ABOUT SURJ KC
WHO WE ARE
Showing Up for Racial Justice Kansas City (SURJ KC) is a local network organizing white people for racial justice in the Greater Kansas City Metro Area. Through Personal Support, Political Education, and Solidarity Action, SURJ KC moves white people to act as part of a multi-racial majority for racial justice. We have seven shared values from which we do our work and call these our Points of Unity.
SURJ KC launched in May of 2016, in part, out of a growing request from area People of Color (POC). We believe it is the responsibility of white people and not the burden of POC to organize white people for racial justice. While we organize white people, we do our work in accountability with POC and mobilize white people to show up in POC-led spaces for racial justice. We also believe racism affects all of us, and so we organize for our collective liberation.
Points of Unity
We do our work from a set of seven shared values we call our Points of Unity. We believe these are essential to the movement to dismantle white supremacy. Everyone who agrees with our Points of Unity is welcome to participate in the SURJ KC Network.
Enough for Everyone
One of the things that dominant white culture teaches us is to feel isolation, fear, and alienation in everything we do. We believe that there is enough for all of us, but it is unequally distributed and structurally contained to keep resources scarce.
The United States was built on a history of genocide, slavery, land theft, exploitation and the scapegoating of immigrants. History demonstrates that capitalism and inequality are heavily dependent on racism. Therefore, we must attack the economic structures that maintain racial castes.
We can fight the ideas and structures that limit and control global capital by creating a different world together. We believe that part of our role as white people is to raise resources to support People of Color-led efforts AND to engage more white people in racial justice work.
Growth is Good
Sometimes we fear that if we bring in new people who do not “talk our talk “or “do it right” it will interfere with what we are building. However, if we do not bring in new people, our work cannot grow. And if our work does not grow, we cannot amass the numbers of white people needed to undermine white supremacy and join People of Color led efforts for fundamental social change.
No one will be excluded from our work based on their race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, personal ethics, if they share our values. All have something valuable to share and receive in this work. A variety of interests and styles is important and encouraged.
Be Accountable to People of Color
We maintain ongoing relationships, both individually and organizationally, with People of Color. We develop organizing strategies and tactics for engaging our white communities and seek feedback from leaders and organizations led by POC on our plans, direction, and actions. We recruit white people to show up in solidarity for POC-led actions and campaigns.
At the same time we realize that we cannot wait to take leadership from Black and Brown activists. We must take the initiative to dismantle racism in white communities and spaces of power whenever possible.
Take Risks, Learn, and Keep Going
We commit ourselves to taking action for racial justice and making an impact from our own situatedness. Action for racial justice can come in a variety of forms; it can be more than taking to the streets and protesting. Most of all we encourage white people to take risks in their own networks of relationships to build an anti-racist culture.
Tap Into White Mutual Interest
We use the term mutual interest instead of self interest to help us move away from only thinking about what is good for us as individuals to understanding that our own liberation as white people– our own humanity– is inextricably linked to racial justice.
Mutual interest means we cannot overcome the challenges and shared oppressions we face unless we work collectively for racial justice. In practice, this means moving people out of their narrow self-interest tied to immediate needs into an understanding of our mutual interest in dismantling racism and white supremacy.
Practice a Space of Love & Calling In
We welcome all who commit to work towards racial justice in their communities. We recognize that racism hurts all of us in different ways and commit to build relationships where we can challenge and agitate each other to our highest potential out of love and understanding.
We recognize that there is a time and place for white people to discuss how white supremacy negatively affects them mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. However, a space of love also means holding each other accountable and pushing one another to take risks and step outside of comfort zones by recognizing our privilege, implicit biases, unconscious attitudes, and challenging ourselves to do better.
Act from an “Intersectional Analysis of Oppressions”
(coined by Dr. Kimberlé Crenshaw)
While white supremacy is at the center of our analysis, we are clear that people exist at an intersection of oppressions that have the potential to divide our movement and lessen our power. Racism is interconnected with classism, patriarchy, homophobia, imperialism, ageism, ableism. We are committed to using an intersectional analysis of these oppressions and promote behaviors (i.e group norms etc) that confront all of them.
Accountability
SURJ KC is in an accountability relationship with the People of Color Power Group. The POC Power Group’s goal is to challenge systems of white supremacy within communities of color, and its mission is to facilitate opportunities for organizing and educating communities of color while fostering emerging organizers of color. The POC Power Group accomplishes this work in these ways:
Within Communities of Color
Building a movement based on radical honesty and transparency.
Uplifting the multiple assets of leaders and communities of color.
In Partnership with SURJ-KC
Participating in the design process of SURJ mass meetings and the actions of the Coordinating Council.
Being a think partner in education and agitation, such as co-presenting and providing resources.
Critical Analysis in Kansas City
Being a think partner and possible collaborator in initiatives and projects that benefit communities of color or POC leadership.
Being a “call-in” voice with initiatives and projects that threaten the livelihood of communities of color.
We are a part of SURJ National
SURJ is a national network of groups and individuals organizing white people for racial and economic justice.