Social justice is deeply integrated into my faith development. Yet this is often a struggle for me. I often find justice work in Unitarian Universalism to be grounded in the idea that we are a white denomination. But that does not acknowledge the people of color who are in our midst. People of color who are integral parts of our faith, dedicated members and leaders who are shaping our future. People of color who may be directly affected by the issues we are fighting against. So I think we need to change our language to say that we are a majority white denomination.
We cannot do social justice from only a white cultural perspective. This notion denies the very diversity that we are trying to nurture in our faith. We are not acknowledging the diverse experience and connections from within our faith community. And we are leaving people excluded, ignored, and uncared for in the midst of this work. This is a question of ministry for me. How are we dealing pastorally to those people of color for whom Eric Garner and Michael Brown were not people to empathize with, but reminders of siblings, children, cousins or self? How do we minister to those for whom immigration reform affects family, not images on TV? As a faith, we need to develop our justice work so that it is inclusive, not exclusive. Justice work that recognizes that the people we are fighting for are part of us.
And we can do this. When we operate from a majority white standpoint instead of an only white standpoint, there is room for people like me in this work. I have found ways to make my voice heard, to claim a role in justice work. But I worry for those who do not have the support, and the accountable connections to find their place in UU justice work. I still have moments where I feel I need to choose whether I am serving as a person of color, or as a Unitarian Universalist. They should not be mutually exclusive.
And it does not have to be. I think there is room for me to live out my UU faith as a person of color. But it does require a change in how we think of ourselves. Simply changing our frame of reference to a majority white denomination, will be good start. Or majority white, middle class denomination, to acknowledge our class diversity as well. We can do this. And we must do this if we are to live into the diverse beloved community that we talk so much about.
