Racial Justice Ministry
The mission of the Racial Justice Ministry is to
raise awareness and understanding of and engagement with racial identity and racism, including our individual and collective opportunities to achieve racial justice.
The Racial Justice Ministry is also guided by the UU 8th Principle, adopted by the Boise Unitarian Universalist Fellowship during 2019, which states that we covenant to:
affirm and promote: journeying toward spiritual wholeness by working to build a diverse multicultural Beloved Community by our actions that accountably dismantle racism and other oppressions in ourselves and our institutions.
We believe it is more important than ever to have resources for educating ourselves about racism and actions we can take, both individually and collectively, to dismantle the many oppressions that Black, Indigenous and People of Color face. The purpose of the Racial Justice Ministry (RJM) website is to provide these resources. We invite you to be a regular visitor to the website. If we can make this website more useful to you in some way, please let us know. You can contact us at racialjustice@boiseuu.org.
Announcements
Wake up Coffee Circle
Date and Time: Every Wednesday, 9:00 to 10:30 AM, via Zoom.
There is so much going on in our country that we would like to offer a time to vent, be angry, ask questions, express sadness, and try to find the silver lining to this cloud of confusion. This will not be a structured discussion but hopefully a time for us to support each other and offer some direction.
Black Lives Matter demonstrations
Date and time: Every day (7 days a week), noon to 1:00 PM, State St., behind the Capital Building. Continuing through Election Day, November 3.
These are peaceful and friendly demonstrations in favor of Black Lives Matter, racial justice and equity, and voting. Join the demonstration when you can, stay as long as you can. Each Tuesday is TUUesday. Join other BUUFers on State St. behind the Capital. If you can’t join the demonstration, drive through any day and honk to show your support.
December program: Systemic Racism
- Date and time: Monday, December 7, 2020, 7:00 to 8:30 pm MST
- Format: Zoom, with videos and small group discussions
- Zoom meeting ID: TBD
- Passcode: TBD
- Link: TBD
What can you do?
As a person concerned about racial justice, you may be asking what you can do. Click here Important-actions-we-can-take-now for a short list of things you can do, beginning now, to work toward racial justice.
Racial Justice Vocabulary
Click here vocabulary for a list of terms that are frequently used in discussions and materials related to racial justice.
Learn more about …
These pages are periodically updated with new topics, information, and resources. We invite you to visit frequently and explore the available information.
MOVIES AND BOOKS. Click here for the Movies and Books page, including titles of movies and books that will help you better understand race and racism.
NATIVE AMERICANS IN US HISTORY. Click here for the Native Americans we should know about page
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE. Click here for the indigenous people page.
DEFUNDING THE POLICE. Click here for the defund the police page
ORGANIZATIONS WORKING FOR RACIAL JUSTICE IN THE US. Click here for the RJ organizations page.
REPARATIONS. Click here for the reparations page
SYSTEMIC RACISM: DEFINITION AND HISTORY. Click here for the systemic racism definition and history page.
INTERSECTIONALITY. Click here for the intersectionality page.
Racial Justice Ministry Programs
The Racial Justice Ministry offers a variety of programs intended to help anyone learn more about racism and become more engaged with racial justice activities. These programs are briefly described below.
Racial Justice Education
During the fall of 2019 and winter of 2020, the RJM held monthly in-person programs using videos and group discussions to increase awareness and understanding of topics related to race and racism. The programs were discontinued during March of 2020 because of the Covid-19 pandemic but will resume during the fall of 2020 using Zoom. Handout materials from each of the past programs can be found at Monthly program materials. RJ Education also posts links to short suggested videos with suggested questions or activities. Posted videos can be found at Suggested videos of the month
Racial Justice Action
Meets twice a month via Zoom. Meetings are open to the community and focus taking positive steps to end racism based on a list of 75 Things White People Can Do.
Wake Up Coffee Circle
9:00 AM Wednesdays via Zoom. These conversations are open to all interested individuals and offer opportunities to talk about recent events or whatever else might be on our minds, related to racial justice. Information about the Coffee Circle, including the Zoom link can be found in each week’s BUUF “Weekly Gazette.”
Racial Justice Community Google Group
The Racial Justice Community is a group of BUUF and community members who share information, announcements, resources and support as we work toward racial justice. To join the group simply send your name and email address to racialjustice@boiseuu.org and ask to join.