I give you Jane's words of introduction this morning, as the the untraining she has just been through is an important one for us all. You can check it out online at http://untraining.org/ if you are interested.
Hi Cathy,
Here is my poem from yesterday...which came after the Sunday Untraining. As you know, that's the workshop that Janet and her husband Robert do to unlearn the rules of white supremacy, which all of us in this culture are silently taught. My group from this workshop was incredibly in tune with themselves and fiercely devoted to this work...which allowed me to experience my learning and training deeply. I think the work Robert and Janet are doing is really powerful and would recommend it to anyone who is ready to look at the cost of white privilege...hard work...but worth it!
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Here is Jane's Poem.
White History
When I was three I stopped talking.
I grew a cage inside my mouth.
Remedy against the rules:
You should know. You should know better.
We don't talk of anything important.
We just keep score.
This is the story you will live. Forget the rest. Forget.
When I was five I saw a black girl just my age.
She was jumping rope in East St.Louis.
I was on a family trip, passing through.
It wasn't hate I felt, but envy.
Now it is five decades later.
Will I trade my tongue-tied privilege for her passion.
Will she trade her freedom for my franchise and leave the world silent.
Or will we grab each other other arm in arm, unite the human race.