The gathering of Quakers from Friends General Conference (one of the liberal branches of the Quaker family tree) is being held in central Minnesota.
The site of the gathering what criticized in opening remarks as being a location not safe for people of color. I don't really understand what that means. Because small towns in rural Minnesota are all pretty safe for me. I am a white girl with no obvious prejudicing conditions. I don't need to announce my rabid liberalism. I don't shout from the treetops (except on my 100% public blog) that I am living with a mental illness. I don't even have a bumper sticker to clue people in to my values. And while we are gathered here, in a place that I perceive as being mildly and passively unwelcoming to people of color... there has been Yet Another Police Shooting in which a black man is fatally shot in what should have been a non-confrontational situation. I NEVER have to worry that when I am pulled over in a routine traffic stop that I will be shot. My biggest worry is that I might have to pay a fine. Or maybe appear in court to challenge a fine. To make matters worse, the man who was killed worked as a cafeteria supervisor at an elementary school. A school frequented by several of the children in our home meeting. I am pissed off. Not sure what to do about it. I'm just some white girl. I don't get it. I can't get it. I get that. And I am at a loss as to what to do. Just not nothing. And not something symbolic but largely empty. Not interested in doing something just to feel good about myself. Also not interested in sitting around being ashamed that I am a white girl. Comments are closed.
|
Archives
May 2020
Categories
All
K. BuchananQuaker, teacher, parent, |