Race and Racism

Our September meeting was well attended and our discussion was respectful and very focused on the topic of Race and Racism. 

We hadn't officially discussed 'groundrules' for many months.  Because the subject of race and racism is one that can be highly charged, we spent the first few minutes of the meeting focusing on what things would be necessary to make people feel as comfortable as possible throughout the 3 hour discussion.

Here is the list generated by the group:

• Keep discussions at the meeting confidential
• Don't overgeneralize
• Be sensitive to people who are talking
• Don't interrupt
• Use "I statements"
• Ask for clarification
• Don't engage in side conversations
• Try using the "Step up/step back" technique.  (For those who are shy, step up and consider sharing/talking more.  For those who are frequent contributors, consider sitting back and listening more.)
• No hitting!
• Talk loudly so everyone can hear
• Use "Oops!" and "Ouch!" to gently remind people when they've made painful statements
• Don't use offensive words
• Assume good intentions

Basically: Be nice!!

We started our discussion by identifying just a FEW of the commonly held stereotypical beliefs many people have about race/racism. Clearly, most of these themes identified are NOT true, but they are widely held beliefs within our culture.

• If you have lighter colored skin you must be white.
• If you are light skinned black you are automatically assumed to be black.
• One drop = tainted / black
• Prejudice against people of mixed race
• Native Americans must go to the government to prove your bloodline/identity
• Lighter black skin = easier time
• The darker the skin, the more prejudice
• Race = black & white (no other races)
• Race = poverty
• Black = criminal (especially for black men)
• Prejudice against Black men worse than against black women
• Racism only affects people of color
• Inner city = black, poverty, crime
• Black = stupid

Our meeting attendees discussed some of why these beliefs came about, as well as how we'd like the world to be --- without stereotypes or rigid assumptions.

TGPOC
TG POC is a discussion-oriented listserv for Trans People of Color as well as our significant others and allies. This listserv was created in 1998 by Nadyalec, an Arab/Muslim FTM activist, so TG/TS People of Color could "have a place for us to talk about the issues that we face, share support and information, and build communities." tgpoc-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

TPOCX
TPOCX is a listserv exclusively for People of Color of Transgender/Transsexual/Gender-Variant experience. The purpose of TPOCX is to allow for people of color of Trans experience the opportunity to discuss in a supportive environment the many issues we face and to build community. On this closed list, People of Color (i.e. Native Peoples of the Americas, Asian, African/Caribbean, Latino/Chicano, Middle Eastern/Arab, People of Mixed Blood/ Bi-racial identities) of Trans experience can share resources and talk about the complex intersections of race, gender expression/identity and sexuality. People of Color questioning or exploring their gender identity are welcomed.
tpocx-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Assessing the Needs of Female-to-Male transgender People of Color and their Partners
By Willy Wilkinson and Prado Gomez (2004)
http://www.ftmi.org/poc/ftmpoc.pdf
Released in May 2004, Willy Wilkinson and Prado Gomez co-authored and conducted a needs assessment of transgender people of color for FTMI (Female-to-Male International). Eight individuals participated. The assessment will be used to create a more comfortable environment for FTM/SOFFA POCs at FTMI meetings and events.

FORGE newsletter on race/racism (April 2000)
http://my.execpc.com/~dmmunson/Apr00_1.htm
Articles by Jolee Galloza (A Brief Intro/The Heart of the Matter: One TG Latino Perspective),Yosenio Lewis (How Race Inter-plays with Trans), michael munson ( Race Matters: "White Male Privilege") , Loree Cook-Daniels ( When Groups Aim for Diversity).

Gender Hybrids & Passing Dykes
By Willy Wilkinson (2001)
http://www.asianweek.com/2001_10_19/opinion_payattention.html
Willy Wilkinson is a writer, performer, and public health consultant living in San Francisco . He writes predominantly on issues that affect the Asian dyke and trans (FTM) community.

Transgendered Native Americans
By Gary Bowen (1996)
http://amboyz.org/articles/native.html
A primer on Native American transgender history, beliefs and culture by one of the FTM community's early leaders.

Imani Henry
http://www.geocities.com/imani_henry/
Imani Henry is activist, writer and performer.  Henry's writing has appeared in several publications including the Lambda Award-winning Does Your Mama Know and the newly released IAC publication, War in Colombia : Made in USA .  Currently Henry is touring with his multi-media theatre piece, B4T (before testosterone), segments of which were featured on a episode of the nationally -syndicated PBS newsmagazine "In the Life."  He is currently in his second year as an Artist-in-Residence at the Brooklyn Arts Exchange, where he is developing his new multi-media project, Living in the Light, about the impact of the African slave trade on the Caribbean peoples in the US .

Transmen's Alliance Against Racism
We meet monthly in the San Francisco/Bay Area to discuss issues of racism, sexism, ageism, anti-Semitism, homophobia and other issues in the TS/TG community and beyond. Meetings are open to all L/G/B/T people, their friends, families, allies and partners.
http://hometown.aol.com/tmkennard/

LLEGO
1612 K Street Suite 500
Washington, DC, 20006
Email: AquiLGBT@llego.org
URL: www.llego.org
URL: www.llego.org/Links.htm
202-466-8240
[N national organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered Latinos/as. Not trans-specific, but highly trans inclusive]

Dragon Club
c/o Kiki Whitlock
Chameleon Program
Asian & Pacific Islander Wellness Center
730 Polk Street, 4th Floor
San Francisco , CA 94109
Willy Wilkinson (Coordinator)
(510) 482-2825