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.

Any white person who is committed to ending racism and wants to cultivate that commitment in a group of white people.

We cultivate learner-leaders who are humble (none of us are experts) and courageously willing (no need to pretend or perform) to gather and stay put with our people long enough to end racism.

Wonderful. We won't attempt to make what's uncertain certain for you. The truth is that racism hasn't ended yet so we are all experimenting our way toward a bright future. None of us start out knowing how to host white communities of practice focused on ending racism. When we stay curious and expansive about what's possible, we notice what is bearing fruit and what's not - and iterate every time we get stuck, stale, or compromised in some way.

If you are willing to be scared and do it anyway, we promise you that you are more capable than you think, and we need all of us to take great risks in order to end racism. Let's go!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, it's a matter of "when" challenges come up...because they will. Here's how to get support:

• Log into Gathering and search the Library for ideas that may help
• No luck there? Request us to create a new resource for your question/challenge (we add more based on your questions)
• Pair a membership to The Lab with Gathering so you can access our community and team for support

Absolutely! We've heard from many self-started groups over the years who are committed but struggle to keep the momentum. The 7-week course will help re-invigorate and deepen your group's commitment, and the weekly emails will have ideas and discussion guides to keep you going when you need a little help.