HEALING WORK OF WHITE PEOPLE
PART ONE
It was a difficult path and trail for me to come from the bitterness inspired by my genetic memory of, and my relationships with whites to where I am now. It is not easy for many people of color to have empathy for the spiritual plight of whites. It is easier to piss on it and despise their fumbling and awkwardness. Crucial to the resolution of the issues around white supremacy is the resolution of the spiritual dilemmas whites wrestle with or ignore. This is a song of their living. It is the strong need of their souls, of their very existence. What happens to them affects us and what happens in our spiritual lives touches their existence with love or hate.
I don't want to discourage anyone from discovering what makes them tick. At this stage of my life it swells my heart with hope and happiness to learn of the unlearning occurring in the lives of many of our white relatives. In turn I have been able to assist in a few of those growth processes.
PART TWO
In respect to the church or any religious tradition we are born into I advocate in-depth study. Before we flee from the religious upbringing we were born into I believe we should fully understand the roots of that religion before advancing or moving elsewhere. Power exists in that kind of stance or approach to the contradictions inherent in religion. That kind of power should be as natural an act as breathing.
PART THREE
There are two perspectives on travel or journeying. In the forest it is not uncommon to walk into spider webs, tangles of branches, or thorns. Thorns and webs belong where they are found. No matter where they are living they are either in the way or upon the path traveled. It takes introspection and stillness to acquire the learning thorns, and spider webs and tangled vegetation offer the serious student of self and relationships.
~Gregory E. Woods, African-Crow Indian
It was a difficult path and trail for me to come from the bitterness inspired by my genetic memory of, and my relationships with whites to where I am now. It is not easy for many people of color to have empathy for the spiritual plight of whites. It is easier to piss on it and despise their fumbling and awkwardness. Crucial to the resolution of the issues around white supremacy is the resolution of the spiritual dilemmas whites wrestle with or ignore. This is a song of their living. It is the strong need of their souls, of their very existence. What happens to them affects us and what happens in our spiritual lives touches their existence with love or hate.
I don't want to discourage anyone from discovering what makes them tick. At this stage of my life it swells my heart with hope and happiness to learn of the unlearning occurring in the lives of many of our white relatives. In turn I have been able to assist in a few of those growth processes.
PART TWO
In respect to the church or any religious tradition we are born into I advocate in-depth study. Before we flee from the religious upbringing we were born into I believe we should fully understand the roots of that religion before advancing or moving elsewhere. Power exists in that kind of stance or approach to the contradictions inherent in religion. That kind of power should be as natural an act as breathing.
PART THREE
There are two perspectives on travel or journeying. In the forest it is not uncommon to walk into spider webs, tangles of branches, or thorns. Thorns and webs belong where they are found. No matter where they are living they are either in the way or upon the path traveled. It takes introspection and stillness to acquire the learning thorns, and spider webs and tangled vegetation offer the serious student of self and relationships.
~Gregory E. Woods, African-Crow Indian
Keeper of Stories
December 11, 2006
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December 11, 2006
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