The discussions on racism at our church kicked off on Juneteenth (June 19th), the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. After two general discussions, we continued with more formal classes that lasted throughout the remainder of the year, with the goal of learning more about white privilege and the history and pervasiveness of racism in our society. Then in January, we began classes to reflect a new focus on dismantling structural racism.

Below you can see our past classes and click on the title to see our class handouts. the handouts have numerous resources on each topic—including videos, YouTube presentations, TED Talks, books, articles, and more.

We are continuing our efforts to dismantle structural racism, and you can stay informed about future classes and activities by having your name added to our Dismantling Racism email list or our eNews list. To be put on either or both email lists, contact our Church Office.

Past White Privilege and Racism Classes

• July 3, 2020—Race: The Difference Between Us. Examination of the biology behind racial classifications.
• July 10, 2020—Race: The Story We Tell. A look at the roots of the development of the concept of race and the justification of inequalities.
• July 17—Race: The House We Live In. Exploration of how the concept of race affects politics, economics, and culture.
• July 24, 2020—Race, Trauma and the Doctrine of Discovery. Talk by Mark Charles,  the son of an American woman of Dutch heritage and Navajo man and a Christian pastor, an activist, and public speaker.
• July 31, 2020—Native Americans Today. Special presentation by Ricardo Cate, who has been drawing the daily cartoon “Without Reservations” for the Santa Fe New Mexican since 2006.
• August 7, 2020—Anti-Latinx Discrimination: Foreigners in Their Own Land. A look at the history of Latinx populations in America and the development of anti-Latinx discrimination.
• August 14, 2020—Causes of Immigration on US Southern Border.Attempt to better understand the circumstances, lives, and motivations of those who seek to immigrate to America from central America.
• August 21, 2020—Defending Immigrant Rights.  Guest speaker, Marcela Diaz, Executive Director of Somos Un Pueblo Unido.
• August 28, 2020—Suppression of Voter Rights. Examination of the long history of voter suppression and disenfranchisement, starting with the Constitution and continuing today.
• September 4—White Privilege. Special guest Aja Riggs helps us to deepen our understanding of white privilege and sharpen our ability to identify how racism and white privilege impact all aspects of our society, as well as ourselves as individuals.
• September 11—Unconscious Racial Bias. Special guest Aja Riggs leads us ts to  understand the role of unconscious bias and stereotypes in ourselves and our society.
• September 18—White Fragility and Resilience. Special guest Aja Riggs leads usin better understand the meaning of the term white fragility, explore how it operates, and what anti-racist white resilience looks like.
• September 25—The Roots of Voter Suppression and Advances in Voter Turnout. Hal Malchow, one of America’s leading political consultants.
• October 2—Racism in Health Care. Dr. Kirby Randolph, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Department of History and Philosophy of Medicine.
• October 9—Racism in the Judicial System. Joshua D. Amos, J.D., trial lawyer with McDermott, Stuart & Ward in Denver and former Colorado State Senior Deputy Public Defender.
• October 16—Racism in Education, Then and Now. Two guest presentations: (1) Ann Williams Wedaman, recently recognized as an “unsung hero” in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1957; and (2) Linda Ferdig-Riley, a retired educator and administrator in the San Jose Unified School District.
• October 23—Racism in Housing: Segregated by Design. Kathy Tyler,  expert in affordable housing development  in neighborhood, urban, rural, and farmworker settings; currently with Motivation Education & Training, Inc., where she directs a three-state housing program.
• October 30—Affirmative Action and Reparations Informed by Christianity in a Country Strongly Influenced by White Privilege.  Understanding America’s racial past and present, in order to recognize the importance of re-energizing Affirmative Action and instituting meaningful reparations.
• November 6—Analyzing the 2020 Election. Hal Malchow, one of America’s leading political consultants.
• November 13—This Land Is My Land. This Land Is Your Land??? Various perspectives that have shaped our land use policies and the early environmental movement.
• November 20—The Meek Shall Inherit the Earth—Race, Class and Environmental Justice. Modern day issues of environmental justice. Rev. Andrew Black.
• December 4 and 11—Where Do We Go from Here? Class discussed ideas for projects that our church could do to help fight racism and move our society closer to equality for all.

Dismantling Structural Racism Presentation

November 22, 2020, Dennis Sanderson and Gale Wright updated an adult education class on our beginning efforts to advocate and act to break down the systems, practices and thinking that underlie discrimination, bias, prejudice, and oppression of people of color. The presentation briefly summarizes the materials presented in our past classes. Download the class slides. View the Dismantling Structural Racism video below.

Past Dismantling Structural Racism Classes

• January 8, 2021, at 12:30 on Zoom—Listening Lessons. Hear and discuss the voices of people of color in America today. Video played in class: Before You Call the Cops.
• January 15, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. on Zoom—Listening to Our Latina and Latino Siblings. Video played in class: Why This Poet Is Tired of Trying to Prove He’s Both Mexican and American. Download the class handout.
• January 22, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. on Zoom—Listening to Our Black Brothers and Sisters.  Videos played in class: Letter to the Free and How Can We Win.
• January 29, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. on Zoom—Listening to Asian American Voices. Videos played in class: Remembering the Santa Fe Japanese Internment Camp.
• February 5, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. on Zoom—Listening to Indigenous Voices.
• February 12, 2021. Who Was Here Before Us? Mary Weahkee, an Archaeologist from the New Mexico Office of Archaeology. History of the people who occupied the land on which our sanctuary rests.
• February 19, 2021—Doctrine of Discovery: Land and People. A look at the impact of the Doctrine of Discovery, including a specific look at Santa Fe.
• February 26, 2021—Doctrine of Discovery: The Presbyterians. Presbyterians in the Southwest from the Civil War until present.
• March 5, 2021—The Black Church. Discussion of the two-part PBS series that reveals the broad history and culture of the Black church and explores African American faith communities on the frontlines of hope and change.
• March 12, 2021—Food That Feeds Our Soul. Celebrating the culinary arts from four chefs from Black American communities. Focused on video Porridge for the Soul, from PBS Somewhere South.
• March 19, 2021—Baile! Baile! Latinx Dance. Appreciating Latinx culture by focusing on Latinx dance. Class videos included Salsa, Salsa Choke, Bachata, Merengue, Cumbia – in 7 minutes, Basic Cumbia de Vuelta Steps, and Dancing in Cuba.
•  March 26, 2021—Asian Americans: Portraits and Poetry. Hear the stories of young Asian Americans as expressed in their self-portraits, art, poetry, and video. Video in class: Say Grace.
• April 2, 2021—Native American Art: Traditional, Modern, and Appropriated. A look at traditional and stunningly current art by Indigenous Americans, with a discussion of appropriation.
• April 16, 2021—Teaching the Conflicts: Understanding Westward Expansion through the Roles played by African American Buffalo Soldiers in the U.S. Army. Dr. Lois Rudnick shares an overview of her Buffalo Soldiers curriculum for seventh graders.
• April 23, 2021—Tutoring Opportunities in Santa Fe. Sabra Romero provides insights on need for and opportunities in tutoring local grade school children. Download Slides presented in class, and Follow-Up Information.
• April 30, 2021—Improving Education the New Mexican Way. Special presentation by Jeannie Oakes and Carmen Gonzales. Watch video recording of class.
• May 7. 2021—Conversation in Environmental and Economic Justice for Native Americans. Garrit Vogesser and Jason Baldes from the Tribal Partnerships team at the National Wildlife Federation discuss their work. Watch video recording of class. Download slides.
• May 14, 2021—The Earth Is the Lord’s. A conversation about faith-based investment and resource management with guests from PC(USA). Watch video recording of class.
• May 21, 2021—Make Your Voice Heard! Special guests Judy Messal and Ellen Buelow share ways we can be advocates for issues important to you. Watch video recording of class. Download slides “Advocacy before and after Sessions.”
• May 28, 2021—Affordable Housing: It’s a Conundrum. Special guest Johanna Gilliganfrom Homewise discusses housing issues for low income people in Santa Fe.  Watch video recording of class.
• June 4, 2021—A Tapestry of Cultures, Peoples, and Dreams. Special guest Conrad Rocha shares Dismantling Racism efforts in our Synod. View the video recording.
• June 11, 2021—What’s Next? Special guest Rev. Denise Anderson speaks to us about nationwide PC(USA) activities. Watch video recording of class.
• June 18, 2021—Implicated Resistance. Rev. Andrew Black guides us through what we have learned and how it informs our future.