[JTWNews] JTW News

[Lili Maselli]

> Journey Toward Wholeness News!     			Eleventh Issue        
> A cyber newsletter bringing you news from the UUA's Journey Toward Wholeness anti-oppression, anti-racist, multicultural initiative
> 
> Editor: The Reverend Dr. William Gardiner, Director for Congregational Justice Making (wgardiner at uua.org, (617) 948-6450 
> Manager: Lili Maselli, Administrator for Congregational Justice Making (lmaselli at uua.org, (617) 948-4265)
> __________________________________________________________________  
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> In this April 2004 issue:
> 
> CALIFORNIA NEWSREEL CREATES RESOURCE ON RACE AND RACISM
> NEW A/R MATERIALS ON THE JOURNEY TOWARD WHOLENESS WEBSITE
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> CALIFORNIA NEWSREEL CREATES RESOURCE ON RACE AND RACISM
> Rev. Bill Gardiner, UUA Office for Congregational Justice Making
> 
> California Newsreel has developed a three part series entitled > "> Race: The Power of an Illusion.> ">   PBS recently carried this series.
> 
> These tapes form a very useful resource for study groups, discussion programs, or anti-racism training events.  Each of the three videos is approximately one hour long.  The second video is especially useful as a stand-alone program.
> 
> The three tapes cover the core issues of race as a biological concept, the history of the concept of race in the United States, and the power and privilege that comes from whiteness. Race isn> '> t biological but that doesn> '> t mean it isn> '> t real.
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> The first tape, > "> The Difference Between Us,> ">  demonstrates how recent scientific findings - including genetics- have toppled our common assumptions that humans are divided by race according to unique characteristics, traits, or genes.  The program follows a dozen students who sequence and compare their DNA.   The results surprise the students when they discover their closest genetic matches are likely to be with people from other > "> races.> "> 
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> The second tape, entitled > "> The Story We Tell,> ">  uncovers the historical construction of race in North America.  The program traces the race concept from the European conquest of the Americas. Ironically, it wasn> '> t until slavery was challenged on moral grounds that early prejudices formed into an ideology of white supremacy.  
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> The third tape, > "> The House We Live In,> ">  reveals how our institutions give race its meaning and power by advantaging the white race.  After World War II whiteness increasingly meant owning a home in the segregated suburbs, made possible by federal housing policies and mortgage guarantees. As a result, today the typical white family has eight times the wealth of the average black family.
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> Videocassette copies of > "> Race the Power of an Illusion> ">  are available to educational institutions from California Newsreel.  Call 1-877-811-7495 or visit their website at www.newsreel.org <http://www.newsreel.org>.  You can also borrow a set from the Office for Congregational Justice Making by calling 617-948-4265.
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> PBS has a companion website which you can access at www.pbs.org/race <http://www.pbs.org/race>.  The website includes lesson plans, background reading, and discussion guides.
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> 
> JOURNEY TOWARD WHOLENESS WEBSITE
> Rev. Bill Gardiner, UUA Office for Congregational Justice Making
> 
> To get the latest information on the Journey Toward Wholeness Anti-racism and Anti-oppression Programs go to the UUA website.  Enter through Programs and Services/Social Justice/Issues/Anti-racism and Anti-oppression (Journey Toward Wholeness).  (URL: http://www.uua.org/programs/justice/antiracism)
> 
> There you will find information on frequently asked questions, upcoming training events, and news on current anti-racism activities.
> 
> On the home page you will find a story about the anti-racism work that a congregation is doing both within the institution and outside in the community.  Currently featured is the story of the exciting work being done by the Savannah GA congregation.> 
> 
> There is a special section on the Journey Toward Wholeness Sunday program.  There you will find a wealth of worship resources that can be used at a variety of services when you are addressing issues of oppression and racism.
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> One way of determining how to do anti-racism in your congregation is to use the 
> "> Continuum on Becoming an Anti-racist Multicultural Institution.> ">  Useful resources are suggested for moving members of congregations through the various stages of development.
> 
> There is a section that provides the history of the development of the Journey Towards Wholeness Initiative.  This history starts with the General Assembly in Calgary in 1992.  It includes the different resolutions that have been passed in support of this work.  There is also information about the activities and programs that thousands of UUs have engaged in since then.
> 
> In the future you will find new materials on Unitarian Universalism and White Identity. 
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> ******************************************************************
> We welcome your feedback, comments, suggestions, stories, and recommended resources!  You can reach us by hitting > "> reply.> ">   See you next issue.
> 
> Please tell your friends and colleagues about our newsletter. To subscribe (or unsubscribe) go to  http://www.uua.org/mailman/listinfo/jtwnews or contact lmaselli at uua.org
> 
> Office for Congregational Justice Making
> Unitarian Universalist Association, 25 Beacon Street, Boston MA  02108
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