Race issues can be difficult to talk about. People often focus on differences, rather than what they have in common.
This weekend, The People's Institute for Survival and Beyond, is holding a two-day workshop in Ann Arbor called, “Undoing Racism.” Friday is the last day to register for the workshop, at the Ann Arbor Community Center.
Rachael Ibrahim is a volunteer community organizer and one of the event trainers. She says the workshop is open to everyone.
“Students, parents, teachers, administration, it’s an important conversation for everybody because there is no one who can escape racism. It exists everywhere, whether we see it or feel it, it exists," she said. "So this conversation is important for everybody."
As an African American women, Ibrahim says she personally sees many inequities that need to be addressed. “Whether we’re talking about health care, whether we’re talking about the rate in which people are incarcerated… if we look at education… and we see some trends, then there is something important to look at when we can see the disparities among people of color,” she said.
Ibrahim says people often feel uncomfortable talking about race issues, and this is a way to get people talking more about it.
“This conversation can be seen as taboo, something that people don’t like to talk about, or is a really hot topic that can create a lot of tension," she said. "But we are saying is that this conversation is for everybody.”
Ibrahim hopes the conversations can move beyond a focus on the symptoms of racism, to an understanding of what racism is, how it functions, why it persists and how it can be undone.
You can call 269-267-1356 to register, or visit this website. But, be ready for a two-day commitment.
