Meeting for Sufferings: Racism
‘Quakers, who played a leading role in abolition, are now slightly behind the curve in terms of apologising and other things.’
In October, MfS discussed the issue of racism in small groups, and in December Edwina Peart, the BYM inclusion and diversity co-ordinator, introduced further consideration, saying that while she is ‘heartened’ by the work already being done, real change is needed. ‘I want to ground this in the Quaker testimonies to equality and truth… Your testimonies are a way to live your faith, not just declared intentions.’
Edwina said change will involve ‘learning, acknowledging and acting from discernment’. She said this includes learning about other people’s perspectives and ‘the complicity of Quakers’ in colonialism and slavery, acknowledging wounds and acting in ways that help to heal.
Slavery, she said, is a ‘really important way of engaging with Britain’s colonial past… Faith organisations not only played an active role in slavery, they were also an important part of how the story was and is told’, adding that Quakers were ‘totally immersed’ in all aspects of the Atlantic slave trade, giving the example of Quaker activity in Barbados.
Other churches have apologised for their roles in slavery, but ‘Quakers, who played a leading role in abolition, are now slightly behind the curve in terms of apologising and other things,’ Edwina said, adding that we are in a ‘moment of crisis in which the fault lines of inequality are being laid bare’.
She asked: ‘Can we make an active commitment to dismantle institutional racism within Quakerism and society? Based on our testimonies to peace and equality, what is our vision for this work?’
One representative restated the first question, asking ‘How can I make an active commitment to dismantle the internal racism within myself?’ Several representatives mentioned BYM’s connection with African Quakers, saying we need to learn from them. A member of Quaker Peace & Social Witness Central Committee said that this was being explored, both in terms of racism and other issues such as climate change. However, another representative said ‘it’s not the responsibility of African Friends to educate British Friends on the racism that exists within our own Yearly Meeting. We have a responsibility to do that work ourselves… What is the real, active progress that we can now make? Because it’s a moral imperative that we do so. It’s what love requires of us’. Another representative said we need to listen to the Friends ‘who have the courage to share their experience’ of racism.
In the earlier discussion of the trustees’ report, one representative said he was disturbed, surprised and shocked by ‘the rather sweeping statement that there is racism in the Religious Society of Friends,’ adding, ‘this is the first I’ve heard of this problem’. He asked for specific evidence and examples. Caroline Nursey said that trustees have a responsibility to employees, and there have been instances of racism reported by staff. ‘I’m sure nobody is meaning to be racist, but that is how it’s felt. We all make mistakes.’
Turning to the vision for the work, a representative said he was very encouraged by the engagement of Friends in learning about Black Lives Matter and anti-racism, but Friends are at ‘disadvantage in being able to recognise what the problems are, let alone how to tackle them, because part of the privilege of being white in our society means we don’t have to acknowledge the realities of the experiences of people of colour’. We need to overcome this, he said. Another asked, ‘What is it that we are frightened of as Quakers? Is it a loss of identity ourselves… and are we fearful of where changes might take us?’ A representative cautioned against making an apology that was not accompanied by concrete action. Another said there is a need to understand institutional racism and how that is felt within the wider society. ‘Does the mostly white, middle-class make-up of Friends in Britain make us seem exclusive?’ Another representative noted that when we listen to black and Asian Quakers ‘we hear that they don’t feel very welcome because of the ways that we choose to behave’.
MfS’s minute concluded: ‘The time to act is now, personally and in our AMs. We welcome the BYMT minute on racism (BYMT-2020-11-12) and look forward to hearing of future developments about the work to which they have committed centrally’. Young Friends reported on their discussions in words and images, and song.
