To confront racism, we must look within, among, and beyond.

Our church-wide “Sacred Conversations” in 2014 indicated that racial justice is a top priority for Mayflower members. The Race Matters team focuses on the personal “within” work as it relates to issues of racial justice.

Statement of Purpose

We will create spaces where we can understand the spiritual and personal costs of racial injustice. We will increase Mayflower’s engagement with multi-cultural/multi-racial experiences in preparation for becoming a more diverse church community and a more effective ally in our racial justice work.

Racism in the Time of COVID-19

The Race Matters Team, along with Mayflower Church, stands with Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders during this time of COVID-19. Please be aware of how this pandemic has specifically affected certain communities. The inequities of our community are even more transparent during this crisis. Below are links to help you stay informed and provide support when fear and misinformation lead to racism.

• MPR: Asian Americans in Minnesota and across the country say they’ve been subject to rising levels of discrimination during the pandemic
• Read and show your support for the largest Asian Theater in Minnesota
• Asians Advancing Justice
• Forbes: How COVID-19 is uncovering Anti-Asian Racism
• Minnesota hotline to report bias tied to COVID-19: Call 833-454-0148 to report incidents of discrimination related to the COVID outbreak. People can also report bias tied to the pandemic using a form at the Department of Human Rights website.

Read

• Learning to Be White, Rev. Thandeka
• Between the World and Me, Ta-Nehisi Coates
• The New Jim Crow, Michelle Alexander
• “Parenting While White,” in Ecclesio blog, Jennifer Harvey
• White Privilege, a multi-media curriculum from the United Church of Christ

Listen

• Seeing White podcast
• In the Dark podcast
• 1619 podcast

Watch
Asian Americans (PBS)

Participate

• Hollaback and Asian Americans Advancing Justice are offering free online training entitled “Bystander Intervention to Stop Anti-Asian American and Xenophobic Harassment.” Learn more.
• 65 Things White People Can Do. Learn more.

Add
If you have something you would like to recommend, please email Lisa Cargill-Romsaas.

Join
If you have passion for this ministry please reach out to Kate Andrews van Horne.