Sounds About White!

Sounds About White! Community White Caucus Spaces Are

  • Spaces to heal in community

  • Opportunities to try, make mistakes, and try again

  • Time to process and talk through our experiences of White supremacy

  • Idea generation for facilitating thought to action

  • Community accountability for action to dismantle White supremacy

  • Easy opportunities for White folks to pay reparations

Frana BA, facilitator of Sounds About White, explains more about the community white caucus spaces and why they are driven to hold white affinity spaces.

How might joining these Sounds About White spaces shift your actions and awareness?

What is a

Community White Caucus?

“There are white folks all over trying to figure out their identity, culture, and grapple with the intellectual part of anti-racism work. However, there are less folks who are willing to examine their emotional responses to marginalization, sit with the harm they have caused, and move through that stage to become active participants in anti-racist work. This space allowed white folks to react emotionally, name their physical sensations, relate those sensations to feelings, and explore where those feelings come from. The caucus was the first time I felt both validated in my journey as well as held accountable for growth by other white folks.”
— Hannah, Caucus Participant

Why Should I Join?

WATCH: White Bred. This video addresses the importance of white caucus spaces in the anti-racist movement to dismantle white supremacy.

For You

  • Validation on your journey of White awakening and awareness

  • Actionable ideas for anti-racist activism

  • Reflect on times you created harm and

  • Heal in community with other White folks

For your community

  • Accountability to our neighbors of the global majority for dismantling our White ancestors’ harm

  • Continued commitment to anti-racist work, decolonization, and divestment from capitalism

The biggest conduit for change in communities is personal relationships. Imagine what the world will feel like when we've called in our families, friends, and surrounding social circles to join us in action.

What should I bring?

Vulnerability and an open mind.

Expectations

Attendees can expect discomfort, dialogue, learning, work. Breakout rooms 3:3, and small group role playing.

I try to follow this schedule for each space.

  1. About the space & Frana BA (10 min)

  2. Reflection time (10 min)

  3. Breakout Room Introductions & Discussion (10 min)

  4. Full Group discussion (20 min)

  5. Role playing (20 min)

  6. Debrief (15 min)

  7. Closing & gratitude (5 min)

What is the goal?

White people to engage in (new) conversations about what it means to be white; feelings and emotions welcome; (new) connections to community members who are trying

Guidelines

  1. Be hard on the problem, not the person

  2. Stories stay, lessons leave - no name mentioning outside of this space

  3. Speak your truth, but hold my heart when you do.

  4. Embrace mistakes; presence over perfection

  5. Sit in silence

  6. Use your discomfort to improve

  7. Acknowledge intent and center impact

**By attending this event, you are agreeing to abide by these guidelines

(Guidelines were compiled from Native Movement, Dr. Lily Zheng, & Frana BA)

Accessibility

  1. Closed captions: everyone can access by hitting the CC box at the bottom of the zoom screen

  2. Slow(er) pace

  3. Chat: use how you would like. Facilitator will read comments out loud to all participants. Utilize for introductions

  4. Video: On or off, up to you

  5. Take care of you: Person and human first

  6. Craft / fidgeting / beading / knitting always welcome