Barry
01-12-2012, 02:24 PM
[These are notes from one of the break out groups at the January 9th, 2012 Occupy Sonoma County Town Hall meeting in Sebastopol. You are welcome to reply publicly or contact a group representative by emailing the contact listing below rather than Reply Privately. Thanks! -Barry]
Topic: Promote Racial Diversity in Occupy Movement
Convener: Nina Galin [email protected]
Participants: Attila Nagy, Carolyne S, Kathleen, Patti Miller, Mark, David.
The bottom line of our discussion was that in order to allow Occupy to grow, the movement must attract non-white people. Attracting non-white participants means going into non-white communities to attend events and lend tangible support, in order to build trusting relationships. This may require going out of one’s comfort zone.
Nina wonders how to approach non-white communities about Occupy without being condescending, or otherwise perpetuating racist paradigms (ie, “we know what is good for you”). How can we constructively work within the current problematic, racist socio-political structures?
Nina thinks non-violence training is part of the solution.
Attila works currently with North Bay Organizing Project, and recommends them as a resource.
Carolyne recommends the Trans-Partisan Alliance, an organization mainly of educated white people, who produce salon discussions of people who are “Other” to one another (eg, Tea Party and Occupy)
Kathleen recommends working through churches, esp. St. Sebastian.
Mark recommends working in community settings that are not religiously affiliated.
David questioned the value of racial integration. He was the only one in our group who did not assume that more diversity and integration were good things.
Topic: Promote Racial Diversity in Occupy Movement
Convener: Nina Galin [email protected]
Participants: Attila Nagy, Carolyne S, Kathleen, Patti Miller, Mark, David.
The bottom line of our discussion was that in order to allow Occupy to grow, the movement must attract non-white people. Attracting non-white participants means going into non-white communities to attend events and lend tangible support, in order to build trusting relationships. This may require going out of one’s comfort zone.
Nina wonders how to approach non-white communities about Occupy without being condescending, or otherwise perpetuating racist paradigms (ie, “we know what is good for you”). How can we constructively work within the current problematic, racist socio-political structures?
Nina thinks non-violence training is part of the solution.
Attila works currently with North Bay Organizing Project, and recommends them as a resource.
Carolyne recommends the Trans-Partisan Alliance, an organization mainly of educated white people, who produce salon discussions of people who are “Other” to one another (eg, Tea Party and Occupy)
Kathleen recommends working through churches, esp. St. Sebastian.
Mark recommends working in community settings that are not religiously affiliated.
David questioned the value of racial integration. He was the only one in our group who did not assume that more diversity and integration were good things.