I consider myself an educator. At Tamarack Farm (TF) I’m able to engage young people in dialogues about “real world issues”. As one farmer explained it last summer: “We talk about real world issues that help deepen understanding and views of society and learn to work together to resolve group and community problems and master inclusivity”. Those who sign up for a summer at TF know it will not be seven weeks of ease and comfort. We ask our teens to work every morning, live in three-sided cabins, and go to the bathroom outside. We believe that growth happens in the area that borders comfort and discomfort. Beyond the physical discomforts, we ask or farmers to live in close proximity with people from different places and with very different life experiences. We work hard to create an environment that values difference and leaves space to hear others’ stories.
In addition to fostering growth through these relationships, our community comes together at least once a week to wrestle with some tough questions about issues of justice. We spend time discussing class, gender, sexuality, and race. During the past two summers, we’ve carved out time each week to discuss race and racism specifically. Instead of just having an evening to talk about “diversity” or “multiculturalism”, we ask our youth to think about some difficult questions about race. For some of young people at Tamarack Farm, these conversations are little uncomfortable; maybe they would have an easier time talking about sexism or herterosexism, but I believe this discomfort is where growth happens.
Many of our young people don’t have spaces where they can talk about racism candidly. For some of our Farmers, they can live their lives without having to think about race. If we ask our youth to articulate what racism looks like in their school (at least white youth) struggle to find the words. I believe that this is one of the foundational building blocks of racism in the 21st century: we lack the language/ ability to even talk about it. Instead of talking about race we use coded words like: “inner city”, “crime”, “underprivileged”. Many of the white youth I encounter have been taught not to notice race and not to talk about it. Young children do notice race (many studies have shown this: Children are Not Colorblind: How Children Learn Race outlines this research well), but often when they are making innocent remarks about the color of another person’s skin they are told, “it’s not nice to talk about that.” Our young people are left thinking they shouldn’t notice difference, and they definitely shouldn’t bring it up in conversations.
Certainly racial justice in the U.S. is far from being a reality. There’s a lot of work that needs to be done, and this is the education I’m super excited about doing with youth! At Tamarack Farm, we spend time hearing stories from lives affected by racism (our staff volunteer their stories), we struggle with the question, “How does racism work in 2014?”, and then discuss actions we can take to move towards justice.
I’ve been inspired to hear the voices of our youth at Tamarack Farm. There’s a lot of change that needs to happen in our country and spending time with our 15-17 year olds makes me believe that it can happen. I think it’s worth sharing their words in their entirety as 2015 begins and inspiration is needed.
TF on Racial Justice 2014
On our last (of four) evening discussions on race this summer, we asked our campers to reflect. We gave them sheets of paper that said, “what change still needs to happen for racial justice” and, “To bring racial justice, I am committed to…” (each bullet below represents one camper’s paper). Keep in mind as you’re reading that this is un-edited and reflects campers on all learning levels. There were no names and no grades associated with this activity. Our campers could write whatever they wanted to and this is what they chose to share with us:
What change still needs to happen for racial justice?
- a collective vision of what a racially just world looks like
- white folks learning about their privilege and what they can do to break down systems of privilege
- institutional reform that would level the playing field
- EVERYTHING… So many of our institutions are not set up against people of color (criminal justice system, education, food industry, clothing/toys, so much)! It is horrid and gross…I literally use slave labor for my clothes/ technology, everything is really {messed up} and it sucks, but conversations like ones at F&W help me combat the racism that I learned from media society.
- Media portrayal of non-white people. The distribution of resources based on race. The segregation between white people and non-white people. The people being socially fated their racial identity/ skin color. Having a white standard of beauty: white=good & black=bad.
- Erase the use of “us” and “they”: it is a form of subconscious segregation and categorization. Give people the opportunity to discuss their identity (racially): what does it mean to be white? Why do I have to choose?
- Internal racism has to end. The only way racism can entirely be eradicated is for everyone to think of people as equal.
- Socioeconomic equality, equal opportunity, end exploitation of disempowered people.
- Equality of races within all aspects of life (education, housing work, etc.). However, there will always be something that needs to change.
- A change that still needs to happen for racial justice is that people should learn how to be more open-minded. With that open-mindedness and individual can see past the cloud of hate and judgment and see the truth in what really matters which is not skin color but an individual’s personality and ways of life (doing it without judging).
- Educate children the right way, economic equality, exchanging experiences, eliminating the media monopoly, effective judicial systems.
- Greater economic equality, equality of opportunity. people of all races learning about the experiences of other races. Redistricting public schools and greater opportunity for mixing races. Effective courts/ judicial system. Learning about what race is. Breaking the monopoly on the media.
- We need to listen to others, make fewer assumptions about people’s identities and life experiences and call out racism/ xenophobia when we see it. Oh yeah, and make the education, jail, immigration systems more about justice and equality and less about historicized power structures.
- For the idea of race to be ridden of, we are all humans, the same humans. The media needs to be changed so that it doesn’t involve racism. People need to be more aware of the inequality some ahead of time.
- I think we need to go more in depth and get more personal.
- People shouldn’t be categorized as “black” and “white” we are far more diverse than that.
- We need to see people as individuals first, and make positive assumptions of others without regard for race. Our community and wider communities need to bring people together to talk and listen to one another’s experience, and find ways to address inequities that come from member’s experiences.
- Labor industry, mediaàinternal racism, awarenessànot everyone experiences or knows what race is.
- Education for both young children and adults needs to stop ignoring racism, and stop perpetuating it. This can look like: a classroom, a youtube video, a friendly conversation, a parent-child talk, a book, adult & youth media, a summer camp J.
- I think white people really need to acknowledge our race, that racism exists, that we inevitably contribute to it, and that it is therefore up to us to work to abolish it. It will be a long process.
- White culture needs to understand that other cultures exist, and in our physical and emotional space white culture is the norm. This will take actively being aware to differences between cultures. Accepting those differences and learning to love them. White people need to believe in equality for all/ how it benefits them in order for this to happen.
- Stopping the slave action.
- Change is an ever-evolving idea. One that needs to be heard in socioeconomic stereotypes.
- Change is forever gonna happen. People need to stand out.
- “Equality” diminishment of pre-determined racism by the media & people of power.
- Building more friendships across races.
- I think education equality is a big thing.
- More integrated schools.
- People need to think about and be introduced to racial justice earlier as well as think about the fact that like it or not we may very likely have a common ancestor who was “of color”.
- Income gap. Education. Media portrayal of people of color.
- Racial barriers and racial stereotypes. They need to come to a complete stop. I think the media needs to be completely reprogrammed cuz they are the major cause,…and the government.
- Ingrained stereotypes.
- Change social norms and the way we perceive others.
- The ratio between stereotypes of people of color to white people needs to be changed. Example: one stereotype is angry black people, but for each angry black person how many angry white people are there (I think it’s close).
- We eventually need to reach a point as a world where we identify and eradicate the concept of race and preplace it with a new concept celebrating different ancestries and cultures. This may never happen, but I’ll be damned if I don’t try my hardest.
- Internalized racism needs to be acknowledged and combatted. The government needs to take radical actions to create racial equality.
- Acknowledgement by everyone to check their internal racism. Global Racial justice (get on board UN).
- More open and honest discussion of race and the issues that surround it. ACTION going further than color blindness as a solution.
- Stop privitization of the prison system
- A more fair criminal justice system (not based on assumptions of prejudice).
- Everyone needs to realize the problem before we can solve it. EDUCATE others.
- Change the media!!!
- Stereotypes
- Listen to needs of others, don’t ignore the problems.
- No division in schools vs. money. Money/ economical. Schools more mixed. Neighborhoods less divided. Criminal justice. Jobs.
- People need to hold themselves and others accountable for racial injustices.
- EVERYTHING!!
- Colorblindness is not a single, simple, solution to racial injustice.
- Keep walking, taking the time it will take, away from all the stereotypes and unconscious racism. Pulling the bad roots of life collective conscience.
To Bring Racial Justice I’m committed to…
- Trying to avoid making assumptions about strangers as well as people I know
- Calling out racial injustice—and then helping educate about what racial justice is. Continuing to self-analyzed and purge the internalized racism I was taught.
- Reaching out to people of color I know and starting a dialogue. It’s much better to reach consensus on change than make decisions or act without the desire or approval of those you’re affecting.
- Learn as much as I can.
- Keep the convo going 24/7. Racism is so present people need to be aware.
- Speaking up when I see or experience intolerance and racist remarks and actions. Also creating positive opportunities for myself and others to connect in new ways, not based on my comfort zone, but on learning more about other perspectives. And checking in with myself on my own prejudices, to be able to adjust as needed.
- Call out microagressions among my friends and family. Try to question my own assumptions.
- Opening up about internal thoughts and prejudices that I have been instilled with.
- Except the fact I have white privilege and use that power to bring down all the racist bastards.
- Not accidentally being racist.
- Check myself.
- Analyzing my own internalized racism
- Calling people out.
- Informing others about it, being more aware, and stopping others (and myself) from making assumptions based on race.
- Not being racist.
- Speak out about racial things.
- I am committed to break down social barriers and social stereotypes.
- Learning more about race. Becoming comfortable about taking about race. Understanding why I might have internalized racism.
- Putting POC in leadership positions in social change movements and white people stepping back to provide a more supportive role. Bringing racial justice education into our public school system.
- To bring racial justice I’m committed to teach people the meaning of what is important in life. For example, as individuals was and ideas (without judging).
- Improving my own vision of race.
- Overcoming my own internalized racism as well as education others about race.
- Do what I do.
- Listening
- Listening (actively) more to people who are different than I am. Being more patient with other people’s questions and journeys into becoming more committed to social justice work being able to change their questions into productive learning
- Working with groups promoting economic equality. Listening to the stories of all people. Noticing when I am being “racist”. Calling out others.
- Whenever people around me show any sign of (unconscious or denied) racism, show it to them. Also work on myself to not fall into these stereotypes
- To understand and combat internalized racism that I have grown up with and accept as truth
- Treating everybody according to the content of their character.
- Being a leader. Teaching others what race means, being “white” means. Not separate people on race.
- Making more people admit that it is still an issue. Discussion of race at school, at home, and in other communities. I am a part of personally making an effort to combat my own internalized racism.
- Being aware of the impact I can have on society based on my race and try to use it to my advantage and make change.
- Calling racism and racial generalizations out when I hear/ see them.
- Being honest with myself when I am being racist.
- Figuring out my own ideas about race and understanding how I feel about race.
- Calling people out when I think they are being racist. Examining my own thoughts about race. Education myself about systematic oppression of non-white people. Figuring out / acting on ways to stop systematic oppression.
- Make myself more aware on subjects I wouldn’t learn about otherwise. Whenever possible not make generalizations.
- Noticing the things I’m not supposed to notice. Being uncomfortable.
- Becoming more aware of my privilege.
- Stop my internalized racism and try to accept those for who they are.
- Active advocacy through constructive call-outs
- Work with people of all races and ethnicities. Listen to all sides of a story. Be aware of my potential racism.
- I will treat equally, be respectful to my peers.
- Educating fellow white people about our privilege and about race and racism, and educating myself further and forever being critical and self-critical.
- Calling out microaggressions and trying my best not to judge/ assume things about other based on their race.
- Changing the media’s perspective on all races
- Understanding difference. Spreading love and kindness. Being courageous and speaking out against inequality/ any situation/ language that dehumanizes people. Radically respecting and equally loving all the people of this planet and I guess other planets too.