PORTLAND, MAINE | Four Seeds of Peace facilitators worked with 30 Maine Seeds to tackle race and issues of racism, as well as power and privilege, through workshops and dialogue sessions on October 18 at the Portland Public Library.
The seminar is the first in a series of programs designed to build trust and consensus between the Seeds before they engage their classmates and the general public on the topics. It also served to help the Seeds plan how they will begin this public engagement.
“In talking about issues such as race, I understand that if I want others to not make assumptions about my life, then it’s my responsibility to set them straight,” said one of the Seeds.
Through the day, the Seeds examined the asymmetrical power dynamics they encounter in their communities, discussed the history of race and racism in America, explored stereotypes, and shared personal experiences of discrimination. They also spent time reflecting on the various emotional triggers associated with discussions of race and racism.
“Although I recognize the racism in our community, I unknowingly block it out in order to feel better about having privileges that my friends do not have,” said one participant. “This exercise helped me to understand that it is prevalent. It also opened my eyes to what my friends have gone through their whole lives.”
“Although I already knew that race impacts a person’s opportunity and privilege, it was eye-opening to see the individual situations where race influenced my friends’ lives,” said another.
“We asked the Seeds to write on notecards in one word how they felt about the day,” said one of the program’s organizers, Erica Zane. “Some of the answers we got were ‘powerful,’ ‘emotional,’ ‘difficult,’ ‘challenging,’ ‘scared,’ ‘hopeful.’”
The seminar comes on the heels of a high profile racial incident in Portland on October 7 during which soccer fans allegedly yelled racist comments at high school players, including “Go back to Africa!”
Maine Seeds at the match overheard the comments, and education officials are working with Seeds and staff to address divides within the schools and communities exposed by the incident.
Job well done. Wish I were there!
Why be racist. We are all like cousins in a way because we are all from same origin. Just because someone is different from you, doesn’t me you have the right to offend the person. And seriously, you are offending and breaking people’s hearts because of color. Come on! The world needs to change. It’s not hard. You just have to acknowledge that everyone is the same and you are not so much different from the other.
Some of the worst racism I was witnessed to was while I was a teacher at Deering High School. A group of Somali boys regularly made awful remarks directed toward the Central African students. I hope that Seeds of Peace addresses black on black racism too.