When WMSURJ began to think about reparation work, we consulted with our colleagues at BLM413, Out Now, and Springfield No One Leaves, all of whom gave us significant wisdom and information. They urged us to educate our community about the concept of reparations and to encourage others to engage in a regular practice of paying reparations. Our chapter continued our self-education, reading and discussing The Case for Reparations by Ta Nehesi Coates and the platform of the Movement for Black Lives. As we deepened our understanding of reparations, we understood that asking white people to pay individual reparations is not the only goal in and of itself; we want to see large scale reparations from institutions, corporations, and the government. Encouraging white people to create a practice of paying reparations is one step toward getting to this goal. Paying individual reparations encourages white people to reckon with wealth inequality and systemic racism in a personal way. It is a step toward building the collective will towards reparations.
Lessons We Have Learned:
Class Transparency
When it comes to building a framework of paying reparations boldly, many middle and owning class people must unlearn a scarcity mindset around money. By speaking openly about our early conditioning about money, we can figure out how to grow beyond this and move into a mindset of abundance - enacting one of the SURJ values that “there is enough for all”. People with class privilege or access to wealth can learn from the leadership of poor and working class folks who often have more experience with relying on their communities for support. Finally, class transparency was necessary for building trust in our group so that we could work effectively together on this campaign.
Asking for money
Another upper and middle class norm is the taboo around asking for money. We learned in this campaign how to reframe the guilt that can come up when asking people to contribute money. Paying reparations gives people a chance to live out values of social justice and contribute to building a more racially just world. When asking friends, family, and community members for money, we can consider it an opportunity for them, rather than a burden.
Lessons We Have Learned:
Class Transparency
When it comes to building a framework of paying reparations boldly, many middle and owning class people must unlearn a scarcity mindset around money. By speaking openly about our early conditioning about money, we can figure out how to grow beyond this and move into a mindset of abundance - enacting one of the SURJ values that “there is enough for all”. People with class privilege or access to wealth can learn from the leadership of poor and working class folks who often have more experience with relying on their communities for support. Finally, class transparency was necessary for building trust in our group so that we could work effectively together on this campaign.
Asking for money
Another upper and middle class norm is the taboo around asking for money. We learned in this campaign how to reframe the guilt that can come up when asking people to contribute money. Paying reparations gives people a chance to live out values of social justice and contribute to building a more racially just world. When asking friends, family, and community members for money, we can consider it an opportunity for them, rather than a burden.
