035 Growing into Holistic Antiracism

State of Emergence

In this episode, we offer recent remarks Terry Patten gave on the topic of "holistic antiracism" to a mostly white community of caring spiritual practitioners. Afterward, several people mentioned that these reflections were useful and requested that Terry share them with others. So, we offer Terry's reflections in this week's episode. Below is a message from Terry about the episode:

"Like so many other caring white people, I’ve been engaged in deep self-examination, I’ve been coming to grips at a whole new level with the enormous suffering inflicted on millions of people over centuries by white supremacy and systemic racism. And I’ve been listening deeply to Black voices, and considering how to be a fuller and more effective ally of people of color.

On one level, I’ve been overjoyed that, finally, millions of white people are really getting that Black Lives Really Matter. There’s a sense of hope that things might really change now. I was raised in an interracial intentional community outside Chicago, and in some sense I’ve been hoping for this shift my whole life.

On the other hand, I want to participate in a genuine cultural transformation of racism, not to blame or shame it into hiding. Our social wounds require honest conversation and truly restorative justice. That begins with candor and courage.

I know I’m very much still in process, still educating myself, still learning, not perfected, not anywhere near the end of this journey yet. Because, like most of my white friends, I’m a little scared of critique, and I know this is a far-from-perfected communication.

But, after reflection, I decided my most caring and courageous way forward is to lay it on the line, in hopes that it will help others who are also on the path. We are all still educating ourselves, still growing. That’s a beginning."

For more information on Terry Patten and A New Republic of the Heart, check out the following resources:

• Our Social Experiment Community: https://newrepublicoftheheart.org/community-spring2020/
• A New Republic of the Heart website: http://newrepublicoftheheart.org/
• State of Emergence podcast website: http://stateofemergence.org/

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