SFCG Latest Projects on Racial Healing

By Danielle Barav

Tension and conflict surrounding race have permeated American culture for centuries. Most recently, conflict arose in response to a judge’s refusal to marry an interracial couple.  The couple sued Louisiana Justice of the Peace, Keith Bardwell after he denied them a marriage license.

The conflict surrounding this controversy stemmed from the belief that Bardwell’s actions were prejudiced; as it recalls the same racist sentiment that spurred U.S. laws forbidding interracial marriages some decades ago.

But, Bardwell explained in a CBS interview that he had seen “countless” examples of children of interracial couples rejected by family members and didn’t want to see it happen again. Watch the video here.

While conflict persists, there has also been racial healing in recent years. A prime example is the widely publicized reconciliation between Common Ground Awardees Elwin Wilson and Rep. John Lewis, in which Wilson apologized for his racially motivated attack against Lewis back in 1961. Their reconciliation is a testament to the progress of America on issues of race, but to what extent has such progress taken place?

I believe such progress is very limited. To date, the U.S. has failed to engage in an open and comprehensive discussion on issues of race within the mainstream. Many people often avoid the topic.

As an organization dedicated to solving conflict through dialogue, Search For Common Ground, convened a Racial Healing Working Group during July of this year. The event was hosted by SFCG’s Leadership Wisdom Initiative along with the Faith and Politics Institute.

I was fortunate to observe this working group—a three-day convocation in Airlie, VA of more than 35 experts in the field of racial reconciliation. Though participants were of different ages, professional, geographic and ethnic backgrounds and supported unique approaches to racial reconciliation, all were unified around a common goal: brainstorm and begin mapping a process that would answer the question, “What would it take to heal the wounds of racism in the US?”

All participants exhibited the dedication and creativity necessary to achieve this goal. Some expressed concerns that the language of “healing” and “reconciliation” did not correctly address the divide between Blacks and Whites in the U.S. But no matter where they may fall on the issue, all agreed on the devastating factors (institutional, social, and personal) that perpetuate discrimination in our society.

During the discussions several questions were raised, including: How does the way U.S. history is taught influence our understanding of current social conditions? What does it mean that the prison-industrial complex is the one of the largest sources of revenue for many states, and a majority of the inmates are people of color? How does one prevent the scars from the emotional, social, and physical trauma of being kidnapped and enslaved from being passed down generation after generation?

Answering such questions can be overwhelming, but despite the challenge of the task, being surrounded by people dedicated to this field was immensely inspiring.

Through my interactions with the work group, I gained a deeper understanding of structural racism and the challenge of dismantling it. Only so much can be gleaned from research and reading stories; for me, I was much more impacted by listening to people talk face to face (and heart to heart) about the many injustices, personal and social traumas, and missed opportunities that result from racial inequality.

After much talking, the group formulated their ideas into actionable, next steps on healing U.S. wounds of racism. Search For Common Ground recorded participants’ suggestions, which are now being used to shape The One America Project (more information below).

The experiences shared by participants inspired me to see what is possible when individuals collaborate with an open mind. It also deepened my awareness of the importance of personal reflection to deconstruct and understand the lenses through which we process our lives and the effects our  actions, words and thoughts have on others—at both  local and global levels.

The One America Project will serve as an umbrella for racial healing nationwide. We believe that the One America Project will expand and deepen America’s capacity for compassion, understanding, collaboration, cooperation, and transformation.

Although Americans have elected our first African-American President, we remain deeply divided on issues of race. In recent political debates, thinly veiled attacks reveal America’s ongoing struggle with race as a central challenge in our ability to come together. Even so, we believe that the Politics of Hope will overcome the Politics of Fear.

The One America Project will connect and support racial healing practitioners through trainings, gatherings, and three types of media networks:

A.  Capacity Building & Leadership Development: This component will expand the reach  of existing racial healing efforts by offering Training of Trainers (TOTs) to existing and emerging catalysts of racial healing.

B.  National Gatherings: This component will convene action-oriented gatherings. These gatherings will strengthen existing  racial healing efforts, inspire new efforts, reinforce alliances and coalitions among racial healing practitioners and leaders, support emerging leaders in the field, and develop action plans for implementation taking the work in the field deeper and wider nationally.

C.  New & Traditional Media: This component will catalyze constructive dialogues, highlight existing efforts, plug local organizations and their constituencies into our national online network, and expand our Common Ground News Service to publish powerful stories of racial healing.

For further information about how you might support the One America Project, please contact Jana Carter at [email protected]