The climate and ecological emergency is a trauma inflicted on all beings by white supremacy. Reflexive racism and normalized systems of oppression divide people and like-missioned organizations as we struggle to meet the climate and ecological emergency that threatens us all. Our demand, Tell the Truth, is not just about the climate crisis but also about ourselves as activists in a movement grounded and founded in reflexive whiteness. Our demand for a Just Transition starts with how we show up in our organizing. In this weekly circle, we address the conditioned habits and trauma of racism. This practice is foundational to the intercultural organizing needed to address the climate crisis.
White-body supremacy culture inflicts trauma and stress on all bodies. It embeds reflexive racism which we embody in our daily lives. These conditions are stored in our bodies and are passed on genetically, biochemically, and culturally between people, families and generations. As important as an intellectual understanding of racism and the desire to be anti-racist is, these alone will not address the habitual embodiment of racism. In order to be in solidarity with people of the global majority, in our personal lives and our activism, we must learn new practices to heal from trauma and to unlearn embodied, often unconscious, racialized behaviors.
In this weekly Embodied Antiracism Practice, we address the conditioned habits and trauma of racism by holding space for ongoing cultural literacy, political education, and grief processing in our predominantly white-bodied climate movement. We use movement, guided reflections, and small group shares to examine how the trauma of racism and racialized behaviors, thoughts, feelings and physical sensations show up in each of us. Our embodied practices build capacity and community accountability for people on the path of racial trauma healing and environmental justice.
This circle meets weekly on Fridays, 8:30-9:45 AM ET. This is a drop-in group. Newcomers are welcome at any session. No prior experience or reading required. Anyone may come, but the content and facilitation are tailored for white people.
The practice draws on the works of Resmaa Menakem, Reverend angel Kyodo williams, Dr. Sará King, Devika Shankar, Rae Johnson, Keisha Fikes, Staci Haines, Amber Elizabeth Gray, Kai Cheng Thom, Mordecai Cohen Ettinger, Dr. Sam Grant, Emory Moore, Dr. Angel Acosta, John Porges, Deb Dana, Nkem Ndefo, James Gordon, Britanny Packnett Cunningham, Ibram X. Kendi, Shannon St. Aubin, Kenneth Jones, and Tema Okun.
Recommended Reading:
My Grandmother’s Hands - Resmaa Menakem
Radical Dharma - Jasmine Syedullah, Lama Rod Owens, Reverend angel Kyodo williams
“Elements of White Supremacy Culture” - Kenneth Jones and Tema Okun.