A Training for White People Ready to Unlearn White Supremacy
Welcome! Maybe you are here because you feel uncomfortable talking about race and racism and how that relates to topics in the headlines, like public safety, policing, immigration, the ongoing genocide in Palestine, and a rise in antisemitism and Islamophobia. Maybe you are angry or anxious about so many things that are happening in the world right now, but you’re not sure how to talk about it, or what you can do to change it.
If you’re here for one of these reasons, or another of your own, we invite you to register for the spring series of Study & Action, a virtual, live, eight week program. Over the last eight years, we’ve had hundreds of people participate; many of them still stay in touch and volunteer together. You, too, will join a supportive group of white-identified people who want to share their experiences and learn from each other.
By the end, you’ll have better tools to talk about these topics with friends and family, a deeper understanding of your own personal stake in the fight for racial justice, and more confidence to take action.
If you’re here for one of these reasons, or another of your own, we invite you to register for the spring series of Study & Action, a virtual, live, eight week program. Over the last eight years, we’ve had hundreds of people participate; many of them still stay in touch and volunteer together. You, too, will join a supportive group of white-identified people who want to share their experiences and learn from each other.
By the end, you’ll have better tools to talk about these topics with friends and family, a deeper understanding of your own personal stake in the fight for racial justice, and more confidence to take action.
Why Participate in Study & Action?
The more we know and understand our history, the more we are able to make sense of the present. Through Study & Action, you can find purpose, joy, community, and power in learning our history and fighting for collective liberation.
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An alarming rise in fascism, division, violence, and hate; the stripping of many of our civil rights; climate change; genocide and war…There is a lot to be angry, sad, and anxious about in the world right now. And, of course, so much of this isn’t new; violence, genocide, injustice, and hate is deeply rooted in our history.
So is the fight for justice and freedom. The wisdom and insights of Black women first formed the path toward collective liberation, and their teachings have kept many of us on that path to this day. |
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 not only deepen our understanding of injustice, we also learn to become personally accountable to dismantling white supremacy and better prepared to face the multigenerational challenges of our time.
Content and Timeline
We will host the next Study & Action from March - May 2024.
Every week, our volunteer facilitators (who are members of the SURJ Bay Area Study & Action Working Group) will lead discussions and somatic exercises, and make space for small and large group conversations, journaling, and other creative activities.
Throughout the series, we will share different ways to take action in the Bay Area (if you live elsewhere, we can support you in finding local actions to take!). These actions will help you prepare for a self-directed Action Week, which can be anything from holding a fundraiser for a local advocacy organization, to calling representatives with family and friends, to hosting an at-home film screening and discussion with a small group.
Every week, our volunteer facilitators (who are members of the SURJ Bay Area Study & Action Working Group) will lead discussions and somatic exercises, and make space for small and large group conversations, journaling, and other creative activities.
Throughout the series, we will share different ways to take action in the Bay Area (if you live elsewhere, we can support you in finding local actions to take!). These actions will help you prepare for a self-directed Action Week, which can be anything from holding a fundraiser for a local advocacy organization, to calling representatives with family and friends, to hosting an at-home film screening and discussion with a small group.
More Information
Weekly sessions will be hosted on Zoom. Below is an outline of dates and what we will cover (some topics may change):
- Orientation (March 13, 7:00-8:00 pm PST)
- Session 1 (March 20, 6:30-9:00 pm PST): Examining Whiteness and History of White Supremacy
- Session 2 (March 27, 6:30-9:00 pm PST): Capitalism, Slavery, and Incarceration, Part 1
- Session 3 (April 3, 6:30-9:00 pm PST): Capitalism, Slavery, and Incarceration, Part 2
- Session 4 (April 10, 6:30-9:00 pm PST): Black Liberation Movements
- Session 5 (April 17, 6:30-9:00 pm PST): State Repression of Movements
- Session 6 (April 24, 6:30-9:00 pm PST): Intersectionality, Mutual Interest, and Collective Liberation
- Action Week! (April 29-May 3): No official class this week, optional drop-in hours (times TBA) for questions and support.
- Session 7 (May 8, 6:30-9:00 pm PST): Anti-Racist Ancestors, Current Organizing, Synthesis, and Commitments
Your Commitment
Study & Action participants are asked to:
We are committed to making our program as accessible as possible. If you have other access needs, please let us know by emailing us at studyaction@surjbayarea.org.
- Attend weekly sessions
- Have access to a computer with reliable internet. Every session is hosted on Zoom with auto captions with a live transcript enabled.
- Allow enough time to read/watch/listen to the weekly assignments (~2 hours per week). We offer captioned videos or transcripts of any videos without captions, transcripts of podcasts, and audio recordings of any text-based resources that are included as homework or during the sessions.
- Participate in Action Week and in as many emergent actions as you are able for the duration of the series.
- While there is no cost to take part in the program, participants will be invited to donate to SURJ and our partner organizations during the sessions.
We are committed to making our program as accessible as possible. If you have other access needs, please let us know by emailing us at studyaction@surjbayarea.org.