For decades, the targets of racism have pointed us back toward each other. Here are two examples among many:

Whites who are sincere should organize themselves and figure out some strategies to break down the prejudice that exists in white communities. This is where they can function more intelligently and more effectively in the white community itself…. -Malcolm X, 1965

To all my white countrymen, I say this: Not only is it not my business to lead you out of white-body supremacy, but I would do you a profound disservice by trying to do so. You need to develop, lift up, and follow your own leaders in the work of dissolving white-body supremacy. If you don't, you will collectively reaffirm the myth of white fragility and helplessness... -Resmaa Menakem, 2017 

So often, white people believe their role is to "listen" to the targets of racism. Well, now is our chance. Gather and stay put with each other long enough to figure out who we would need to become in order to end racism. AWARE-LA has great input on this too.

In her book, Mindful of Race, Ruth King says, "In a racial affinity group, we put ourselves in intentional spaces with people of our same race, where we can be vulnerable, challenged, and unedited; to examine the stories we have been told and the stories we tell ourselves; to lean toward what is unfamiliar and away from what is habitual; and to understand what is difficult to acknowledge, feel, and attend to within us and among us as a racial group."

This kind of experience is essential to white racial identity development. Once we view ourselves with greater accuracy, we are able to notice our community more accurately - both of which fuel our ability to partner with the targets of racism in our mutual goal of ending it.

Change doesn't happen overnight, so we don't recommend workshops or retreats except as an add-on to a rigorous daily liberation practice. Experience tells us that daily practice is harder to implement yet waaaaaaaayyyyyyy more meaningful. You can spend years attending workshops and retreats that leave you feeling euphoric, followed by long stretches of disengagement, and you'll only touch the surface of what's possible. Ask us how we know. 😳 We've been there and done that, and it doesn't work. 

We challenge you to commit one year of your life to implement a daily practice of liberation, and after one year, decide for yourself whether you want to return to your old ways. Up for that challenge? Wonderful! Join The Lab or start a Gathering group to keep this from becoming a grand idea that falls off after a few weeks.

The Lab is 100% virtual, yet we encourage members to cultivate in-person elements into your practice and have many ideas for you.

In The Lab, we are committed to co-creating human, healing-centered virtual spaces. We use music, play, art, naps, movement, and so much more to help, and we're always open to your ideas. If you are feeling virtual exhaustion, we wrote this for you.

For those of you craving an in-person, small community of practice, we invite you to enroll in Gathering and start a group.

If you find something useful, then use it. If you'd like to share - do it. Everything on our site is available to the community. If you would, please credit Better Neighbor Lab if and when you use our materials.

Better Neighbor Lab doesn't offer any consulting. Here are two pathways to access support:

• Pay for membership to The Lab for your white staff who are committed to ending racism
• If you need more support, reach out to our parent organization (they offer consulting)