RACIAL JUSTICE
|
The purpose of the ULC Racial Justice Team is to Educate the congregation to recognize racism and racial issues and to Equip, Lead and Support the congregation to be anti-racist agents with the people and institutions of our lives.
In October 2019, twenty ULC members participated in a 30-hour workshop called Embracing the Call to Racial Justice: A Workshop for White People, led by Melanie Morrison, PhD, founder and director of Allies for Change. The knowledge gained during this workshop led to the creation of the ULC Racial Justice Team. We invite you to watch this short YouTube video to learn more about our team. We invite the entire ULC community to join in this journey, and will be updating this page to bring you links to resources and learning opportunities. |
|
Our Racial Justice Team
Below are the current members of the team who will be providing materials and activities to support the above purpose.
|
Team Co-Leaders
Vicki Anderson Thom McCurdy Administrative Vicki Anderson, lead Erin Frisch Thom McCurdy |
Church Presence & Worship
Pastor Gary Bunge, lead Vicki Anderson Communication & Information Technology Pastor Haley Vay Beaman, co-lead David Wiggert, co-lead Amy Wagenknecht Vicki Anderson |
Education
Sue Kamens, lead Olga Holden Thom McCurdy Cindy Ramsey Connie Lenkowski Jack Guevara Advocacy & Outreach Thom McCurdy, lead Miriam Bunge Michael Anderson Jack Guevara |
Speaking of Racial Justice |
Listening to Racial Justice |
|
|
|
|
Remember the Children
If you were to walk into the ULC sanctuary on Sunday, Oct. 10, you might ask, “Why is there an orange banner hanging at the front of the church?” We hang this orange banner in solidarity with Indigenous people throughout North America and in remembrance and lament of Native children that never made it out of residential schools.
In a letter to ELCA from The American Indian Alaska Native Lutheran Association (ELCA), we learn that the color orange is symbolic and was inspired by a survivor of that era, Phyllis Webstad. Ms. Webstad explained that when she was a 6-year-old girl arriving at a residential boarding school, she was stripped of her clothes, including a new orange t-shirt her grandmother had gifted her which was never returned. The orange shirt/color now symbolizes how the church, and the schools they administered, took away the Indigenous identity of the children in their care.” View the entire letter here.
In a letter to ELCA from The American Indian Alaska Native Lutheran Association (ELCA), we learn that the color orange is symbolic and was inspired by a survivor of that era, Phyllis Webstad. Ms. Webstad explained that when she was a 6-year-old girl arriving at a residential boarding school, she was stripped of her clothes, including a new orange t-shirt her grandmother had gifted her which was never returned. The orange shirt/color now symbolizes how the church, and the schools they administered, took away the Indigenous identity of the children in their care.” View the entire letter here.
U.S. Catholic and Protestant denominations operated more than 150 boarding schools between the 19th and 20th centuries. Native American and Alaskan Native children were regularly severed from their tribal families, customs, language and religion and brought to the schools in a push to assimilate and Christianize them.
Three of those schools were in Michigan. The only boarding school still standing in Michigan is the Indian Industrial Boarding School in Mt. Pleasant. Roughly 300 students attended every year. Two others — the Holy Name of Jesus Indian Mission in the Upper Peninsula and Holy Childhood in Harbor Springs — have been torn down. The boarding school in Harbor Springs didn’t close until 1986.
Three of those schools were in Michigan. The only boarding school still standing in Michigan is the Indian Industrial Boarding School in Mt. Pleasant. Roughly 300 students attended every year. Two others — the Holy Name of Jesus Indian Mission in the Upper Peninsula and Holy Childhood in Harbor Springs — have been torn down. The boarding school in Harbor Springs didn’t close until 1986.
Learn more about the Indian Boarding School era; its continuing impacts;
and the church’s role.
Remembering the Children - Letter from American Indian Alaska Native Lutheran Association
US Churches Reckon with Traumatic Legacy of Native Schools
US Indian Boarding School History
American Indian Boarding Schools
Children Did Die Here Michigan's Indigenous Boarding Schools
The legacy of Michigan’s Native boarding schools—and how tribes are reclaiming what was lost
Indian Boarding School Investigation Faces Hurdles Missing Records Legal Questions
US Churches Reckon with Traumatic Legacy of Native Schools
US Indian Boarding School History
American Indian Boarding Schools
Children Did Die Here Michigan's Indigenous Boarding Schools
The legacy of Michigan’s Native boarding schools—and how tribes are reclaiming what was lost
Indian Boarding School Investigation Faces Hurdles Missing Records Legal Questions
Recommended Reading/Viewing
Redlined: A Legacy of Housing DiscriminationThis video explains in less than 15 minutes the legislative actions that led to the practice of redlining and the horrific impact it had on the financial stability it had on Blacks and people of color.
Holy Post – Race in America (Part I)We recommend watching this video in its entirety as it discusses not only redlining but establishes the link between financial stability, crime, discriminatory drug laws and prison sentencing, and bias in policing.
The Sharon Bandlow Multicultural and Racial Justice CollectionFollow link to find a complete list of racial justice materials in the ULC Library.
Understanding My Privilege:
|
Explanation of the Declaration of the ELCA to People of African Descent
At the ELCA Churchwide Assembly in 2019, Rev. Elizabeth Eaton, ELCA Presiding Bishop and the ELCA Church Council formally delivered the introduction to, and a copy of, Explanation of the Declaration of the ELCA to People of African Descent. This document was accepted by Rev. Lamont Wells, President of the African Descent Lutheran Association. Watch video of the event.
ZoomForum (January 17, 2021)
Judith Roberts, Program Director of ELCA Racial Justice Ministries, shares a presentation followed by Q and A on the Explanation of the Declaration of the ELCA to People of African Descent. Watch below.
|
Book Discussions and Podcasts
Podcast: The 1619 Project
"1619” is a New York Times audio series, hosted by Nikole Hannah-Jones, that examines the long shadow of American slavery. Listen to this podcast series.
|
Racial Justice Book Discussion With Folks from our North/West Lower Michigan SynodThe next North/West Lower Michigan Synod Racial Justice Book Discussion, led by Rev. Rosanne Anderson, Assistant to the Bishop, will continue at a date to be determined. This discussion of books on Racial Justice, with folks from various places in MI, is a great opportunity for us!
|
Materials for Use with Children
Reading |
ListeningNPR Life Kit, “Talking Race with Young Children”
20 Minute Listen NPR Life Kit, “'Raising White Kids' Author on How White Parents Can Talk About Race” 7 minute Listen NPR Life Kit, “Why All Parents Should Talk with Their Kids About Social Identity” 3 Minute Listen |
