A customer recently moved into the area, from a region in the world where there was a lot of social mistrust and hostility, and was overwhelmed with how welcome and accepted they felt to be in the area. They felt they could just live and be a person without feeling like they are being judged or noticed for being themselves. The individual expressed how blessed they felt to be part of the community here. … [Read more...]
Sharing and listening
Our pastor seemed to change his attitude about the need to address race relations explicitly in church when African Americans in the congregation shared their feelings of woundedness … [Read more...]
Affirmative Action and safety
During a church related zoom meeting, a mature, white, female made the statement (which was off topic): "I don't know why they insist that women and black people have to be hired as pilots. The best candidates should be chosen, regardless of who they are." I wanted to ask her if she felt that safety had been compromised because of affirmative action, but it was not the topic of the meeting, and since it was zoom, there was no usual break time to chat. I am frustrated that I'll have to wait until … [Read more...]
My Church
I go to Christ Church Episcopal Church in Columbia. We are currently involved in a ministry called RAGE. Racially Aware Group of Episcopalians, which explores issues of systemic racism and what we can do to be educated and active in seeking justice and equity for all … [Read more...]
The Sound of Music
Observing a HCYP baseball game I overheard a conversation between two mom's from my son's public school. One was bemoaning that there were "Hebrew songs at the Christmas concert". I volunteer for Howard County Parents for School Music and we encourage music teachers to have their concert programs reflect the diversity of our community - - and I generally feel so proud about this being expressed at our concerts. Yet this woman was clearly put off by this. I am Jewish and wondered in the moment if … [Read more...]
Empathy and Worship?
My indigenous friends experienced racism from Howard County police last year. It was very traumatic. The wife bravely shared this experience in a church setting as an example of when prayer helped her. A former police officer in the group stuck up for the police and denied there being any racism in the situation. I tried to meet up with this person later to hear her side and perhaps convince her to be more empathetic towards the indigenous person. She refused and shared a lot more racist … [Read more...]
Understanding Anti-Semitism
I do not really have a story about racism but I do have one about anti-semitism. Someone told my daughter a "Jewish Joke" which was inappropriate but told her not to tell her mother. Of course she did and I was quite upset. I talked to the person calmly and they did apologize and told me that they didn't think is would be hurtful but after I explained to him how hurtful it was he did apologize and said he wouldn't tell those type of jokes again. … [Read more...]
