Racial Therapy: A Self-Inquiry on Race and Racism

It is obvious to just about everyone that something is happening in America and around the world. And right now it’s all about race and racism. The killing of George Floyd has brought this into focus. We cannot ignore it. This is a time for looking within and to shine a light on what is happening. The protests are a call for that. The protests are a calling that says, “Look at this. Look at what’s happening.” It is a time to take a closer look.

What is race but the color of one’s skin? The totality of the “human race” is of many colors and shades. Each of us has a color to our skin. Inherent within the events of the recent past, we are primarily referring to the colors of black and white. There is the human being whose skin is white, the human being whose skin is black and humans with many colors and shades in-between. But there is no greater contrast between the colors of black and white.

What is it about skin color that we have such a problem with? What do you notice when you encounter a person with a skin color different than your own? Are you aware? There is a discomfort of some sort. What is the nature of that discomfort? You can’t help but notice difference, a contrast in color, but what do you make up in your mind about this difference? What are your preconceptions, your judgments, your “already always way of looking” at person’s of a certain color?

Consider that a person who might be characterized as “racist” believes that differences in color mean something beyond just being different. One is superior or inferior to the other. It is a judgment of the other, a belief about the other, a preconception, or a “pre-judged” point of view. These views generally have their origins in our background but we are responsible for holding these views. What if our differences in skin color don’t mean anything? What effect might that have? Is that even possible?

A self-inquiry is a willingness to look within. This conversation will be a forum to look deeper into our own consciousness, to discover what is true, and to let go of what is not. We will structure this meeting in a certain way to gain a portal into self-exploration and to share our self-awareness. We will address the questions below for each person to consider and reflect on.

*What is race?
*What is racism?
*What do I notice occurring inside of me when I encounter a person who is a different color than me?
*What are my preconceptions of persons who are of a race different than me?
*What is the undoing of racism?
*What could be the effect of letting go of my preconceptions?