If you're looking for something to do in the chill of the new year, why not visit the Kalamazoo Valley Museum and hear a little bit of wisdom from some local residents who are working to create change?
The
Kalamazoo Valley Museum and the Southwest Michigan Black Heritage Society are
working together to continue the community conversation about race, equity, and
social justice in a new project based on oral histories with contemporary
residents of Kalamazoo. The project, “Voices for Social Justice,” opened at the
Kalamazoo Valley Museum
on October 5, 2014 with a panel question and answer session moderated by
Earlene McMichael from WMUK Radio, and featured five local social justice
activists who were interviewed and highlighted for the project.
The
engaging conversation between the panelists and the audience stressed
the importance
of continuing to fight racism consciously and with
full commitment. Despite the often remarked sentiment that we live in
a post-racist society, Chéree Thomas, Program Director at Douglass
Community Association, reminded the audience that racism “hasn’t gone
anywhere; it just looks different.”
The panel
was unanimous in the sentiment that racism is still alive. “No one can survive in this society without being
poisoned,” said Jo Ann Mundy, Executive Director of ERAC/CE. Racism
wounds not only the oppressed, but also the oppressor. However, according
to JR Reynolds, anti-racist activist and columnist for the Battle Creek
Inquirer, racism is but one facet of the problems that we face
in society. He
argues that in order to address social justice issues and fight for equality,
one cannot focus on only one of the “isms.” Racism, sexism, able-ism, et cetera
are all part of the equation that adds up to injustice and inequality in America.
Reynolds says that one cannot work against one ‘ism’ and not be affected by the
other issues, and this sentiment was repeated by every panelist. “The crux
of justice” is “anti-oppression” as a whole, said Lisa Brock, Academic
Director of the Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership at Kalamazoo College.
We must do it together and “it’s going to take all of us.”
“Voices
for Social Justice” can be viewed for free at the KVM now through January
19, 2015. Stop by the Museum to listen to excerpts of interviews in which
several local residents speak about their work, ideals, hopes, and dreams for a Kalamazoo
community that fully embraces social justice. What does an equitable society look like? See what a few of
your neighbors think, and participate in the conversation.
