Attached is a poem that expresses the challenges of the micro-agressions experienced daily by many people of color and those with other differences in our culture. It is worth taking a minute to read this. Also is some information about the second Tuesday race forum that meets monthly. Anyone is welcome to attend or join the email list.
Lynn Thayer
Case Manager
Colorado Coalition for the Homeless
720-628-1644
Fax: 303-340-3934
Case Manager
Colorado Coalition for the Homeless
720-628-1644
Fax: 303-340-3934
"The more privilege you have, the more opportunity you have. The more opportunity you have, the more responsibility you have." Noam Chomsky.
Dear Friends,Our monthly meeting of the Second Tuesday Race Forum will be 12/10 at 7 PM at the Park Hill United Methodist Church at Montview Blvd and Glencoe St. in Denver. Won't you please join us!The Stress of Being Invisible
One consequence of racism is that we are conditioned to not really see each other. It is as if the genes that naturally control empathy got switched off. In the November discussion explored this through the poetry of our friend Norma Johnson, a healer, inspirationalist and visionary consultant. Norma will share with us her Poem for My White Friends: “I Didn’t Tell You.” The ensuing discussion gave us an opportunity to unpack its many dimensions of microaggression.Norma says, “It seems that the more we talk about race, the more we keep uncovering about ourselves, each other and our society. This poem was a cry from my heart to speak to a deeper level to my white friends and to attempt to relay to them, some of the difference in the way our lives play out. I was honored to be able to present this poem at the 2013 White Privilege Conference in Seattle earlier this year. It seems my poem created quite a stir. Since then, diversity facilitators, educators and individuals have been using this poem to teach and to share with others. I’m grateful it is creating an atmosphere for reflection and discussion about race for so many people.”A copy of “I Didn’t Tell You” is attached to this message. We ask that you print it and bring it to the discussion so that you can make notes during the discussion. And here is a link to Intersections Radio interview and poem presentation. During this half hour show there's a dialogue with Dr. Eddie Moore, Jr., Dr. Dena Samuels and Daryl Miller about microaggressions, and a guest poetry reading by Norma Johnson.The Second Tuesday Race Forum meets on the second Tuesday of most months at the Park Hill United Methodist Church at Montview Blvd and Glencoe St. in Denver. Here is a link to a map on Google:If you are not on our mailing list and would like to be, please email us and we will add you to our list.If you have an occasion sent us email please check your automatic address fill-in functions to change the address to our new one at the secondtuesdayraceforum@gmail.com .
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