Beating Stereotypes by Befriending Enemies
THE INVITATION:
We invite you to gather with friends and people you trust. Spend some time together to help each other make it through life. Be courageous in sharing, compassionate in responding, and creative in your resilience together for the good of all.
CHECK IN:
How is going?
How can we help?
Who else do we need to think and pray about today?
CONSIDER THIS:
Prejudice and stereotypes persist when people are reluctant see the humanity of others. Musician Daryl Davis saw the negative effects of racism and stereotyping as one of the few African American children in his neighborhood. Later, Mr. Davis would embark on a project to better understand those who seemed to hate him. Check out his TEDx talk to hear more about it.
DISCUSS:
Who is a person you couldn’t even imagine being in the same room as, let alone becoming their actual friend?
How are systems of power, racism, and injustice undermined by the kind of relationship Daryl Davis built?
In Genesis 26:26-35 the Philistine King Abimelech comes to make peace with Isaac, with whom he had quarreled often. In the passage, the King makes Isaac a feast and says “we see plainly that the Lord has been with you.” If you could see though God’s eyes, who is someone you should reach out to not becuase you have the capacity to love them, but because God does?
Who is one person in your life who you might be able to pursue a relationship with that resists stereotypes and undermines racism/classism/patriarchy?
SENDING:
Go deeper with this article from the Greater Good project at UC Berkeley - “How to Beat Stereotypes by Seeing People As Individuals” What suggestions from the article might you be able to practice this week?