Racial Affinity Group for white and white-presenting people - part of the NLBC Racial Diversity and Inclusion (RDI) Initiative.
CANCELLED, new date TBA
Drop-in Wednesdays once a month hosted by Akshayapradipa, Bodhamayi and Rachel
In March we’ll be reading chapter 4 of the book ‘Mindful of Race’ (see below).
As part of our racial diversity and inclusion (RDI) initiative, the NLBC is offering white sangha members a space to uncover and transform our views, conditioning and experiences around race, held within the context of our Dharma practice and a supportive community of like minded and committed practitioners.
At these gatherings we’ll work together to:
Draw upon the wellspring of the Dharma, the vastness of the Buddhist tradition(s), and the particular system of practice of Triratna to guide and inspire us in appropriate responses to racism.
Accelerate our racial literacy and inclusion skills, including a deeper understanding of whiteness and our own racialization.
Work collaboratively to foster the manifestation of sangha as an inclusive community within Triratna and beyond.
Engage in compassionate action for racial equity, justice, and repair within our hearts, minds, communities and larger society, interrupting the karmic momentum of racism.
We are looking to offer these gatherings monthly on a drop-in basis and no previous experience is necessary, only an open mind, a brave heart and a willingness to explore.
We’ll read the book ‘Mindful of Race’ by Ruth King you can read the introduction for free here and the chapter on racial affinity groups here.
~Why gather in this way, in a racial affinity group for white and white presenting people?
White affinity groups have been a successful strategy for creating contexts where white people can come together in a safe and supportive environment to educate themselves and explore the topic of race and their relationship to it. Meeting as a racial affinity group means we do not place the burden of educating us, and the emotional labour of holding space as we grapple with our responses, onto people of colour (PoC).
White affinity groups have been successfully run in other Buddhist contexts where PoC sangha members requested that white people 'do the work' on their own as a racial group, in order to then more effectively engage in racially mixed settings.
Within Triratna, there is support for this work from a number of PoC Order Members who have been in active dialogue with the RDI initiative since its inception. It’s fine to have questions about this defining aspect of the group and you can read more about why it’s being done this way by following the link below.
https://www.awarenessisrevolutionary.com/faq