WHITE SUPREMACY

The Anti-Defamation League defines white supremacy as

various belief systems central to which are one or more of the following key tenets:
1) whites should have dominance over people of other backgrounds, especially where they may co-exist;
2) whites should live by themselves in a whites-only society;
3) white people have their own "culture" that is superior to other cultures;
4) white people are genetically superior to other people.

ACTIVITY | MAPPING HATE

White supremacist ideals have been built into the systems, organizations, and power structures within this country. These ideals constantly bombard our daily lives through media, merchandise, and social interactions. While this is difficult enough for BIPOC communities, white supremacy groups pose an imminent threat to the health and lives of Black, Brown, and Indigenous people. Hate groups, not confined to the KKK, are multiplying across the nation. The Southern Poverty Law Center monitors Neo-Nazi, white nationalist, Neo-Confederates, and other radical hate groups; it is currently tracking over 1,600 hate groups and their various cells.

Visit the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Hate Map located here

1. Spend some time looking at the proliferation of hate groups across the country. You can see the changes in the number of groups from year to year by clicking in the lower left part of the map.

2. Click on New York State and then look at Long Island. Do you see any hate groups located near your home, work, or church? If so, are you surprised?

3. How do you feel knowing about the number and reach of hate groups in your proximity?

4. How can our communities begin to counteract hate speech and ideals?

RACIAL STEREOTYPES & INTERNALIZED RACISM

Internalized racism is the process whereby a person of color develops ideas, beliefs, and behaviors that support racism. Donna Bivens explains, “internalized racism has its own systemic reality and its own negative consequences in the lives and communities of people of color. More than just a consequence of racism, then, internalized racism is a systemic oppression in reaction to racism that has a life of its own.”

ACTIVITY | IDENTIFYING SUPREMACIST THINKING

Watch the above videos about racial stereotypes and internalized racism. Remember that you have been conditioned to accept and embrace supremacist thoughts, no matter your race.

Good and gracious God, you invite us to recognize and reverence your divine image and likeness in our neighbor. Enable us to see the reality of racism and free us to challenge and uproot it from our society, our world and ourselves. This we pray. Amen.

Prayer from The Sisters of Mercy, Prayer Resources

Reflect on the definition of white supremacy and note its prevalence in our society. The purpose of this exercise is not to place blame, but to identify white supremacist thinking within ourselves and our daily lives, so that we can root it out.

1. What stereotypes are you aware of being exposed to in the past month? Who was stereotyped? Do you feel these assumptions are true? If so, spend time thinking about how you were shaped by this thought.

2. Microaggressions are verbal or behavioral incidents of discrimination rooted in stereotypes against minority groups. Statements such as, “you’re good at math,” said to an Asian person; or “you are so well spoken,” said to a Black person underscore racial biases. Actions such as crossing the street when encountering a person of color, or clutching a purse tighter when in the presence of young Black men perpetuate the idea that Black men are prone to violence. While such slights may seem small, imagine each occurrence happening hundreds or thousands of times every day.
   What would the toll be on someone who was constantly exposed to such bias and nonverbal aggression?

3. How have you consciously or unconsciously used microagressions? What happened? Can you identify a way to change your behavior?

4. Have you witnessed microagressions? What did you do? Can you think of ways to correct a situation like this in the future?

5. Have you been affected by internalized racism, for instance, believing lighter skin or smoother hair is more attractive? Can you identify the ways in which you have been conditioned to think that being white is better?

6. Internalized white supremacy is the opposite of internalized racism. It is the process by which a white person refuses to accept the existence of systemic racism, disadvantages to BIPOC people and communities, and adhere to the idea that whiteness should be the norm. How has your life been shaped by internalized white supremacy?

7. Reflect on the work that you have to do in order to combat supremacist thinking.
   Identify the biases that have shaped your thinking. How can you consistently change those thoughts?
   Come up with ways to stop yourself from enacting microaggressions. If you see this subtle discrimination playing out in your presence, think of ways to step in and correct the outcome.
   and ways in which you can combat supremacist thinking within yourself.

 EXPERIENCE | HEALING INTERNALIZED OPPRESSION

The Office of Black Ministries of the Episcopal Church offers a curriculum addressing internalized racism.

Through a series of modules, this internalized oppression curriculum educates participants about institutional, interpersonal, and internal oppression to facilitate a healing process that empowers people for transformational ministry in the name of Jesus.

Among the topics covered:

• Shame = Silence + Secrecy + Judgment

• The lies we’ve told and the new narratives we’re creating

• Historical, theological, and social constructs of oppression

Participants are challenged to personally explore their life experiences through a didactic group process that invites them on a journey toward wholeness.