A Class Divided

I know the issue of structural and institutional racism is a difficult topic to discuss. I also know NUA is one of the groups which integrates universal themes such as racism, anti-Semitism, gender discrimination into our work/our mentoring. From the stage or the classroom, we are one of the organizations which does not point to people to make an assumption they are racist. And we are also not an organization which hides from the "elephant in the room" because we understand how universal themes can be used instructionally as well as in support of social justice. As was to be expected, the US Census is causing many of these issues to emerge in the fears of citizens afraid of losing control and losing a country to diversity. When these issues do come up, and they have and will, we should be able to provide resources for schools to consider such as: Glen Singleton, Gary Howard, Facing History and Ourselves, Undoing Racism Workshops, Southern Poverty Center and others. Certain all also recall the "blue eyes, brown eyes" experiment. (Go to the NUA website www.nuatc.org for a link to the video including a return to same 14 years later.)

Whether in front of the water cooler, at someone's desk, in hallways, board rooms, corridors, the street, at parties, or any social gathering. If one hears a racist, anti-Semitic, sexual preference, ethnic slur, or demeaning remark, we owe it to ourselves to question and guide the assumptions. I know I am speaking to the choir, I just hope we all can look inward from time to time to release those demons which society and individual experience has engendered. Know thyself, your brothers and sisters if you will. The process of cognitive dissonance only does one harm in the long run -- an insidious denial process which can wear down the soul of a human being, whether he or she knows it or not.

Mirror neurons when abused by stereotypes and prejudices can wreck habits of mind, such as in the process of "deindividuation," which means losing your sense of identity through becoming part of a group -- one which can lead to mob behavior as well. The other side of the same social coin is in finding your tribe, which can have transformative effects on your sense of identity and purpose. This is caused by 3 powerful dynamics: validation, inspiration, and what has been called the "alchemy of synergy." Sound familiar to those of us part of NUA?

All the best in our quest for human justice, and in memory of our mentor, Asa Hilliard, III., we are yours,

Eric

www.nuatc.org