[Peace-discuss] Observations on Anti-War Anti Racism

[Marti Wilkinson]

Thank you Ricky - Like you I believe this discussion is worth having and I
am willing to be part of the solution as opposed to being part of the
problem.

Peace, Marti

On Fri, May 2, 2008 at 1:09 PM, Ricky Baldwin <baldwinricky at yahoo.com>
wrote:

> I have to say first that I haven't read the earlier comments on this
> thread, only what
> Marti includes below.
>
> I also want to say that I have been very impressed by the work that CUCPJ
> has done,
> have participated when I could, and in particular I think one very
> valuable aspect of
> the group is its multi-ethnic makeup - which in my experience is rare in
> almost any
> community, and something to be proud of.  We can speculate about the
> reasons for it -
> incl. local issues, the leadership, the openness, or other things - but in
> any event it
> is a great thing.  I also think it is great that CU Citz has "peace" as a
> goal and part
> of its name.  AWARE also has "anti-racism" as a goal and part of its name.
>  The
> organizations have different focuses, which I do not see as a problem in
> itself,
> although I assume it has some impact on membership/participation.
>
> Next, I have to point out that AWARE's lack of ethnic diversity has been
> discussed in
> meetings, working groups and around town almost from the beginning 6-1/2
> years ago now,
> and some of us in AWARE have made several attempts to address the issue.
>  All seem to
> have failed for one reason or another.  I don't pretend to have all the
> answers.  But I
> can point out a few of the turns in that history.
>
> Others may correct my memory, but as I recall AWARE had a little more
> ethnic diversity
> at one time, when meetings were more of a loose response to international
> events.
> AWARE was a bit different then.  We met at the Campus Y for a long time,
> and meetings
> often included music or puppet shows, all kinds of things.  You might say
> they more of
> a "mass meeting" feel, and in fact they were bigger.  There were not
> nearly so many
> projects going on at that time.  When we protested, passersby were most
> often hostile,
> swearing or even throwing things, threatening.  Anyway...
>
> As time went on, fewer people attended meetings, most of them as far as I
> know not
> necessarily out of disinterest but prefering to focus on other issues or
> do peace work
> in other venues.  I don't say there has been a continual drop.  There
> hasn't.  But the
> usual meetings, pretty stable for a few years now, have been smaller than
> before,
> that's all.  Maybe that's natural, maybe a result of the lack of going out
> and beating
> the bushes for more attendees at meetings (i.e. "organizing", as opposed
> to simply
> announcing events far and wide and enjoying the fact of growing agreement
> in the
> public).  Maybe it's a reflection on structure, or personalities, or other
> factors, but
> it has occurred.  And unfortunately at the same time, I think the group
> has become less
> diverse, in terms of opinion and ethnicity and other demographics,
> whatever the cause.
>
> I know that many times over the years, African Americans and Arab or
> Muslim Americans
> have attended AWARE protests or meetings but have seldom 'stayed'
> longterm, and have
> sometimes complained that they felt unwelcome, or unhappy with the focus
> of the group.
> Others have moved away, or become more involved in other efforts,
> sometimes together
> with AWARE members.  There has also been a lot of speculation about the
> motivations of
> people in general who do not attend AWARE meetings, most of it I believe
> not based on
> much evidence.  I ough to point out here that meetings are not all AWARE
> does, and our
> monthly protests have always been more diverse (ethnically, opinion-wise,
> etc.) than
> our meetings.
>
> I know of at least two working groups that have attempted to explicitly
> address the
> issue of AWARE's lack of ethnic diversity.  Currently there is an
> "anti-racism" working
> group that reports back, I believe, mostly on solidarity work with other
> groups like
> CUCPJ.  I know that a couple of times AWARE has cleared a big space on its
> agenda to
> focus on race and the anti-war movement: a long discussion with David R.
> and Sundiata
> C. from the Center for Democracy in a Multiracial Society, another with
> Imani.  Someone
> can correct me if I am wrong, but I believe I recall most of those
> dicussions ended
> with a general impression or specific 'advice' that there wasn't much a
> group like
> AWARE could do to change its ethnic makeup - and maybe even that it
> shouldn't try:
> maybe solidarity and participating in the work of groups led by people of
> color (I'm
> paraphrasing) is more important than trying to "recruit" people of color
> into our
> agenda.  Maybe that's right, maybe it's wrong, but that is my recollection
> of these
> discussions.
>
> In addition to these kinds of explicit efforts regarding diversity,
> though, I also know
> that AWARE has discussed what anti-racism means for a group like AWARE
> many times.
> Anti-Arab and particularly anti-Palestinian racism, in the US media or in
> Israel, has
> been a more frequent topic than prejudice against African Americans or
> Latinos -
> although "institutional racism" does come up from time to time in the
> context of the
> economy, as well as immigration issues.  But most of AWARE's work on
> racism (as a
> group) has been international, in my experience: anti-Arab racism I
> mentioned in
> relation to US wars or Israeli occupation, anti-black racism in relation
> to US
> treatment of Haiti and Haitians (we held a panel discussion on US support
> of bloody
> dictators and undermining democracy, not to mention near-slave labor, in
> Haiti, and a
> couple other efforts).
>
> On the other hand, although I know we talked in AWARE about the media
> racism in
> relation to the Congo Wars, in Somalia and elsewhere in Africa where the
> US relies on
> prejudice to conceal or justify its brutality, efforts to set up more
> public
> discussions on thee issues didn't work out.  In addition, disagreements
> with other
> activists dealing with the mass murders in the Sudan didn't, I feel, lead
> to clarity or
> to any sort of public impression that AWARE cares about racism - even
> though it may
> have been an opportunity to do so.  I do not know.
>
> I do know that several times AWARE has tried to show its support for local
> groups or
> efforts more explicitly related to racism: participating in the Unity
> March(es), the
> CUCPJ event on felons a few years back, buying ads in MLK Jr Day programs
> and attending
> those events - even leafleting at a few with Dr King's anti-war words,
> reaching out to
> the NAACP (incl. sending representatives to meetings, buying ads in their
> annual dinner
> program, attending the dinner, getting involved in efforts to help the
> NAACP get back
> on its feet, NAACP elections and other things), supporting and
> participating in efforts
> to get a civilian police review board in Urbana and Champaign, knocking on
> doors for
> Champaign's anti-poverty referendum, supporting Linda Abernathy and
> opposing
> anti-section 8 moves in Champaign, cosponsoring events at the mosque or
> with CUCPJ.
> Many of us have given money to Patrick Thompson's defence and participated
> in events
> around his case or worked on it with CUCPJ.  And I'm sure others can think
> of more.
>
> Maybe this was not enough.  Some of us might argue it is never enough
> until justice is
> done.  I personally would have liked to see AWARE be more public about its
> participation in some of these efforts, give money as an organization to
> Patrick's
> defence, for example.  But some might also argue that AWARE often gets
> little or no
> credit for what anti-racist efforts it does make.  It is true that AWARE
> gets more
> attention for demonstrating at Obama's talk, for example.  But perhaps
> more importantly
> there is a diversity of views within AWARE about how significant race is
> or ought to
> be, politically.  This turns off some people, sometimes because I think
> they believe
> the people speaking up most loudly are the "leaders" or that their views
> represent the
> group, which isn't necessarily so.  Maybe we could do more to clarify
> that.
>
> And if I could just make a couple more quick observations, in general I
> think there are
> many barriers to organizing across 'ethnic lines' as well as other
> differences.  Some
> are familiar.  A lot of people who have made 'diversity' efforts over the
> decades have
> noticed that religion is sometimes a barrier: many white leftists are not
> religious,
> many people of color who are active in causes of social justice are
> motivated by
> religion.  There are other cultural barriers: if you want music at an
> event, what kind?
>  Etc.  I never know how much stock to put in such observations, or in
> suggestions about
> meeting place.  My experience is that it makes little difference.
>
> It has been noted many times, and I would go so far as to say no one
> really knows why
> it is, that truly multi-ethnic efforts tend to be led by people of color
> and people of
> color are usually the majority in these groups.  I know that I have been
> fortunate and
> proud to be a participant in three serious efforts that were truly
> multi-ethnic - in
> three different states - and all three were black-led and majority black
> (not including
> one of the units of SEIU I used to work for as staff rep and community
> groups I helped
> organize when I worked for ACORN that were also black-led and majority
> black).  Others,
> at least in my experience, tend to be all white or nearly so, with white
> leadership
> (formal and/or informal).  That is anecdotal, but I have heard longtime
> organizers I
> respect a great deal notice the same.
>
> Again, I do not pretend to know the answers.  I do think the discussion is
> worth
> having, in fact very important.  But I also know that talk is cheap.  I
> know in my
> heart I haven't done enough, and I stand ready to do more, as much as I
> can, as my
> conscience and my reason guide me.  Let us see what we can do together.
>
> Sincerely,
> Ricky
> 328-3037
>
>
> --- Marti Wilkinson <martiwilki at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Below is part of a thread where I responded to feedback regarding
> > criticism's I made about AWARE.
> >
> > ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> > From: Marti Wilkinson <martiwilki at gmail.com>
> > Date: Thu, May 1, 2008 at 10:41 PM
> > Subject: Re: [Peace-discuss] Re: [Peace] Fwd: [ExComm] Fwd: News-Gazette
> > coverage
> > To: "Morton K. Brussel" <brussel at uiuc.edu>
> >
> >
> > Actually the reason why I made these observations is through having
> attended
> > a few AWARE meetings - hence my 'valid' description of the demographics.
> > I've also participated in some of the local protests with AWARE.  The
> last
> > time I attended an AWARE meeting I actually made the suggestion that
> maybe
> > the organization might want to consider moving beyond the boundaries of
> the
> > Farmers Market and Downtown Champaign.  I suggested places like Country
> Fair
> > and Centennial Park to broaden the base. I'm even willing to suggest
> that
> > AWARE can schedule meetings at the Douglass Park Center or have a
> protest at
> > Garden Hills park.
> >
> > CUCPJ has a pretty even attendance across racial lines and one of the
> goals
> > of this organization includes the word 'peace'.  Peace is a basic human
> > right, it's a civil right, and the people who are most likely to be sent
> to
> > war are also the ones who lack political and social capitol. This
> includes
> > poor whites like my three uncles who ended up being drafted and sent to
> > Vietnam.
> >
> > Now while the lack of an 'official' leader may have a democratizing
> effect -
> > it can also have a disorganizing effect. Anytime you get a group of
> people
> > together someone is going to assume a leadership role - for some it
> comes
> > naturally and organization is an important and vital part of seeing to
> it
> > that everyone's voice gets heard. Regardless of the structure of a group
> -
> > one of the inevitable things that will happen is group dynamics and the
> need
> > to manage those tensions as they occur.
> >
> > I see AWARE as a peace group with a lot of potential. I do not, however,
> see
> > it as an anti-racist group because of the physical lack of diversity. If
> you
> > want a loaf of bread to rise....then you need to add yeast.
> >
> > Peace, Marti
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > On Thu, May 1, 2008 at 9:30 PM, Morton K. Brussel <brussel at uiuc.edu>
> wrote:
> >
> > >  I believe, Marti, that you are not talking from experience in
> attending
> > > AWARE activities. Yes, the demographics you ascribe to AWARE
> "membership"
> > > are valid, but you seem unaware of efforts by AWARE to include
> minority,
> > > African-American, viewpoints and to engage in common pursuits and
> interests.
> > > It seems that unless an organization is mostly populated by
> > > African-Americans, there will not be a sustained attendance by the
> latter.
> > > It may be due to class (economic) differences, cultural differences,
> > > religious differences, educational differences, historical
> differences,
> > > etc., but it is a general problem to blend smoothly the
> > > interests/participation of blacks and whites.  It seems that among
> > > African-Americans, grosso-modo, that racial
> problems/conditions/interests
> > > are foremost, above those of foreign affairs or (even) civil rights,
> and
> > > that concern is not reflected in an organization like AWARE, where
> race is
> > > very important, but not dominant. As you imply, the matter
> > > of comfortability with ones cohort is essential.
> > > Some thoughts,  --mkb
> > >
> > > On May 1, 2008, at 4:39 PM, Marti Wilkinson wrote:
> > >
> > > AWARE has no "leadership" positions
> > >
> > > I stand corrected - however in any organization there are going to be
> > > people who stand out as natural leaders and this may be where the
> criticisms
> > > you are addressing is derived from.
> > >
> > > However, it's an observation that most of the individuals I have seen
> at
> > > AWARE meetings are predominately white and middle class. While there
> are a
> > > few individuals who attend both AWARE and CU Citizens for Peace and
> Justice
> > > the general demographics of AWARE doesn't have a strong minority
> presence.
> > > At least not in what I have observed. In order for an organization
> like
> > > AWARE to be more effective in addressing issues of racism and
> defamation the
> > > group needs to have a more diverse representation of people at their
> > > meetings.  Just saying that 'everyone is welcome to come' is not good
> > > enough.  Some of the literature I've read regarding critical race
> theory and
> > > social justice movements supports that. In particular writers like
> Thomas
> > > Nakayama, Stuart Hall, Raka Shome, and other individuals have made
> some very
> > > astute observations on this issue.
> > >
> > > We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as
> fools.
> > >  Martin Luther King, Jr.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > On Thu, May 1, 2008 at 4:04 PM, Karen Medina <kmedina at uiuc.edu> wrote:
> > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > >minorities really
> > > > >   have not been invited to be part of the leadership
> > > > >   of the peace movement.
> > > >
> > > > I'm not at all sure what you mean by leadership. AWARE has no
> > > > "leadership" positions.
> > > >
> > > > And no, Carl is not our "leader" as Bob Naiman seemed to indicate in
> a
> > > > post about a month ago.
> > > >
> > > > -karen medina
> > > > a white, middle class, overly educated, middle-aged female with
> nothing
> > > > better to do on Sunday evenings.
> > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > Peace-discuss mailing list
> > > > Peace-discuss at lists.chambana.net
> > > > http://lists.chambana.net/cgi-bin/listinfo/peace-discuss
> > > >
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
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> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > Peace-discuss mailing list
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> > http://lists.chambana.net/cgi-bin/listinfo/peace-discuss
> >
>
>
>
>
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