Photo by Raffaele Nicolussi on Unsplash
by Melanie Horowitz-Coyne
Course: Anti-Black Racism in the U.S. and Building a Unified Society (Spring 2024)
Faculty Mentor: Jeanais Brodie
In reflecting on the content of this course (Anti-Black Racism in the U.S. and Building a Unified Society), I think that I have encountered much of the information from prior searches for understanding. Some of the details were new to me, and learning about the relationship Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., had with the leaders of the Black Power movement was insightful. It reminded me of the influence that a relationship based on faith can have in opening doors to common ground.
Although I did not journal consistently as I had planned, this class has resulted in the integration of a growing new consistency of awareness related to race relations. It can be likened to growing new antennae that are picking up signals of an ongoing injustice that has deep roots in this country’s history.
I am more conscious of the unique lives of each of my friends who are living as African Americans or mixed-race individuals in this country. I am reminded of a friend who shared with me that the first time in her life when she felt free of her identity as a “black” woman was when she was in Kenya. There, she was an “American” woman.
I have been known to be a careful listener but I believe I am improving my listening skills. I still have to restrain my learned behavior of “raising my hand” or contributing to a discourse early in a conversation and instead wait, listen, and ask thoughtful and genuine questions. Practicing this skill is a treasure, and I value the insights that I have gained from a learning posture.
Strangely, what I feel right now is a strengthened confidence in the hope that, as flawed as we are, we can and will continue to move toward justice. I am comforted knowing that this course has continued to provide insight and hope to group after group, and trusting in the ripples that spread from that knowledge and desire to do better as we know better.
Now that the course has ended, the main way that I can apply what I’ve learned is to stay in conversation with the other Assembly members who have taken the class. With them, I will seek and create opportunities to diversify and grow our contacts and relationships with people around us. For example, we recently participated in a multi-faith community service activity at the local food bank. Each member of our small Bahá’í community sat at a different table and talked to people from different backgrounds who shared the goal of expanding our circles of contact and knowledge to build a healthier community.
