Guest Speaker, Candise Ramsey from the Southern Idaho Humanist Alliance

We hear terms like ‘white privilege’, ‘inclusion’, and ‘unconscious bias’ a lot these days in the ongoing struggle for racial equality in this country. What do you think and feel when you hear those terms?

Whatever our reaction to the terms or to the endless discussions and debates about anthem protests, Charlottesville, or the acquittal of yet another white policeman in the killing of a black man in St. Louis, it is a fact that racial oppression exists in this country. White privilege is a fact. Our own awareness of what it is and what we can do about it is another matter altogether. It may come in stages, it may come slowly, and when it does we may want to distance ourselves from it, deny it, or explain it away.

How can we confront our own denial and responsibility? How can we turn our awareness into concrete and constructive action rather than let it degenerate into white guilt or white fragility?

These are hard questions for hard times. You may be thinking “we don’t have that problem here.” It’s true we don’t have a large black population here in Southern Idaho. But our communities include a large number of Hispanic brothers and sisters, and many refugees and immigrants from all over the world. For those of us that are white, our awareness of white privilege and how it affects everyone in our community is an important first step.

We will have a guest speaker this week, Candise Ramsey from the Southern Idaho Humanist Alliance. Join us as we explore these questions together.

As Unitarian Universalists, we have a proud tradition of responding to the imperatives of love and justice to work with those of us who are marginalized and oppresses in society and the world.

Unitarian Universalism honors the differing paths we each travel. Our congregations are places where we celebrate, support, and challenge one another as we continue on our spiritual journeys.

Unitarian Universalists covenant to affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person; justice, equality and compassion in human relations; and acceptance of one another.

Newcomers of all religious paths or none at all are always welcome. We are handicapped accessible. Please park in the rear of the building. Child care is usually available.