Real Talk Episode 3: M and Vicki on Whiteness
Introduction
Rev. Vicki Woods and Rev. M Barclay share an authentic conversation about whiteness, gender, sexuality, spirituality, and betrayal. Their experiences of committing to racial justice with an intersectional lens emphasize starting points of trans community and lesbian identities and justice demands. They call white folx to decenter and critique whiteness, actively refuse to pretend that white power and privilege do not exist, and exemplify how this undertaking must infuse Christian theology, spirituality, and lived practices.
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Questions:
Rev. Vicki Woods recognizes racism as being defined by how much policy-making power white people exercise. She came to realize how her focus on seeking justice for lesbians in the face of church policies of exclusion and inequality falsely seemed to involve making a choice between these justice issues. Can you identify the times when you have also found yourself “not being able to do that intersectionality” related to confronting the dominance of white power and the demeaning of lesbian worth and equality? When? Describe your own initial response and what you would do or say now? Name two of the costs of being “pitted against each other” (as Rev. Barclay did in the video)?
Rev. M Barclay challenges with their example of “trans 101” trainings where allies must do more than show up to learn “about trans people” or “about queer people” but instead interrogate their everyday experiences of gender normativity and embrace the dismantling of systems that are cheating all of us. What do you think Rev. Barclay means when they then assert “the same thing matters in these conversations around racial justice”? Give three examples of the experiences of gender and racial normativity where “the same things matter” that (1) you, (2) your group, and (3) broader community need to give attention? Right now, in our current political reality, describe how the gender understandings and racial understandings of what is culturally “normal” can systemically maintain white racist dominance and cisgender dominance? How do they intersect? For any whites in your group, based on this intersectional approach you have been practicing, what’s one tangible antiracism action you will take this week?
Vicki Woods and M Barclay share an authentic conversation about whiteness, gender, sexuality, betrayal and their experiences moving into racial justice with an intersectional lens. They call white folx to decenter themselves and remind them that we cannot pretend that power and privilege doesn’t exist.
Where have you noticed different groups being pitted against each other? How did it feel and did you do anything about it? If you didn’t do anything, take a minute to sit with that feeling. What would you do or say now while witnessing this either or?
Recently, a group of white supremacists staged a coup at the US Capitol baring Christian symbols along with their confederate flags. As we hold this blatant act of racism, how can those of us who are white go beyond reading a book and take tangible antiracism action this week?
Resources
Transgender justice:
Learn more from M on transgender inclusion and in/justice in the church
OtherWise Christian, centering trans faith related topics, including pronouns, the Bible, mutual aid, and anti-racism
The Black Trans Prayer Book, “a healing resource for Black trans & non-binary people” (Instagram: @theblacktransprayerbook and #TransphobiaIsASin)
Read about how “Transphobia is a White Supremacist Legacy of Colonialism”
Dr. Wil Gafney, “Biblical Language for a God Who Transcends Gender”
Resources on the pioneering trans-theology of Virginia Ramey Mollenkott, including her book Omnigender: A Trans-Religious Approach and her collection of writings
Intersectionality:
Learn about how identity is not singular but shaped by intersecting social-political positions and experiences, starting with Kimberlé Crenshaw, who popularized the term intersectionality and now has a podcast analyzing current events and issues through an intersectional framework
#RaceAnd, a video project “exploring the many ways that race compounds and intersects with all the other issues faced by people of color”
Black Trans* Lives Matter, a TED Talk from D-L Stewart who asks: “What would my life and the world look like if Black Trans* Lives mattered? Race, gender, social class, and disability all intersect to shape Black Trans* lives. How would social institutions, such as education, law, healthcare, religion, and family be different?”
Read about common myths that reinforce transmisogyny and how they can be debunked from Julia Serano
enfleshed, offering “spiritual nourishment for collective liberation” through intersectional lenses (M is the director of enfleshed)
Anti-racism and the responsibility of white people to become anti-racist:
Jennifer Harvey emphasizes the need for multigenerational, multiracial work on anti-racism, specifically addressing Christians (in Dear White Christians) and parents (in Raising White Kids)
Bettina Love discusses education and the work of being a co-conspirator
Deconstruct the notion of being a “race traitor” with anti-white supremacy and anti-patriarchy activist Mab Segrest
Learn with Paul Kivel about how racism harms white people
