C.A.R.E. - Downers Grove
A Community of (White) Anti-racists Rising Everywhere
Let's increase our racial and equity literacy together.
This is NOT a self loathing, anti-White, White supremacist group. White people as well as all other people of all colors and beliefs have good in them and have done extraordinary things. It is also true that White people have had the privliege to avoid oppression, violence and discrimination due to the color of their skin. It is not the responsibility of non-White people to teach us about systemic racism and oppression nor is it acceptable to put non-White people in a place where they have to re-traumatize themselves to teach us. It is our White collective responsibility to educate ourselves and disrupt racist systems and beliefs that have benefitted us at the expense of others.
This group IS and represents a community of White people dedicated to better understanding our White conditioning so that we can address discrimination and work in solidarity with non-White people to impact change. This is the path to spiritual healing.
For an in-depth look at what White Affiinty Groups are and why they are essential, please consider reading Going to the Root: How White Caucuses Contribute to Racial Justice. There are other helpful articles in the Resource Library.
Some quesitons that we can work through together with readings and other text analsysis are:
What is White culture? Why is it hard to define? Why do some people not want to talk about it?
Why are White people not comfortable discussing the fact that White culture is the dominant culture that historically held the power, established our institutions, and the norms for living in our society?
Do we have an obligation as White people to discuss the systems in place that favor us over all others?
Does the term 'White passing' suggest that other people of color are judged against the standard of White?
In Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs, what exactly are people being Included into?
Does it matter that other people suffer because of their race that none of us can control at birth when "the Human Genome Project in 2003 confirmed humans are 99.9% identical at the DNA level and there is no genetic basis for race"?
Wouldn't we all be better off if we all had a better understanding of why we are the way are and wouldn't that allow us all to thrive together?
It is our privilege as part of the dominant cultural group in the US to choose not to think about race. At the same time, it is also an incredible opportunity to use our privilege to dismantle systemic racism and build a better future. We can carry on living as we always have in our mostly White suburb and ignore the plight of others or we can honor the humanity in us all and work to build a more aware, equitable, tolerant and kind community. It is our hope that, by examining how racism has impacted us, we can forge trusting alliances with non-white people so we can work in solidarity towards common goals.
This is a place of love for us all. No one will shame or blame you. This is a brave space for us to acknowledge the White supremacist culture that we were born into, live in, and the impacts it has on us all. What matters for us now is what happens next. For those of us that have struggled, those struggles are real. We were also able to work through those challenges without the additional burden or being treated differently because of our race. This is not a zero sum game. To help others will not mean that White people will suffer . Consider for example, the positive economic impact of more people having access to better education and jobs. If for no other reason, think about the increased tax base that that would create. According to a growing body of research, systemic racism has kept the US from reaching its full economic potential. A recent study by CitiGroup estimated that financial, education and other inequities between Black and white Americans has cost the US $16 trillion. Consider also the positive social impacts on policing, school culture, and society in general if more people are treated equitablly, with dignity and, thus, are seen, heard and treated accordingly.
Take a look at the statistics below to see that there are many people, including ourselves, that we can help in our community by doing this work.
Demographic Information of Downers Grove based on 2020 Census
Illinois Report Card: District 58
Illinois Report Card: District 99
Please contact us below if you'd like to work join us.
7 Reasons Why It's Important to Organize as White People
For many, it sounds contradictory: “Isn’t it racist if just White people get together? Isn’t that segregation?” These are 7 reasons why it is important to meet as White people as a member of CARE-DG.
1. People of color shouldn’t always have to be the ones to educate White people about racism and oppression. We are taking responsibility for learning about racism, our own White privilege, and how to challenge it as White people.
2. In order to challenge racism and dismantle White supremacy, White people need to unlearn racism and discover the ways we enact White privilege. This is a long, difficult, and sometimes painful process. It’s helpful to have a space where other white people engaged in this process can support and challenge us, without having to always subject people of color to further undue trauma or pain as we stumble and make mistakes. Having a community of White anti-racist people gives us hope, helps us grow our practice, and gives us strength to stay in it for the long haul.
3. A commitment to anti-racist identity and practice as a White person can sometimes mean increased alienation and conflict in our lives, especially with other White friends and family who disagree with us. CARE is a space where we can get support from people who are experiencing similar struggles as anti-racist White people.
4. It’s a space for White people to figure out what it means to be an anti-racist White person and challenge racism in all areas of our lives. We cannot expect people of color to have all of the answers for us on how to transform ourselves and other White people. As White people we are well equipped to understand what it means to be a White, as well as a White anti-racist.
5. It’s a place where White people can begin to build a new culture of White anti-racism, and learn the skills needed to transform the larger White community.
6. CARE is a supplement to, not a replacement for, multi-racial dialogues and activism between White people and people of color. It’s important that White people give space in their lives to learning from and bearing witness to people of color’s experiences of racism.
7. A White space serves as a resource to people of color who want to work with White people but don’t want to have to spend all their energy dealing with the racism of White people. Credit: AWARE - Los Angeles
2. In order to challenge racism and dismantle White supremacy, White people need to unlearn racism and discover the ways we enact White privilege. This is a long, difficult, and sometimes painful process. It’s helpful to have a space where other white people engaged in this process can support and challenge us, without having to always subject people of color to further undue trauma or pain as we stumble and make mistakes. Having a community of White anti-racist people gives us hope, helps us grow our practice, and gives us strength to stay in it for the long haul.
3. A commitment to anti-racist identity and practice as a White person can sometimes mean increased alienation and conflict in our lives, especially with other White friends and family who disagree with us. CARE is a space where we can get support from people who are experiencing similar struggles as anti-racist White people.
4. It’s a space for White people to figure out what it means to be an anti-racist White person and challenge racism in all areas of our lives. We cannot expect people of color to have all of the answers for us on how to transform ourselves and other White people. As White people we are well equipped to understand what it means to be a White, as well as a White anti-racist.
5. It’s a place where White people can begin to build a new culture of White anti-racism, and learn the skills needed to transform the larger White community.
6. CARE is a supplement to, not a replacement for, multi-racial dialogues and activism between White people and people of color. It’s important that White people give space in their lives to learning from and bearing witness to people of color’s experiences of racism.
7. A White space serves as a resource to people of color who want to work with White people but don’t want to have to spend all their energy dealing with the racism of White people. Credit: AWARE - Los Angeles
What if White people led the charge to end racism?
Diversity fatigue is real: people of color are tired of leading the fight. White allies are tired of being told they're doing it wrong. No wonder we don't have equity yet! In this inspiring talk, Nita Mosby Tyler explains why we need "unlikely allies" in the fight for justice, and why people who are experiencing inequality first hand must be willing to accept the help.
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