Overcoming Obstacles to Create Community

Ways to Fight Hate, Ignorance, Racism and Fear

The past few years have been extremely challenging in America and living in St. Louis can sometimes be daunting. Those of us in the white community are now more than ever aware of the ugly racism experienced by our Black and Brown neighbors. Our eyes continue to be opened to the brutal realities of injustice and inequity.

While we know that the ultimate solutions to these problems can only be found by changing the institutional and systemic policies that result in these inequities, we believe that, as individuals and a group, we are not powerless. There are things that we can do to change ourselves, our perspectives, our actions, and ultimately to change our community.

“Overcoming Obstacles to Create Community” is an initiative of the Women’s Voices’ Racial Justice Committee. Each month, we’ll provide timely, concrete ideas and suggestions you can include in your daily lives or things that you can do with your friends and families. Please join us. We can overcome obstacles; we can create a better, inclusive, more loving and more just community for all of us in St. Louis.

Some of these suggestions have been adapted from The Southern Poverty Law Center’s “Ten Ways to Fight Hate.” Other ideas are specific suggestions to incorporate into our lives in St. Louis. We would love to hear your ideas for additional ways we can learn and make a difference. Please mail your suggestions to: racialjustice@womensvoicesraised.org.

January—Educate Yourself  

February—Act! Do Something!

MarchDig Deeper…It Begins with Me

April—Build Relationships and Coalitions

May—Speak Up!

June—Support Victims

July—Pressure Leaders

August—Be Aware of and Work to Eliminate Systemic Racism

September—Teach Acceptance

October—Stay Engaged

November—Embrace Messiness

December—Money Matters

 

Adapted for St. Louis from the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Ten Ways to Fight Hate