wfn.org | NCC Ways to Combat Racism

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To: wfn-editors@wfn.org

National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.
Contact: Carol J. Fouke, NCC, 212-870-2252
Internet: carol_fouke.parti@ecunet.org

NCC 11/1/96
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Sidebar: some ways to act against racism 

     COLUMBIA, S.C., Oct.26 --- While no formal recommendations were
adopted at the' Oct. 24-26 "Emergency Conference on Racism," speakers
and participants proposed a plethora of ways to act against racism.
This list is far from exhaustive. Rather, it is meant as a resource
for individual s,. congregations and other groups beginning or
continuing their work for racial justice. 

     * Establish a Racal Justice Volunteers" group in your
congregation, "on call" to write  letters, march, advocate or make
phone calls when racial justice is at stake, and to support members'
efforts to stand up against racism in their daily lives. 

     *Reach out to young people to enlist them in anti-racism work.
Sponsor forums and/or create support groups to help them resist
recruitment by hate groups. 

     * If a local house of worship or community member suffers a hate
crime, or there is white supremacist group activity in your area, take
action - bring the religious community together, hold a vigil or
prayer service, invite a pastor from a burned church to speak, call a
news conference, speak up, visit and support the affected congregation
or people. Don't let law enforcement officials get away with saying a
cross-burning or racist graffiti was just a childish prank. 

     * Be action-oriented. Work to overcome racism and oppression, not
just to "calm things down or make people feel better." Facing up to
and dealing with racism can make people feel uncomfortable - give
their discomfort an action outlet. 

     * Take on specific issues, for example, fair housing and
equitable employment, hate groups, hate crimes legislation, police
brutality, environmental and economic justice, teen pregnancy, drug
and alcohol abuse, health care, living wage. Identify "common ground"
issues that affect all communities, and those that primarily impact
communities of color.

     * Support work to investigate and stop hate-motivated attacks on
houses of worship and help them rebuild. Contact the NCC's Burned
Churches Project, 475 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10115; phone
212-870-2299. Address the racism that underlies many such attacks. Ask
for x 2387 for resources to strengthen your work for racial justice.

     * Pray both. for targets of racism and those who perpetrate it.
Racism hurts us all. 

     * Address racism within the Systems and organizations to which
you already belong - for example, your congregation, denomination,
place of employment, professional and voluntary associations, school,
and local, state and national government. where possible, build racial
justice work from an organizational base that already exists, such as
local or state ministerial or ecumenical councils, NAACP or SCLC
chapter. 

     * Follow the lead of communities of colon Join with them in
marches, vigils and other actions to show a united, multi-racial
front. Reach out and bring others in. 

     * Speak up every time against racist words and deeds and against
discrimination. Don't go along to get along. Say, I object," or, 'I
disagree." 

     * Pay attention to economics issues and act for economic equity.
Join the growing discussion on restitution for communities of color.
Pool resources to address imbalances in wealth and power.

     * Encourage participation in democratic processes. Conduct voter
registration and "get out the vote" drives Run for office, Question
candidates about the racial justice implications of their platforms.
Advocate with elected officials for fair and just laws.

     * Be bold. Take dramatic acts. Organize public demonstrations
around symbols of deeper issues.

     * Every day, reach out to someone who is "different" from you.
Treat others with love arid respect. Organize congregational exchanges
across racial lines - worship together, form a multi cultural choir or
an interracial Vacation Bible School, Use diverse worship expressions
in your church, whatever its "complexion." 

     * Listen, listen, listen to other people's stories, experiences,
realities. Study the history' of communities of color.

     * Measure the impact of your words arid actions, not simply the
intent. 

     * Take training: against racism, in leadership and organizational
skills, in non-violent action.

      -end-