Well said, John. Thanks for writing this. Jefftelegraph hill, san francisco
> Date: Mon, 4 May 2009 22:33:53 -0400 > From: j...@johnengle.net > Subject: Re: [OSLIST] looking for OS practitioner in Philadelphia area > To: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu > > Hi Nigel, > > When my friend communicated that they preferred a person of color to > facilitate, my first response was, "I'm not going to put that in my > message to the OS list." I knew there would be philosophical questions > and didn't feel I had the energy and time to respond, even though I > felt no need personally, to call into question the wisdom of this > particular group or another one that indicates such a preference in > their facilitator. > > When it comes to groups dealing with issues of anti-racism, gender > equality, etc. i just assume that each one is dealing with nuances, > complexities and intricacies that would require an immense amount of > time for me to begin to understand. > > This particular group indicated that they preferred to have a > facilitator who is a person of color. I made no mention that they have > a preference of color in general. > > I'm white, my wife's black, my three year old son calls himself > yellow ; ). My wife and I don't think of ourselves as racist. In fact, > we're committed to promoting equality and love among all human beings. > I don't know this group wanting the facilitator except for my co- > worker who is a part of it. Coincidently, he is white and has two > black daughters. But I can certainly imagine either my wife or i > feeling like there might be a type of person (color, class, gender, > sexual preference) that is better suited to create a trusting and safe > environment, depending upon the group involved, even if it's a group > committed to love and equality among all human beings. > > Can't you? > > Meeting people where they are is so essential. I know you do this in > your work. I've met people who glow when they speak of you and what > you do. > > The pain and wounds among many people--even those committed to not > discriminate--are so deep. Where I currently live in Florida, black > people in their 70's share stories of family members being lynched by > KKK and how they grew up in fear and terror. Haiti, where I lived many > years and still work, where black Africans were enslaved by whites for > centuries, color (and even shade) is, unfortunately, of huge > consequence, whether one wants it to be or not. > > In my humble opinion, the fact that an anti-racist group prefers to > have a person of colour facilitate their open space meeting should not > necessarily call into question their commitment to anti-racism. In my > humble opinion, it could be a very wise preference, depending on the > circumstances. > > John > > > > On May 4, 2009, at 8:57 PM, NigelSeys-Phillips wrote: > >> Can an anti-racist group 'prefer' a colour? >> >> Nigel >> >> Nigel Seys-Phillips >> Fulcrum Business Management Solutions >> 30 Mount Elizabeth >> #13-32 Highpoint >> Singapore 228519 >> Tel: +65 9639 2510 >> E-mail: ni...@fulcrum.com.sg >> www.fulcrum.com.sg >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: OSLIST [mailto:osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu] On Behalf Of >> Michael M >> Pannwitz >> Sent: Monday, 4 May 2009 11:49 PM >> To: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu >> Subject: Re: [OSLIST] looking for OS practitioner in Philadelphia area >> >> What color does the anti-racist group prefer? >> >> mmp >> >> John Engle wrote: >>> Fellow-listers, >>> >>> One of my colleagues is looking for an OS practitioner in the >>> Philadelphia area. It's an anti-racist group and their preference >>> would >>> be to have a person of color. >>> >>> Anyone? >>> >>> Thanks, >>> >>> John >>> >>> _________________________________ >>> >>> John Engle Associates >>> Tel. 202-236-6532 >>> Haiti Tel. 011-509-3461-3067 or >>> 011-509- 3685-3273 >>> www.johnengle.net >>> >>> Open Space Facilitation >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> * >>> * >>> ========================================================== >>> osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu >>> ------------------------------ >>> To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, >>> view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu: >>> http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html >>> >>> To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: >>> http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist >>> >> >> -- >> Michael M Pannwitz, boscop eg >> Draisweg 1, 12209 Berlin, Germany >> ++49-30-772 8000 >> mmpa...@boscop.org >> www.boscop.org >> >> >> Check out the Open Space World Map presently showing 461 resident Open >> Space Workers in 73 countries working in a total of 139 countries >> worldwide >> Have a look: >> www.openspaceworldmap.org >> >> * >> * >> ========================================================== >> osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu >> ------------------------------ >> To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, >> view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu: >> http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html >> >> To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: >> http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist >> >> * >> * >> ========================================================== >> osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu >> ------------------------------ >> To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, >> view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu: >> http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html >> >> To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: >> http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist >> > > * > * > ========================================================== > osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu > ------------------------------ > To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, > view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu: > http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html > > To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: > http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live™: Keep your life in sync. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_BR_life_in_synch_052009 * * ========================================================== osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
