[Engaged] My Experience at Village Zendo Workshop on Race

[Onka]

Thanks for sharing Onkai. I wish I'd been able to attend.Takes me back to when I got into uni in my mid 30's. I chose as many indigenous studies subjects as I could do as part of my degree. We were incredibly fortunate to have had so many lecturers who had found infamy (if they were white it would be fame) as prominent Aboriginal resistance organisers. They gave zero hoots about white sensibilities or sensitivities and had many students storm out of their lectures after having their white privilege presented to them like a Lennox Lewis jab. I loved every minute.
Gassho
Onka
Sat today
*apologies for the extra and probably unnecessary words. I always endeavour to do and be better.

[Naiko]

Thank you for sharing, Onkai. Whenever I see someone say they are colorblind (usually I see this online), I wonder if they truly feel that way or if it has become a right wing talking point. While it feels like colorblindness should be a good thing, I think it’s only currently possible to see the world that way from the privileged place of not having to think about race. It’s tremendously helpful to relate it to the relative and absolute. Thank you.
Gassho,
KristaB
st

[Onkai]

Today I attended the final session of the White Work on Racism. There was a chart showing aspects of "white culture" and how those are expressed. "White culture" is the dominant culture. Then were asked what we like about being "white" and how we feel when thinking about it. We wrote that down and were assigned to small groups. We discussed those questions and also probed when our families became "American" and when our families became "White" and if there was a difference. We talked about our ethnic identities and what we like about them. I think it was the most intense of all the sessions. I felt awkward when I was sharing in the small group, and unprepared to add to the larger discussion when those groups were dissolved.

One thing I noted was that at the end, when the four vows were chanted, several people did the sign language translation. I thought that was beautiful, although I don't know sign language myself.

Gassho,
Onkai
Sat/lah

[Onka]

Thank you Onkai. I would loved to have done this course. In regards to this work I can only draw on my university studies (community studies, counselling, indigenous studies, education and social work) from years ago when Jane Elliott's work was still quite confronting for folk two generations removed from when she started *groan*.
Gassho
Onka
ST

[Tairin]

Onkai’s comment about signing the Four Vows intrigued me (as a side note I am learning ASL but no where close to proficient).

I found this in case anyone is curious

Tairin
Sat today and lah

[Naiko]

Thank you, Onkai, for sharing your experiences and for doing that work. Thank you Tairin for sharing that beautiful version of the Four Vows.
Gassho,
Krista
st

[Onkai]

I see that the White Work On Racism is continuing. I don't plan to go to the next one (this Saturday), but it's open to anyone interested. They only ask for a ten dollar donation and an RSVP to the facilitator. Details are at http://villagezendo.org

Gassho,
Onkai
Sat/lah