and micro aggressions as they happen in our work and personal lives;
Participating in community events celebrating and commemorating milestones in Black History and Black Culture such as Juneteenth and MLK’s birthday;
Participating in KUUF’s Social Justice Committee to help identify other ways we can demonstrate Black Lives Matter; and
Taking advantage of opportunities to learn all that is involved in dismantling racism. See resources below.
Black Lives in UU History
Francis Ellen Watkins Harper, Fannie Barrier Williams, and Egbert Ethelred Brown are just a few of the people we will celebrate as our Black Unitarian Universalist ancestors. Our history as a faith movement has been shaped by the work and the lives of countless Black leaders. In this slideshow we will share their pain, honor their legacy, and let it teach us how to live ever more fully into the beloved community.
Additional Sources:
Black History of Unitarian Universalism. Unitarian Universalist Association.
The BLUU Story. Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism.
“Why Look at Racism in the UUA?”, The Commission on Institutional Change. Nov. 10, 2017.
Dictionary of Unitarian & Universalist Biography. Unitarian Universalist Heritage and History Society.
Morrison-Reed, Mark. Black Pioneers in a White Denomination. Skinner House Books. Oct 15, 1994.
---. Darkening the Doorways: Black Trailblazer and Missed Opportunities in Unitarian Universalism. Skinner House Books. Jan 1, 2011.
---. Revisiting the Empowerment Controversy: Black Power and Unitarian Universalism. Skinner House Books. Jun 3, 2018
---. The Selma Awakening. Skinner House Books, May 27, 2014.
---. “The Black Hole in the White UU Psyche.” UU World, Fall 2017.
---. “Selma’s Challenge.” UU World, Winter 2014.
---. “The Empowerment Tragedy” UU World, Winter 2011.
---. “It Happened the Way It Had to Happen.” General Assembly 2009. Event 4068.
U&U Racial Diversity History Timeline, UU Fellowship at Stony Brook.
Unitarian Universalist Association, The Promise & the Practice.
The White Supremacy Teach-In 2, “Black UU Ancestors: Four Stories”.
Further Reading:
The UU White Supremacy Teach-In. Unitarian Universalist Association.
The Arc of the Universe is Long: Unitarian Universalists, Anti-Racism, and the Journey from Calgary. by Leslie Takahashi, James (Chip) Roush and Leon Spencer. Published by Skinner House Books. June 2009.
The Commission on Institutional Change website: https://www.uua.org/uuagovernance/committees/cic
The Commission on Institutional Change congregational resources: https://www.uua.org/uuagovernance/committees/cic/institutional-change-congregation-resources
Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism website: https://www.blacklivesuu.com/
Brittany Packnett GA Ware Lecture 2018: https://www.uua.org/ga/past/2018/ware
“Why Black History Month Matters” by Kenny Wiley, UU World, Feb. 2015.
“Black History Month: A Time to Unlearn” by Kenny Wiley, UU World, Feb. 2016
“Soulful Journeys: The Faith of African American Unitarian Universalists” by Mel Hoover and Jacqui James. A Unitarian Universalist Association pamphlet.
Unitarian Universalist African American History. A curriculum created by Rose Schwab.