Racial Justice
Our community is home to people of diverse ethnic and cultural heritages, religious beliefs, races, physical abilities, languages, ages and sexual orientations. YWCA Salem partners with other agencies to help create a community focused on living in peace and unity. We do this through various community events and trainings.
Racism Hurts Everyone : Take a Stand Against Racism
Join YWCA Salem on Friday, May 17 and help take a Stand Against Racism
Participation is free and open to everyone, but space is limited. Reserve your seat by calling (503) 581-9922.
Schedule of Events for Friday, May 17, 2013
All events are open to the public and will be held at YWCA Salem, 1255 Broadway, Salem, Ore.
10:00 am—2:00 pm A Silent Conversation.
Share your thoughts by writing (or drawing) on poster paper in YWCA’s Racial Justice Center. Pages will be labeled with surprising statistics on discriminations in Oregon. Written reactions and comments will be addressed in the conversations that follow.
Cannot attend the “Silent Conversation” but want to participate? Download and fill out this image with your thoughts, experiences, and declarations and send it back to the YWCA to be included in our window display. Your participation is appreciated!
10:00 am Why Aren’t There More Black People in Oregon? A Hidden History
Walidah Imarisha is teacher in Portland State University’s Black studies department and has created diverse topics ranging from the history of the Black Panther Party, race and the history of prisons, Hurricane Katrina and hip hop as literature. This founding editor of AWOL; national and international tour as a partner in the poetry duo Good Sista/Bad Sista; and Codirector in the documentary Finding Common Ground in New Orleans will lead an exploration in determining why the black population in Oregon is so small. Through an interactive timeline of Black History in Oregon, participants will discover how history, politics and culture have shaped—and will continue to shape—the landscape for Black Oregonians.
11:30 am Interactive Forum on Racism in Salem
Dau Tucker, Salem Health Human Resource Manager, will tell her story about more than 30 incidents of racism she has endured in her two years as a Salem resident. Tucker recently testified before the Judiciary Committee to strengthen House Bill 3480 to protect victims of biased crimes and sat on the panel for the Human Rights Commission on May 11th. Following are interactive exercises to understand “micro-assaults,” and the dynamics of dominant and subordinate identities. Lunch will be provided on a first come-first served basis, supported in part by the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce.
2:00 pm White Out? The Future of Racial Diversity in Oregon
Emily M. Drew, PhD., associate professor of ethnic studies at Willamette University and author to several articles in Critical Studies in media Communication, Television & New Media, and Tourism & Cultural Change, will lead participants in a conversation about the challenges to creating racially diverse, inclusive communities, despite the accomplishments since the civil rights era. Participants will what racial integration of place requires of us, and how might we prepare to meet the opportunity.
5 simple ideas to eliminate racism
1) Don’t Laugh at Racist, Sexist, Ageist, Homophobic or Other Stereotypical Jokes or Assumptions
By laughing, you are acknowledging the joke is appropriate and encouraging more inappropriate comments. You can interrupt without being rude. Don’t let your silence speak for you. Simply say “I don’t find that funny.” or “I don’t appreciate jokes like that.”
2) Make an Effort to Get to Know People Different Than You
Look for things in common with other people and celebrate the differences. We can learn from and appreciate something about everyone.
3) Learn About Other People and Their Culture
By learning about other people, your life will be greatly enriched and your appreciation for your own culture will deepen.
4) Think Before You Speak
Words can hurt, whether you mean them or not. When describing a person, think if mentioning their race is important to the story. Do you refer to everyone from South or Central America as Mexican? If you don’t know someone’s country of origin, don’t assume. Some people prefer Black, while others like African American. Some prefer Latino/a, others like Hispanic. If you’re unsure which to use, ask. It’s important to use the correct language.
5) Be a Role Model
Be vocal in opposing discriminatory views and practices, especially with friends and family who respect your opinion. Don’t criticize, but help educate others about issues and about your owe experience.
Birmingham Pledge
I believe that every person has worth as an individual.
I believe that every person is entitled to dignity and respect, regardless of race or color.
I believe that every thought and every act of racial prejudice is harmful; if it is my thought or act, then it is harmful to me as well as to others.
Therefore, from this date forward I will strive daily to eliminate racial prejudice from my thoughts and actions.
I will discourage racial prejudice by others at every opportunity.
I will treat all people with dignity and respect; and I will strive daily to honor this pledge, knowing that the world will be a better place because of my effort.
Inequality Quiz
- For every dollar a man makes, a woman makes:
a) $1 b) 83 cents c) 76 cents d) 42 cents - 10% of whites have no health care. What percentage of African-Americans live with no health care?
a) 10% b) 19% c) 28% d) 34% - A woman is beaten in the United States every:
a) 2 hours b) 53 minutes c) 7 minutes d) 9 seconds - In Fortune 500 companies, women make up what percentage of the CEOs?
a) 21.8% b) 9.3% c) 1.2% d) 0.0% - What percentage of single mothers in the United States live in poverty?
a) 6% b) 32% c) 14% d) 20% - On average, the number of women killed every week by their husbands or boyfriends is:
a) 21 b) 17 c) 9 d) 5 - For every dollar a white person makes, an African-American makes:
a) $1 b) 89 cents c) 75 cents d) 66 cents - In reported rapes, what is the chance the rapist will go to prison?
a) 86.1% b) 44.4% c) 16.3% d) 3.9% - African-Americans make up 12.3% of America’s population. How much of the Death Row population do they make up?
a) 12.3% b) 20.8% c) 33.3% d) 42.8%
Quiz Answers
- For every dollar a man makes, a woman makes: 76 cents. Women, on average, are shorted 24 cents for doing the same job as their male counterparts.
- 10% of whites have no health care. What percentage of African-Americans live with no health care? 19%. In terms of percentages, nearly twice as many African-Americans live without health care as Caucasians.
- A woman is beaten in the United States every: 9 seconds. That’s 9,600 cases of domestic abuse every day.
- In Fortune 500 companies, women make up what percentage of the CEOs? 1.2%. Out of the top 500 companies in America, only six are run by women.
- What percentage of single mothers in the United States live in poverty? 32%. It could be worse. But that doesn’t make it any better.
- On average, the number of women killed every week by their husbands or boyfriends is: 21. We live in a country where nearly 11,500 women die at the hands of their significant others every year.
- For every dollar a white person makes, an African-American makes: 66 cents. The U.S. Constitution originally counted African-American slaves as three-fifths — or 60% — of a white person. Apparently, they’re now worth 66%.
- In reported rapes, what is the chance the rapist will go to prison? 16.3%. Now, do you believe all of the other 83.7% are not guilty?
- African-Americans make up 12.3% of America’s population. How much of the Death Row population do they make up? 42.8%.