Catalyst works from the framework that "we need to develop anti-racist leadership in white communities rooted in collective liberation politics and guided by strategy based in love."
What is collective liberation?
Collective liberation is the idea that we would all be better off without racism and other forms of oppression. As Chris Crass says in his piece From a Place of Love, "racism deforms the humanity of white people, by enlisting our participation in violence and by distorting our ability to understand ourselves and people of color outside of a lens of superiority and inferiority." By grounding my commitment to social justice in collective liberation, I am able to see my own investment in this work. This stands in rejection to a white culture that seeks to "help"or "save" the poor and people of color by acknowledging that fighting against racism is in our self interest as well!
What is a strategy based in love?
bell hooks says it best: "The moment we choose to love we begin to move against domination, against oppression. The moment we choose to love we begin to move towards freedom, to act in ways that liberate ourselves from others. That action is the testimony of love as the practice of freedom."
-Bell Hooks, Love As the Practice of Freedom
Often there is a lack of love between white anti-racist organizers. There's a sense of competition over who's the most anti-racist? Who is the most down? Who has the most friends of color? Catalyst recognizes the importance of white people working together to end racism and thus works hard to create a community of love and interdependence.
One way Catalyst is working create a culture based on love is through a proposed a culture shift in the way we relate to one another:
What is collective liberation?
Collective liberation is the idea that we would all be better off without racism and other forms of oppression. As Chris Crass says in his piece From a Place of Love, "racism deforms the humanity of white people, by enlisting our participation in violence and by distorting our ability to understand ourselves and people of color outside of a lens of superiority and inferiority." By grounding my commitment to social justice in collective liberation, I am able to see my own investment in this work. This stands in rejection to a white culture that seeks to "help"or "save" the poor and people of color by acknowledging that fighting against racism is in our self interest as well!
What is a strategy based in love?
bell hooks says it best: "The moment we choose to love we begin to move against domination, against oppression. The moment we choose to love we begin to move towards freedom, to act in ways that liberate ourselves from others. That action is the testimony of love as the practice of freedom."
-Bell Hooks, Love As the Practice of Freedom
Often there is a lack of love between white anti-racist organizers. There's a sense of competition over who's the most anti-racist? Who is the most down? Who has the most friends of color? Catalyst recognizes the importance of white people working together to end racism and thus works hard to create a community of love and interdependence.
One way Catalyst is working create a culture based on love is through a proposed a culture shift in the way we relate to one another:
-From call out culture to build up culture
-From critiquing from the sidelines to learning from the center
-From deficit based thinking to asset based thinking
-From individual focus to collective action
So far, it appears that these values are not just pie in the sky ideas but grounded in the real day to day operations of the work.
For example, I have to admit I was a bit skeptical that a lot of the training was going to be people calling each other out for being racist. Not only is that not at all what happens, but I've found quite the opposite to be true - rather, there is recognition that as white people living in the U.S., racism is deeply ingrained in all of us and that we must support each other in unlearning these lessons. Instead, there is an underlying assumption that we are all here to learn, to grow, to be challenged and that we must treat each other with compassion in order to fully engage in that process together.
So far, it appears that these values are not just pie in the sky ideas but grounded in the real day to day operations of the work.
For example, I have to admit I was a bit skeptical that a lot of the training was going to be people calling each other out for being racist. Not only is that not at all what happens, but I've found quite the opposite to be true - rather, there is recognition that as white people living in the U.S., racism is deeply ingrained in all of us and that we must support each other in unlearning these lessons. Instead, there is an underlying assumption that we are all here to learn, to grow, to be challenged and that we must treat each other with compassion in order to fully engage in that process together.
Another way they have created a room for love is by giving space for people to discuss accessibility needs. While I am used to thinking about accessibility in terms of logistical needs - ie is there wheelchair access? is it affordable? - we broadened this discussion to include what people need in order to bring there full selves to the space. It was beautiful how honest people were with their needs and how receptive the community was to meeting those needs. This feels like an important practice for me to get in the habit of, as I'm really good - per my conditioning as a wealthy white kid who has all my material needs met - at pretending "I'm fine". At the same time, I have questions around how can we ensure that in the broader movement, it's not just white folks getting their needs met? And how to balance meeting peoples needs with white-bred feelings of entitlement? And what happens when people's needs contradict each other?
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