Awakening to Whiteness: Race, White Group Identity, and the Dharma
*A study & discussion group for self-identifying white people
Join us for a 5 session study & discussion group to explore our racial conditioning as white practitioners. The group will explore racism, how race was constructed in the United States, and white group identity utilizing a dharma lens and meditative practices. As white practitioners, we benefit from social, economic, and political systems which grant white people greater resources, power, and privileges. This course aims to build further capacity in us as white people to see racial dynamics clearly, ground this work in the wisdom and compassion of the dharma, respond to racial injustice, and work in solidarity towards collective liberation for all.
The group will include pre-assigned readings and resources, exploration of content, small and large group discussions, and guided meditation and experiential exercises. We will be reading a number of different resources throughout the course. Most are freely available on the internet, but participants are asked to purchase the book Mindful of Race: Transforming Racism From the Inside Out by Ruth King prior to the first session.
DANA: This class is offered freely. At the end of the series, you will have the opportunity to offer dana to Spirit Rock's Dr. Marlene Jones People of Color Scholarship Fund. The POC Scholarship is specifically for individuals who self-identify as a Person of Color who require financial assistance to attend a retreat.
WHEN: Tuesdays 6-8 pm
Nov 17, Dec 1, Dec 15, Jan 12 & Jan 26
WHERE: via Zoom, an online platform.
Links and passcodes will be sent to you the week of the first meeting.
TO REGISTER click on the button REGISTER HERE below.
CONTACT: Melanie at mmknapp19@gmail.com
Melanie Knapp will facilitate the Awakening to Whiteness study and discussion group. She practices in the Insight tradition with senior teachers including Donald Rothberg and others, and has also been significantly influenced by retreats and practice in the style of Sayadaw U. Tejaniya. She is involved in various social and environmental change efforts, including work as a facilitator of and trainer on collaboration and conflict resolution on environmental issues, border work, and mutual aid efforts. She has a special interest in socially engaged buddhism.