Indivisible IL9 Antiracist Work Group (AWG) Sunday Nov 1 from 10-11am CT

Posted November 1, 2020

Please join us for our Antiracist Work Group (AWG) Sunday Nov 1 from 10-11am CT

The election is Tuesday and, if you’re getting this message, I know that is both weighing heavily on your mind and your time right now. If you cannot make it tomorrow, know that we will ALSO meet again next week on Nov 8 at the very same time (10am CT) at the very same link (https://bit.ly/IL9-weekly-mtg) and every Sunday morning thereafter. I do not know what this week holds for us, but I do know that we have more antiracist work to do. This work does not end on Nov 3.

Reading for Tomorrow

If you have the time and energy tomorrow morning, we will be meeting at our usual time. Last week, our Indivisible IL9 leader, Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth, suggested an article to me that she read and that has stuck with her, so let’s read this tonight (or perhaps you saw it linked in our newsletter?) and come prepared to discuss it tomorrow: How one teacher’s Black Lives Matter lesson divided a small Wisconsin town.

I know it’s not election related but all of these things are related, right?

Dial in link: https://bit.ly/IL9-weekly-mtg

Antiracist Actions to Take This Week

For the next 3 days, the most antiracist thing that we can do is help voters get to the polls. This year, we do that by phone banking. Here are some opportunities:

IndivisiBINGO phone banks

Here are the remaining BINGO (yes, bingo — it really does make everything better!) phone banks run by our very own AWG member, Nick Uniejewski. Sign up for a shift or two. If you are nervous to make calls, email me and I will join your call if I am available. Don’t be shy. Let’s Get Out the Vote! http://bit.ly/no-brakes

Phone banks for Spanish Speakers

Do you speak Spanish or know someone who does? Here are some opportunities for Spanish speakers (there are more out there. These are just a couple that I know of). Please forward these to your networks.

- Lauren Underwood (Sunday at noon or Tuesday at 2pm): https://www.mobilize.us/underwoodforcongress/event/305798/
- Joe Biden and Kamala Harris (multiple opportunities through Tuesday): https://www.mobilize.us/joebiden/event/323167/

Last Week’s Meeting

Last week, we had a lively discussion about hidden (and not so hidden!) racist words and phrases. I am ashamed to admit that I never gave much thought to the term “Master bedroom” and have since revised my usage to “Primary bedroom.” If you missed those resources in last week’s email, here they are again (Note: These lists are by no means exhaustive.)

I also fielded a question after our meeting from a white person about why this group is led by a white person (me). And this is what I said: It is up to the oppressors to change the system, not the oppressed. And, in that sentence, I recognize that I belong in the category of “the oppressors,” and, therefore, it is up to me (and those who look like me) to do the work to change the system. If you disagree, I welcome your discourse. Or hey — join us at a meeting on any Sunday. We have agreed to lean in to discomfort, so that’s a great place to have tough talks.

View our ongoing notes with resources here: https://bit.ly/AWG-notes

Tomorrow’s meeting will be facilitated by Cynthia W and me.

Hope to see you there,

– Kelly