Racial Justice Ministry

Guiding Principles

The mission of the Racial Justice Ministry is to:
raise awareness and understanding of an engagement with race and racism. This includes our individual and collective opportunities to achieve racial justice.

We are also guided by the UU 8th Principle, which asks us 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.

Future in Focus

On  May 9, 2022 the RJM coordination team used a Zoom meeting to present our guiding principles (as a ministry), the present organization of our activities, our new goals for 2022–2023, and the programs we plan to offer during the  coming year. Click HERE to view 6 slides with a summary of this information.

Announcements

FIRST-EVER, FAMILY FIELD TRIP TO FOUR RIVERS CULTURAL CENTER & MUSEUM. REGISTER NOW!
All ages, families and friends are welcome to join us on this field trip to the Four Rivers Museum in Ontario, Oregon.

Event date: Saturday July 9, 2022
To register: Use this link to register:
https://forms.gle/UoLJnXDeXBuDQTAM6
Cut-off for registration is Wednesday, July 6, 2022.

Important details

  • We’ll travel independently and meet at the Museum’s front desk when the Center opens at 10:00.
  • Registrations will be paid by the Racial Justice Ministry.
  • A minimum of 15 people must register for the field trip to make.
  • The day will include a special activity for children and parents, get-together with lunch, and self-guided tour of the adjacent Japanese garden.
  • Watch for more information in the BUUF Gazette and Bulletin and on the BUUF Facebook page. Or read this FACT SHEET more information.

People

Each of these individuals has made important contributions to the history and progress of the US. Each name is a link to a short biography with additional resources. They might not be well-known but we all benefit from the lives and work. The names are listed in alphabetic order.

Racial Justice Language

The language of racial justice often includes words and phrases that begin with precise definitions and gradually becomes obscured in rhetoric. Understanding this language is made easier by understanding their origins as well as their current usage. Each word or phrase is a link to a short explanatory document with additional resources. The words and phrases are listed in alphabetic order.

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.

Learn more about …

This list is a “table of contents” for information that can be found on other website pages. It is periodically updated with new topics, information, and resources. We invite you to visit frequently and explore the available information.

  • CRITICAL RACE THEORY. Click HERE for this page.
  • DEFUNDING THE POLICE. Click HERE for this page.
  • INDIGENOUS PEOPLE. Click HERE for this page.
  • INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF IDAHO. Click for HERE this page.
  • MOVIES AND BOOKS ABOUT RACE AND RACISM. Click HERE for this page.
  • ORGANIZATIONS WORKING FOR RACIAL JUSTICE IN THE US. Click HERE for this page.
  • REPARATIONS. Click HERE for this page.
  • SHORT LIST OF PRINT AND VIDEO RESOURCES. Click HERE for this list.
  • SYSTEMIC RACISM: DEFINITION AND HISTORY. Click HERE this page.
  • SYSTEMIC RACISM: EFFECTS. Click HERE for this 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

Wake Up Coffee Circle

Every Wednesday, 9:00-10:30 AM Wednesdays via Zoom. These unstructured 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, and to support one another. Drop in any time, stay as long as you want. 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.

RJM Archive

The purpose of this website is to provide a variety of resources on race and racism. We invite you to be a regular visitor to the website. If we can make this website more useful, please let us know. You can contact us at  racialjustice@boiseuu.org.