Does this seem familiar to you?
Janelle, a Black woman, and Margo, her white friend, are having lunch one day, and get to discussing current events. Janelle says, "Maybe it's because I'm Black, but I see things like this ..." and gives her opinion. Margo, intending to show her friendship and to demonstrate a lack of any prejudice, responds: "I don't even think of you as Black." Janelle, offended, replies, "But I am Black. I actually want you to see me as I really am." Without intending to, Margo has communicated to Janelle two distressing things: first, that Black people in general are inferior, or undesirable, or Other; and second, that Janelle is invisible to Margo as a Black woman.
If you were a friend of Janelle and Margo, sitting at the lunch table with them, what would you do? The Beloved Community Team invites you to join us for our inaugural session of Pausing the Action, our series of workshops and discussions on creating a churchwide covenant for responding to subtle acts of exclusion (aka microaggressions) to create a more welcoming and inclusive environment for everyone. This discussion is based on a scenario described in Subtle Acts of Exclusion by Jana and Baran. We will meet after the Wednesday Night Dinner on May 14, in the Social Hall. We hope to see you there!
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