“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” If you pay attention to discussions about race and racism in the news, chances are you have seen the quote… Continue reading Why Being Color Blind is Never the Goal
Tag: racism
United Against Hate Event
On October 25, 2023 around 100 local residents filled a conference room in the Newtown Community Center. Some of the women wore head coverings while many of the men wore Kippahs. Black, white and Latinx neighbors; clergy of various religions; elected officials (along with current candidates) and law enforcement officers all gathered together with one… Continue reading United Against Hate Event
Remembering Indigenous Families on the First Day of School
I am an empty nester who loves seeing first day of school pictures each year on social media. I love everything about it: The fresh new haircuts, cute new outfits, and the range of faces reflecting excitement, nervousness, annoyance, and everything in between. The emotions are often mixed, but the first day of school, perhaps… Continue reading Remembering Indigenous Families on the First Day of School
The Strawman Fallacy
This is the third in a series of posts that will break down the vocabulary for techniques and fallacies that racists use when confronted with their racist actions and ideals. If you have attempted to have conversations with people about systemic racism in America at any point since 2016, there is a good chance you… Continue reading The Strawman Fallacy
Why Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is Important
The history of racism against people of Asian American and Pacific Island descent (AAPI) runs deep in America. For as long as people have immigrated to this country, the government has fought hard to keep them from being an equal member of society. Various laws were passed to keep them from gaining citizenship as well… Continue reading Why Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is Important
Fear and White Supremacy
By: Lee Shull The past few weeks in America have been unsettling. Mass shootings, related protests, the silencing of voices, racist expulsions (during Holy Week), and reinstatements into the Tennessee State House. Followed by two more mass shootings in Louisville, a shooting within miles and at the same time as a bank mass shooting, a… Continue reading Fear and White Supremacy
Wrapping Up a Month of Allyship
All last month NAFC group focused on what it means to be an ally. We hosted a book discussion about being anti-racist, we defined terms, and we interviewed our young allies and their BIPOC peers at Newtown High School to better understand what it means to be an ally. We challenged our followers on Facebook… Continue reading Wrapping Up a Month of Allyship
A Workout for the Brain
My brain has been getting a workout lately! Just when I think I’m getting things figured out, professor Ibram X. Kendi makes me think again. Below you will find Dr. Kendi’s definitions of concepts he presents in chapters 7-12 of his bestselling book, How To Be An Antiracist. Some are straightforward, others not so much.… Continue reading A Workout for the Brain
Growing in Allyship: Keep Doing the Work
In May of 2020 the country was rocked when the death of George Floyd streamed all over Facebook. Even though Black men have died at rates disproportionate to their White peers throughout the history of the police force, this incident was in our faces and undeniable. The response of the country, mixed in with the… Continue reading Growing in Allyship: Keep Doing the Work
Ibram X. Kendi and Talking About Racism
Talking about racism is hard. Even among scholars there can be disagreement about how the words and phrases used when discussing race should be defined. Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, author of How To Be An Antiracist, considers accurate definitions to be so critical that the book’s first chapter is entitled, “Definitions”. Additionally, all but the… Continue reading Ibram X. Kendi and Talking About Racism
“Why Is It Always About Race?” Why It’s Important to Note Black Americans and Their Contributions in History.
A new barrier was broken on Sunday, February 12th. Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs and Jalen Hurts of the Philadelphia Eagles faced each other as the starting quarterbacks of their respective teams. This was the first time ever in the history of the Super Bowl where both men were Black. Along with the… Continue reading “Why Is It Always About Race?” Why It’s Important to Note Black Americans and Their Contributions in History.
In Her Own Words: Ruby Bridges
Each Black History Month brings the inevitable telling of the story of Ruby Bridges who, at the young age of six, became the first Black child to be integrated into the New Orleans school system. We’ve all seen the pictures of little Ruby, accompanied by US Marshalls, on her first day of school at William… Continue reading In Her Own Words: Ruby Bridges
Black Music Is American Music
This past weekend was like one giant “ah-ha” moment for me. The big revelation was that just like Black history is American history, Black music IS American music. There is no segregating the two. I know that this is not news to Black Americans. And that, like me, most white Americans understand that Black artists… Continue reading Black Music Is American Music
In Their Own Words: Newtown Brothers Honor MLK Jr
In honor and recognition of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Newtown brothers Karl and Kenneth Miller are sharing the following essays, which they authored some years ago. Kenneth was in 4th grade when he wrote his, Karl in 10th. Both young men, who are Black, make clear that Dr. King is a daily inspiration to… Continue reading In Their Own Words: Newtown Brothers Honor MLK Jr
Pull yourself up by your bootstraps
This is the second in a series of posts that will break down the vocabulary for techniques and fallacies that racists use when confronted with their racist actions and ideals. Since I have started educating myself about systemic racism and how it has harmed BIPOC in our country, I have engaged in many conversations about… Continue reading Pull yourself up by your bootstraps
Let’s Talk about White Fragility
As white people start to do the work of becoming anti-racist, there are some phrases we hear that we might not be super familiar with. Part of the purpose of the NAFC blog is to help those who are on this journey understand the language of this field of study. Today we are going to… Continue reading Let’s Talk about White Fragility
Examining the Fear of DEI
Well that didn’t take long. Misinformed Newtowners started sounding alarms about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) along with the first school bells of the new academic year. School has been in session for two and a half short weeks and already accusations of DEI being tantamount to “indoctrination” and the “sexualization of children” have been… Continue reading Examining the Fear of DEI
Let’s Talk About Microaggressions
Are you trying to be a better ally? Are there times you find yourself reading an anti-racist book, listening to a podcast, or even reading the NAFC blog, when you come across a phrase that you don’t completely understand? Perhaps you’ve even heard a phrase multiple times, but you do not quite have a firm grasp on what… Continue reading Let’s Talk About Microaggressions
Are White People Being “Replaced”?
More than two decades ago while visiting my hometown for a college football game, I was introduced to a mindset that was previously unknown to me. At the tailgate, an acquaintance was congratulating our mutual friend who had recently wed. He then stunned us both by saying, “I hope you have a big family. We… Continue reading Are White People Being “Replaced”?
The Most Marginalized of the Marginalized
June is Pride Month and rainbow flags are everywhere. That’s a good thing, right? While LGBTQ Americans still face far too much discrimination, they are more visible than ever before. Few of us give it a second thought when we learn that a neighbor, friend, or family member is gay. We attend same sex weddings,… Continue reading The Most Marginalized of the Marginalized
Examine Your Narrative
When Linda, a white woman from Newtown, CT, was sixteen years old she walked to the local mall and back with another teenaged girl from her neighborhood. On the way back, the young woman leaned over and said, “don’t look now, but there’s a Black man following us, and I think he wants to rape… Continue reading Examine Your Narrative
Racial Gaslighting
This is the first in a series of posts that will break down the vocabulary for techniques which racists often use when confronted about their actions. When I attended graduate school I was one of only three women in my program. Because I attended a Seminary with aspirations to someday work on staff in an… Continue reading Racial Gaslighting