WHY STUDY & ACTION
Social movements throughout history have engaged in political education to inform how and why we organize, mobilize and take action for justice and liberation. By studying the history of colonialism, genocide, and slavery, as well as the ongoing fight for civil rights as told through the experiences of those most impacted, we deepen our understanding of injustice, and learn to take strategic, effective action and accountability to dismantle white supremacy.
This program was designed specifically in response to our BIPOC partners’ longstanding call to mobilize white people to do the necessary work of understanding and accounting for our roles and responsibilities in confronting white supremacy in our workplaces, schools, with our families and throughout our lives.
Learning and acting within community makes our movements stronger. We train up, so we can show up!
This program was designed specifically in response to our BIPOC partners’ longstanding call to mobilize white people to do the necessary work of understanding and accounting for our roles and responsibilities in confronting white supremacy in our workplaces, schools, with our families and throughout our lives.
Learning and acting within community makes our movements stronger. We train up, so we can show up!
LOGISTICS
Study and Action will be offered Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings. There are eleven weekly Zoom meetings weekly from the week of September 5 through the week of November 14, 2022. When you sign up, you’ll be asked for your preference and availability, assigned to one of the evenings based on your response, and attend that evening weekly for 11 sessions.
You must have access to a computer with reliable internet access to participate.
- Study Week sessions will take place virtually for 2.5 hours from 6:30-9pm on weeks 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 11 (weeks of Sept. 5, Sept 19, Oct. 3, Oct. 10, Oct .24, Oct. 31, and Nov. 14).
- Action Week sessions will also take place virtually for 2.5 hours from 6:30-9:00pm on weeks 2, 4, 7, and 10 (weeks of Sept. 12, Sept. 26, Oct. 17, and Nov. 7).
You must have access to a computer with reliable internet access to participate.
WHO WE ARE
SURJ Bay Area Study & Action is a community of learners committed to examining the histories of white supremacy and resistance movements, and building our abilities to effectively take action in support of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color-led organizations fighting for racial justice.
IS STUDY & ACTION FOR ME?
Are you looking for a learning community to challenge racism? Do you want to learn more about how our systems of oppression operate and how white people continue to reinforce the dominant culture of white supremacy, so that you can become a resource for your community? Would you like to find out how to take action locally and be accountable towards taking a stand for justice and liberation?
If so, then HECK YES!! JOIN US as we come together to explore:
If so, then HECK YES!! JOIN US as we come together to explore:
- The creation of whiteness and systems of white supremacy
- Capitalism and the cost of white supremacy
- The history of BIPOC liberation movements, and resistance to white supremacy
- How we are shaped by (and reinforce through our complicitness) these historical forces, systems and conditions of white supremacy , and learn through somatic practices how we can become white anti-racists
- Building important skills to participate within the movement for racial justice
- Taking action in community and with accountability to Black, Indigenous, and People of Color-led movements
EXPECTATIONS FOR STUDY & ACTION
Study & Action participants are asked to:
- Commit to attending all 11 sessions of this intensive in order to hold accountability to the group, build community, and get the most out of the series;
- Have access to a computer with reliable internet for the Zoom sessions;
- Allow enough time in your schedule to read the weekly assignments, about 3 hours for each of the 7 Study Week sessions.
I HAVE ACCESSIBILITY NEEDS, WILL I BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE?
Making our offerings accessible is a part of the SURJ commitment to creating a multi-racial majority that includes all. Please let us know your accessibility concerns and we will do our very best. Please email us at studyaction@surjbayarea.org.