My Racist Friend

Don and Amy reflect on their growth since the first episode of Season One, revisiting the role of a non-violent approach and the importance of staying connected to hold space for change.

The January 19th sermon by Dr. Maureen Walker and Jada Bee's talk on dismantling white supremacy can be found in the Universalist Unitarian live stream archives.

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In the first episode of 2020, Amy and Don are joined by Dr. Maureen Walker for a conversation recorded live at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Bloomington, Indiana. Together, they explore segments from Dr. Walker's new book on dealing with racism through relationships and respond to some questions and comments from the audience. The full stream is available online.

You can purchase Dr. Walker's latest book—"When Getting Along Is Not Enough: Reconstructing Race in Our Lives and Relationships"—online.

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Amy shares with Don her frustrations about the news of the day, including a pushup challenge, a Speaker rejecting hate, and a pre-tween tragedy. Together, all of these events illustrate Amy's desire to move away from a culture of Winning.

See also:

• Joe Biden Challenges Iowa Man to a Push-Up Contest During Heated Exchange (Time on Dec 5, 2019)

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This is the second part of a conversation between Amy, Don, and local activist Jada Bee for a conversation about the many places in society outside of the farmer's market where racism thrives and the importance of believing marginalized voices. This conversation took place on November 23, 2019 and spans two episodes.

For more information about Black Lives Matter in Bloomington, Indiana, visit BLM.btown-in.org or email [email protected]. Video from October’s A Seat At the Table event can be found on the website, as can information about donating to the Bailout Fund for black and brown activists. BLM also curates an anti-racist educational reading and viewing list.

Buy "Your Racist Friend" by They Might Be Giants on iTunes

Don and Amy invite local activist Jada Bee for a conversation about protest and fighting white supremacy that tries to look normal. This conversation took place on November 23, 2019 and spans two episodes.

For more information about Black Lives Matter in Bloomington, Indiana, visit BLM.btown-in.org or email [email protected]. Video from October’s A Seat At the Table event can be found on the website, as can information about donating to the Bailout Fund for black and brown activists. BLM also curates an anti-racist educational reading and viewing list.

Buy "Your Racist Friend" by They Might Be Giants on iTunes

As sometimes happens, the intended topic of discussion for Amy an Don was displaced by a conversation about local protest, the day-to-day concerns of marginalized members of our community, and how to hold and reserve space for others. Plus, another food analogy.

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Don asks Amy about what it's like to live in these times as a woman. Amy shares her experience of hopelessness during a 2016 Presidential debate and the solidarity that came with many voices contributing to #MeToo. 

TW: this episode describes sexual violence and has more than the normal amount of cursing. 

We encourage you to revisit and support Tarana Burke's efforts to sustain the #MeToo movement she began in 2006. https://metoomvmt.org/

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Amy and Don discuss the ethical dilemma of purchasing Kit Kats, contributing to landfills, and pushing the needle towards anti-racism without solving it. The friends also talk a bit about the importance of recognizing different marginalized experiences.

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After a couple weeks off, Don and Amy return with a discussion of a controversial moment between former President George W. Bush and Ellen DeGeneres at a Dallas Cowboys football game. They explore the expectations and obligations to be authentic in that situation ... and somehow, Kanye West.

For more on Dr. Maureen Walker's idea of disruptive empathy, read "Transforming Community Through Disruptive Empathy".

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Don and Amy are joined by Drs. LaShawn Williams and Dolores Finger Wright in a live podcast recorded at Griffin Realty at the end of the second annual Relational Summit in Bloomington, Indiana. They discuss some of the key relational-cultural concepts that surfaced over the previous weekend, including the Five Good Things, One True Thing, and food metaphors to describe conversations about race.

Dr. Finger Wright is a veteran of the civil rights movement. In 2011 Dr. Finger Wright received the International Civil Rights Center & Museum Sit-In Hero’s Award for involvement in the 1960s in the history civil rights sit-in demonstrations that took in Greensboro, North Carolina. After her graduation from Bennett College, Dr. Finger Wright went on to earn a Master of Social Work Degree from Rutgers University and a Ph.D. in Social Work from Howard University. She was a professor of social work for thirty years, during which time she developed a course on Relational Cultural practices for her students.

Dr. LaShawn Williams is a licensed clinical social worker and Assistant Professor at Utah Valley University, where she teaches in the Behavioral Science Department and Directs the Baccalaureate Social Work Program. Dr. Williams focuses her research on the use of relationships for cross-cultural curricular delivery in the classroom. She also helps future social workers to build culturally competent practices.

For more on the something-in-your-teeth metaphor for racism, watch Jay Smooth's TEDx talk.

Buy "Your Racist Friend" by They Might Be Giants on iTunes