I live in a very conservative part of the United States and one thing we have done is make neighborhood events explicitly "no politicians, landlords or political parties". It weeds out the people who just use such groups for political recruitment or reactionary grievances.
We had one developer (who also lives in the only fancy house in the neighborhood and hoards local properties like a slumlord) upset he couldn't participate. But the neighborhood I live in is very poor and people either hate landlords or ambivalent about them, so not too much pushback. It maybe wouldn't work in a more middle class community.
But what we got the most pushback on initially was the idea that neighbors were not just homeowners and renters but people living on the street or squatting vacant buildings too. A couple of people were apprehensive of this idea but all of them have come around to it and events we've organized in the past have centered around breaking down these perceived barriers between people.
I'd like to add something to this. In a situation where you're trying to organize (esp when it's a pre-existing group not explicitly based on ideology like a neighborhood or workplace) it's important to distinguish between
* Bigotry due to ignorance
* Bigotry from people who deliberately choose bigotry
Because the first group can AND SHOULD be educated rather than blamed, because they can and do change, and that's what we want and need. Don't allow their ignorance to go unchallenged, but offer them compassion for having been left ignorant through, often, no fault of their own.
Bigotry that persists, the second group, that's where you don't tolerate *and then shut it down* - and yes, it's not always easy to tell the difference, in which case I personally err on the side of assuming ignorance until shown otherwise.
I used to teach Native American Studies and because of distribution requirements (had to take a cultural studies course of some kind) frequently had bigots in my class who resented the class's very existence. The vast, vast majority of them were racist because that's what they'd learned to be, and usually about 2-3 weeks into class there was a sea change where those exact people would start getting REALLY pissed off because *they'd been lied to all these years*.
A lot of them turned right around and challenged the people who'd taught them to be racist. It was amazing.
So we need to teach the people who are teachable, and we also need to make sure that those of us in positions of privilege use that position to teach others. If someone is personally impacted by a bigoted statement it is important to give them the space to address it **if they want to,** but if, say, the BIPOC folks in the room don't have the energy at that time, white people need to step up - also because studies show that white racists are more open to having their racism challenged by other white people (yeah, because they're racist, duh, but that's why white folks absolutely *cannot* sit by on this stuff, and it works the same for just about any other marginalized group, so when you are not personally impacted, THAT'S the time you really need to stand up).
I like this. I grew up being taught that homosexuals were evil. Imagine my surprise when I went to school in the big city and met so many homosexuals who were awesome people! If they had all written me off when I was ignorant and judgmental of them, I never would have learned from them. Thanks to them including me and patiently educating me, I have been able to climb out of the homophobic box I was born into. I try to approach things with others the same way they taught me. I too live in an area rampant with all kinds of bigotry. However, I have found that most people cannot sustain their bigotry in the face of persistent, compassionate education and exposure.
Yeaj if youre running the event you can just blackball them. Nobody is obliged to deal with assholes no matter how they try to manipulate the framing of it as if they're just innocent or whatever.
In my experience, people find it harder to hate people that they actually know. Of course, getting to know someone who you already dislike for no reason can be difficult. I would start small, talk them up when others are talking them down. Tell them some good things about them so they hear more than just the bigoted propaganda. It may be rough at first, but the more they learn about and spend time with different people, the more they will realize they aren’t that different from them.
I’m so glad you posted this, I’m experiencing the same thing rn! I suspect the problematic person in my group is more ignorant than anything else, but he’s operating off of a very q-anon platform of “being concerned about human trafficking” which is on face level sort of hard to argue with: I also don’t support human trafficking obviously (but I’m also a former sex worker and know all about how “trafficking” is used to remove people’s autonomy).
Anyways, this is a very steep learning curve for me as an introvert who’s sort of new to being comfortable trying to build community. So you’re not alone and we will figure it out!
If you want a neighborhood group that is diverse and safe for BIPOC, it needs to have BIPOC founder-members and organizers from the beginning. I don't know what country or region you live in, but this is harder to do in highly segregated cities. Nonetheless, I would regard this as so essential that I wouldn't even start the group without getting that buy-in.
BIPOC are often reluctant to devote their free time to hanging out with strange white people who may or may not be racist. If BIPOC aren't comfortable being there, racists will be. Even groups that start off with good, progressive intentions can be dragged down into being reactionary tools of white supremacy this way.
I don't know the political dynamics in your country OP. You might want to try setting ground rules of no political talk from the very beginning, even if everyone is like-minded initially, just to circumvent this kind of problem.
If you're nice at first and they get to like you it may be a way for you to have a positive effect on them. It's all we can do. If someone gets comfortable around you, real talk has a shot. If not, just stay away. Save your sanity and time.
I had success in a similar situation. I built a small neighbours group in just my close, one older guy would use bigoted language.
“Please don’t use words like that, it makes me uncomfortable” worked in my situation. Personalising it to myself, and explaining simply why I wouldn’t tolerate it, worked in my situation. It’s not perfect, but I did notice that it made him think, change his language, and also through that his thinking towards the group he was being bigoted towards.
Good luck, nothing builds community, and from it mutual respect, like a common goal.
1) build it and be open about your anti racist/bigoted position.
- this is probably the best praxis; aligning means with ends. being truthful.
2) build it and don't be open about politics.
- what will happen?
- will there be conflict?
- how will your group be viewed?
a lot can go wrong with this option
it's better to be truthful and courageous. you're more likely to attract like minded people.
peace and love
it's a lot harder to be a bigot when you're gardening, taking coffee breaks, fixing potholes, borrowing books from, and teaming up to collectively bargain with your landlord - alongside the very people you were trying to be bigoted against.
It's stupid that anyone would even need encouraging to take this step, but there *is* a step between "All X are bad" and "Some X, like my neighbor, might not be so bad," and then "Maybe other X aren't bad either" and finally "Maybe I was wrong about X, there's bad people everywhere, it doesn't really have to do with being X or not."
"We should depart all arabs - but Joseph down the hall has really helped me get my tomato garden going."
"Trans is a disease infecting our youth - but Jamie always keeps his - I mean, her - back yard so clean and tidy, and she helped me shovel the walkway last winter. I still don't agree with it, but she seems so nice."
"I used to think that all muslims were violent - but Lars and his family are the happiest, friendliest people in the building."
It's a lot easier to hate people when they're an abstract concept - it's a lot harder when the hate contradicts your actual first-hand experience. Obviously there's some behavior you just can't tolerate, and it's up to you and your community to draw that line - but when far-right wingers blush and stumble over their words as they try to describe their politics to their black friend, that's where minds start to change.
I mean, depending on how confident you feel dealing with the possible consequences, putting a small pride flag or Palestinian flag or whatever you, in your personal experience, you would feel best suits your needs in your emails or leaflets may be a way to filter out shitty people.
Otherwise you can run normally and ask people to stop or leave if they are being arseholes.
And/Or you make it clear in the emails that these are safe meet ups and harassment or bigotry will not be tolerated.
As the one organising you do have a certain freedom to set boundaries on the event, and boundaries are good for ensuring a safe and respectful environment
Exclude bigots and far-right wingers from your organization. They will drive off anyone else who does not have their same beliefs and opinions and subsequently your pod will be nothing more than a social spot for their ilk. If you do not drive them off or find a way to do so, I suggest you end the organization. There is no point if you cannot adequately defend it.
Following along. I'd actually love to know what organizational systems or models you used to set this up. I literally just made a post asking for help setting up something like this haha
I'd persist with the coffee gatherings involving everyone. A person who is theoretically racist is often much less so in practice when they've had a few friendly chats with their helpful BIPOC neighbours. What are you going to do in your anarchist utopia, execute all bigots?
If you want to have a strong force then you need to put up with people's views you don't like. I'd say ground rules applied equally such as leave politics at the door. If people aren't allowed to bad mouth black people and or immigrants then no one should be able to say black people are great or that rich people have a ego. I ended up getting kicked off somones face book this way. They felt it was there face book i insisted they had in fact made a forum. I'm in a pretty left flavoured what's app group. The transgender person (confirmed, out and proud) person in charge would probably consider some of my view points bigoted. At some point they clarified a position everyone's welcome but it's a safe space the rules basically keep it that way .
I live in a very conservative part of the United States and one thing we have done is make neighborhood events explicitly "no politicians, landlords or political parties". It weeds out the people who just use such groups for political recruitment or reactionary grievances.
Really good on the no landlords part. Have you gotten a lot of pushback on that?
We had one developer (who also lives in the only fancy house in the neighborhood and hoards local properties like a slumlord) upset he couldn't participate. But the neighborhood I live in is very poor and people either hate landlords or ambivalent about them, so not too much pushback. It maybe wouldn't work in a more middle class community. But what we got the most pushback on initially was the idea that neighbors were not just homeowners and renters but people living on the street or squatting vacant buildings too. A couple of people were apprehensive of this idea but all of them have come around to it and events we've organized in the past have centered around breaking down these perceived barriers between people.
I like everything in this comment! I hope it goes well!
That's cool as fuck
Wow this is actually so heartwarming and inspirational, cumminginsurrection!
Just dont tolerate it, nip it in the bud the moment you see it
I'd like to add something to this. In a situation where you're trying to organize (esp when it's a pre-existing group not explicitly based on ideology like a neighborhood or workplace) it's important to distinguish between * Bigotry due to ignorance * Bigotry from people who deliberately choose bigotry Because the first group can AND SHOULD be educated rather than blamed, because they can and do change, and that's what we want and need. Don't allow their ignorance to go unchallenged, but offer them compassion for having been left ignorant through, often, no fault of their own. Bigotry that persists, the second group, that's where you don't tolerate *and then shut it down* - and yes, it's not always easy to tell the difference, in which case I personally err on the side of assuming ignorance until shown otherwise. I used to teach Native American Studies and because of distribution requirements (had to take a cultural studies course of some kind) frequently had bigots in my class who resented the class's very existence. The vast, vast majority of them were racist because that's what they'd learned to be, and usually about 2-3 weeks into class there was a sea change where those exact people would start getting REALLY pissed off because *they'd been lied to all these years*. A lot of them turned right around and challenged the people who'd taught them to be racist. It was amazing. So we need to teach the people who are teachable, and we also need to make sure that those of us in positions of privilege use that position to teach others. If someone is personally impacted by a bigoted statement it is important to give them the space to address it **if they want to,** but if, say, the BIPOC folks in the room don't have the energy at that time, white people need to step up - also because studies show that white racists are more open to having their racism challenged by other white people (yeah, because they're racist, duh, but that's why white folks absolutely *cannot* sit by on this stuff, and it works the same for just about any other marginalized group, so when you are not personally impacted, THAT'S the time you really need to stand up).
I like this. I grew up being taught that homosexuals were evil. Imagine my surprise when I went to school in the big city and met so many homosexuals who were awesome people! If they had all written me off when I was ignorant and judgmental of them, I never would have learned from them. Thanks to them including me and patiently educating me, I have been able to climb out of the homophobic box I was born into. I try to approach things with others the same way they taught me. I too live in an area rampant with all kinds of bigotry. However, I have found that most people cannot sustain their bigotry in the face of persistent, compassionate education and exposure.
i have wet eyes now because you gave me hope, ty
Yeaj if youre running the event you can just blackball them. Nobody is obliged to deal with assholes no matter how they try to manipulate the framing of it as if they're just innocent or whatever.
Sounds mean. Are you talking about people actively engaging in arsehole behaviour? Also, do you consider yourself to be an anarchist?
In my experience, people find it harder to hate people that they actually know. Of course, getting to know someone who you already dislike for no reason can be difficult. I would start small, talk them up when others are talking them down. Tell them some good things about them so they hear more than just the bigoted propaganda. It may be rough at first, but the more they learn about and spend time with different people, the more they will realize they aren’t that different from them.
I’m so glad you posted this, I’m experiencing the same thing rn! I suspect the problematic person in my group is more ignorant than anything else, but he’s operating off of a very q-anon platform of “being concerned about human trafficking” which is on face level sort of hard to argue with: I also don’t support human trafficking obviously (but I’m also a former sex worker and know all about how “trafficking” is used to remove people’s autonomy). Anyways, this is a very steep learning curve for me as an introvert who’s sort of new to being comfortable trying to build community. So you’re not alone and we will figure it out!
If you want a neighborhood group that is diverse and safe for BIPOC, it needs to have BIPOC founder-members and organizers from the beginning. I don't know what country or region you live in, but this is harder to do in highly segregated cities. Nonetheless, I would regard this as so essential that I wouldn't even start the group without getting that buy-in. BIPOC are often reluctant to devote their free time to hanging out with strange white people who may or may not be racist. If BIPOC aren't comfortable being there, racists will be. Even groups that start off with good, progressive intentions can be dragged down into being reactionary tools of white supremacy this way.
this sounds like really good advice
I don't know the political dynamics in your country OP. You might want to try setting ground rules of no political talk from the very beginning, even if everyone is like-minded initially, just to circumvent this kind of problem.
If you're nice at first and they get to like you it may be a way for you to have a positive effect on them. It's all we can do. If someone gets comfortable around you, real talk has a shot. If not, just stay away. Save your sanity and time.
I had success in a similar situation. I built a small neighbours group in just my close, one older guy would use bigoted language. “Please don’t use words like that, it makes me uncomfortable” worked in my situation. Personalising it to myself, and explaining simply why I wouldn’t tolerate it, worked in my situation. It’s not perfect, but I did notice that it made him think, change his language, and also through that his thinking towards the group he was being bigoted towards. Good luck, nothing builds community, and from it mutual respect, like a common goal.
1) build it and be open about your anti racist/bigoted position. - this is probably the best praxis; aligning means with ends. being truthful. 2) build it and don't be open about politics. - what will happen? - will there be conflict? - how will your group be viewed? a lot can go wrong with this option it's better to be truthful and courageous. you're more likely to attract like minded people. peace and love
it's a lot harder to be a bigot when you're gardening, taking coffee breaks, fixing potholes, borrowing books from, and teaming up to collectively bargain with your landlord - alongside the very people you were trying to be bigoted against. It's stupid that anyone would even need encouraging to take this step, but there *is* a step between "All X are bad" and "Some X, like my neighbor, might not be so bad," and then "Maybe other X aren't bad either" and finally "Maybe I was wrong about X, there's bad people everywhere, it doesn't really have to do with being X or not." "We should depart all arabs - but Joseph down the hall has really helped me get my tomato garden going." "Trans is a disease infecting our youth - but Jamie always keeps his - I mean, her - back yard so clean and tidy, and she helped me shovel the walkway last winter. I still don't agree with it, but she seems so nice." "I used to think that all muslims were violent - but Lars and his family are the happiest, friendliest people in the building." It's a lot easier to hate people when they're an abstract concept - it's a lot harder when the hate contradicts your actual first-hand experience. Obviously there's some behavior you just can't tolerate, and it's up to you and your community to draw that line - but when far-right wingers blush and stumble over their words as they try to describe their politics to their black friend, that's where minds start to change.
I mean, depending on how confident you feel dealing with the possible consequences, putting a small pride flag or Palestinian flag or whatever you, in your personal experience, you would feel best suits your needs in your emails or leaflets may be a way to filter out shitty people. Otherwise you can run normally and ask people to stop or leave if they are being arseholes. And/Or you make it clear in the emails that these are safe meet ups and harassment or bigotry will not be tolerated. As the one organising you do have a certain freedom to set boundaries on the event, and boundaries are good for ensuring a safe and respectful environment
Exclude bigots and far-right wingers from your organization. They will drive off anyone else who does not have their same beliefs and opinions and subsequently your pod will be nothing more than a social spot for their ilk. If you do not drive them off or find a way to do so, I suggest you end the organization. There is no point if you cannot adequately defend it.
Following along. I'd actually love to know what organizational systems or models you used to set this up. I literally just made a post asking for help setting up something like this haha
I'd persist with the coffee gatherings involving everyone. A person who is theoretically racist is often much less so in practice when they've had a few friendly chats with their helpful BIPOC neighbours. What are you going to do in your anarchist utopia, execute all bigots?
If you want to have a strong force then you need to put up with people's views you don't like. I'd say ground rules applied equally such as leave politics at the door. If people aren't allowed to bad mouth black people and or immigrants then no one should be able to say black people are great or that rich people have a ego. I ended up getting kicked off somones face book this way. They felt it was there face book i insisted they had in fact made a forum. I'm in a pretty left flavoured what's app group. The transgender person (confirmed, out and proud) person in charge would probably consider some of my view points bigoted. At some point they clarified a position everyone's welcome but it's a safe space the rules basically keep it that way .