RACISTS ANONYMOUS
Why Racists Anonymous Bothers Me
https://www.reckonwith.org/people#advisor_ecosystem
Racists Anonymous is a support group
founded in 2015, based on the Alcoholics
Anonymous model.[1] The group was created
by Sunnyvale,
California United Church
of Christ pastor Ron Buford over his frustration with
typical attempts to deal with race issues, which merely either left him feeling
angry or white participants leaving feeling guilty.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racists_Anonymous
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rm_U3Be8nPE
--
My knowledge about Racists Anonymous is limited to
what I’ve learned over the past hour, starting with curiosity that I had coming
from Reckon With’s page which listed him, finding the Wikipedia link
quoted above and finally listening to the YouTube interview with Pastor Buford.
I want to admit some of my biases related to the issues that
come up for me including:
1.)
AA – related 12 Step Groups – help a lot
of people greatly. I don’t find such
groups useful for myself, as well as believing that they also don’t help
significant numbers of people,
2.)
Related to my Jewish Identity I don’t
believe in “sin”. I believe in “harm”, “trauma”
and more,
3.)
Related to 2.) above – I tend – as a
“principled, Autistic, contrarian” to believe much more Deeply in “Truths”,
rather than “the Truth”. This view
conflicts with multiple religious perspectives,
4.)
I strongly prefer – the perspectives of Loretta
Ross – related to “Calling In” – see:
https://lorettajross.com/ + my review of
Ross’s great book at:
https://www.georgemarx.org/2025/06/loretta-ross-calling-in-wow.html
--
In March, 2003, I attended a speech of Noam
Chomsky at the Berkeley Community Theater which. The speech was given just before the
U.S.-Iraq War began. Chomsky was deeply
bothered by the impending war. I had
been greatly influenced by Noam Chomsky particularly during the late 1980’s,
when my views on Israel and the Palestinians People, and core justice issues evolved
significantly.
Chomsky spoke of how The War would directly
immediately harm The United States Troops.
He indicated that it would most likely last for around six weeks. He spoke of impending huge Iraqi losses of
life. He spoke of the fierceness of the
resistance. Many US soldiers would lose their lives in the War.
Chomsky was deeply wrong in what he said!
The War was brief and the resistance was
weak!
Noam Chomsky was totally sincere. He is highly intelligent! He was wr!
I learned a valuable lesson from that
evening! I learned the importance of
Not necessarily believing things I hear from people I deeply admire.
--
While I don’t see “Racism” – as a simple binary
– white people deeply harming Black People, there are core truths that seem
self-evident such as:
1.
The Civil War was a direct result of the
enslavement of Black People by white people (not “states rights”) (Related to this – the Confederate Flag is
deeply Offensive to me, as well as many, if not most Black People – contrary to
the silence/actions of multiple high school classmates of mine less than a
decade from now, if not now)
2.
Slavery – was “free” labor + high profits. Just prior to The Civil War – Mississippi was
the wealthiest State in the U.S.
3.
Slavery – was profitable for a relatively small
number of white people (mostly men) who “owned” Black Slaves. It also resulted in huge profits for wealthy
financiers in major northern cities.
4.
Poor white people – were the chief “supporters”
of The Slave Trade . Prior to the latter
half of the 17th Century most peoples’ primary identities related to
where their families had emigrated from – not from being “white”.
5.
The wealthy landowners were threatened by increasing
resistance from–the poor indentured servants (often from England) together
their natural allies the (Black) enslaved people.
6.
Subsequent to the conclusion of the Civil War –
Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and laws initially helped some Black
People, however,
7.
There was a strong reactionary push which tied
Black People to remaining significantly discriminated against through the
leadership of U.S. Presidents, Congresspeople and The Federal Courts.
8.
President Harry Truman, significantly pressured
by Black People, signed Executive Order 9951 on July 26, 1948, formally ending
discrimination in the U.S. Military.
This was a huge step influencing the growth of the Civil Rights Movement
of the 1950’s and 1960’s.
9.
Major Civil Rights Legislation in the 1960’s
created an Opportunity for Potentially Moving towards a “post-racial” state.
10. Legislation
– alone – was and is Not Enough.
A quote below helps get at things. It is “old”.
I have said that most liberal whites react to “Black
power” with the question, What about me?, rather than saying: Tell me what you
want me to do and I’ll see if I can do it. There are answers to the right
question. One of the most disturbing things about almost all white supporters
of the movement has been that they are afraid to go into their own communities
— this is where the racism exists—and work to get rid of it. They want to run
from Berkeley to tell us what to do in Mississippi; let them look instead at
Berkeley. They admonish Blacks to be nonviolent; let them preach nonviolence in
the white community. They come to teach me Negro history; let them go to the
suburbs and open up freedom schools for whites. Let them work to stop American
racist foreign policy; let them press this government to cease supporting the
economy of South Africa.
There is a vital job to be done among poor whites. We
hope to see eventually a coalition between poor Blacks and poor whites. That is
the only coalition that seems acceptable to us, and we see such a coalition as
the major internal instrument of change in American society. SNCC has tried
several times to organize poor whites; we are trying again now with an initial
training program in Tennessee.
. . .
As for white America, perhaps it can stop crying out
against “Black supremacy,” “Black nationalism,” “racism in reverse,” and begin
facing reality. The reality is that this nation, from top to bottom, is racist;
that racism is not primarily a problem of “human relations” but of an
exploitation maintained — either actively or through silence — by the society
as a whole. Camus and Sartre have asked, can a man condemn himself? Can whites,
particularly liberal whites, condemn themselves? Can they stop blaming us, and
blame their own system? Are they capable of the shame that might become a
revolutionary emotion?
We have found that they usually cannot condemn
themselves, and so we have done it. But the rebuilding of this society, if at
all possible, is basically the responsibility of whites — not Blacks. We won’t
fight to save the present society, in Vietnam or anywhere else. We are just
going to work, in the way we see fit, and on goals we define, not for civil
rights but for all our human rights.
https://www.civilrightsteaching.org/resource/what-we-want
Primary Document by Kwame Touré (Stokely Carmichael)
Kwame Ture (/ˈkwɑːmeɪ ˈtʊəreɪ/ KWAH-may TOOR-ay;
born Stokely Standiford Churchill Carmichael; June 29, 1941 –
November 15, 1998) was a Trinbagonian-American activist who played a major role
in the civil rights movement in the United
States and the global pan-African movement.
Born in Trinidad in
the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, he grew up in the United
States from age 11 and became an activist while attending the Bronx High School of Science. Ture was
a key leader in the development of the Black Power movement, first while leading
the Student Nonviolent
Coordinating Committee (SNCC), then as the "Honorary Prime
Minister" of the Black Panther Party and as a leader of
the All-African People's
Revolutionary Party (A-APRP).[1]
Carmichael was one of the original SNCC freedom
riders of 1961 under Diane Nash's
leadership. He became a major voting rights activist in Mississippi and Alabama after
being mentored by Ella Baker and Bob Moses. Like most young people in the SNCC,
he became disillusioned with the two-party
system after the 1964 Democratic National Convention failed
to recognize the Mississippi Freedom Democratic
Party as official delegates from the state.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stokely_Carmichael
--
Racists
Anonymous blends:
racism and other isms – sexism, classism, ablism … focusing upon the
Individual. I’ll use Sexism/Patriarchy
for an example below related to my core issue with the focus of RA.
--
Rape (and Sexual Assault) are serious problems in The United
States. We all can be impacted by rape
– directly and indirectly. There are a
lot of myths about rape that are largely false. Combining a number of myths together
– one could (for example) explain that:
“A Poor Black Man sees a Well off
Highly Attractive white, female university student who was ‘Provocatively
Dressed’. Being Male, he spoke to her. He could tell that she was responding
positively to him. It led him to realize
that her telling him that she didn’t want to have Sex with him was phony,
and he didn’t really rape her. “
Yes, some Black People use “Colorism” and it is 100%
wrong. Many white people don’t even
know what I’m referring to.
“Racism” is highly tied to “white supremacy” – advantage of white
people over Black and Brown People.
It is also a multi-faceted systemic set of issues. It ties - power over - disproportionately impacting
financially poorer people. They often
are female/ gender-non-binary, sometimes differently abled.
Some Black People are wealthy, and in some ways may be more “powerful”
than some white people. Their “class
status” may be significant. They inevitably
face Racism. Their class doesn’t necessarily help them due to systemic
racism.
Serena Williams give birth to her first daughter September
1, 2017. She earned close to $27
million in the year prior to her giving birth.
She and her daughter both nearly died proximate to September 1,
2017. The dangers of childbirth to
mother and child – are roughly equivalent between Wealthy Black Women and poor
white women. This relates in part to
basic systemic racism. It is also
significantly related to the Physical stresses of being Black!
CDC data show that Black women are two to three times more likely to
die from pregnancy-related complications than white women, with most of the
maternal deaths being preventable. This
heightened risk spans all income and education levels. According to the study
from the National Bureau of Economic
Research, the wealthiest Black woman in California is at a higher risk
of maternal mortality than the least wealthy white woman.
https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2023/solving-the-black-maternal-health-crisis
--
An individual Black person obviously may be able to discern
how they can be “supporting racism” through viewing things as “an individual”, significantly
ignoring Racial Bias in much of their life.
Clearly, Racism will more effectively/efficiently be ended when Black
People don’t collaborate in ways that “hurt the cause” of Black People (as a
whole).
In September, 2024 we were four white men, going to the
Richmond, Virginia Airport having concluded our White Men for Racial Justice ( https://www.wmrj.org/
) immersion . Our Lyft driver was a Black
Man, who clearly felt taken advantage of by his most recent ex-partner. Near the end of the ride, when asked, he
told my ally that he intended on voting for Donald Trump in the November, 2024 election.
Clearly, individuals, such as this man, may see things
differently now (or not). To imply that
he, and those similar to him were “the cause” of the horrific things done by
the Trump Administration since January 20, 2025 is simplistic, and simply
wrong.
I do not doubt that Racists Anonymous helps individuals
related to their perspectives upon race and racism! I do believe, however, that systemically it
is of extremely limited potential value in helping end racism.
Women who are survivors of rape/ sexual assault (by men) can
and do resist The System – which continues to strongly support their continued
oppression. Women often raise sons who
seemingly distinguish (in their heads) between their mothers/ sisters/ female
partners vs. “women as a whole” (the latter of whom) are perceived as “less
than fellow men”.
Young (and not-so-young) men gather together and “talk trash”
about “b*tc*es”. To blame the mothers,
systemically lets most men; the fathers, uncles, brothers, sons, close male friends
and similar - largely off the hook.
Patriarchy – helps perpetuate a culture – where we men – do disproportionately
less of “the work” towards justice in the U.S. and beyond. We men, particularly advantaged white men
cause much of the harm, the trauma and more.
The Black Women, the Trans Individuals, the Palestinian People
particularly including those of The Global South - do much,
if not most, of the work, while we, the Advantaged white men of The Global
North - superficially “profit”.
We men also pay a heavy price! As young (white) men, we often are
reckless, dying in accidents where we drink/ use drugs “too much” including dying
in motor vehicle accidents disproportionate to our numbers. We succeed in suicide attempts far, too
frequently, related to our loneliness.
Our “rugged individualism” deeply hurts many of us.
It is important that we work individually and collectively to
end Racism. We need to confront the
Patriarchy, and do much, much more. We,
the white people (particularly advantaged men), have a lot of work to do!
We can do such work in a variety of ways. We (white men) can do work through White Men
for Racial Justice, SURJ, Constructive White Conversations, Reckon With,
AWARE-LA, LAMP – (see: https://www.wm4j.org/2024/08/ra-g.html - if
well after the completion date of this writing, this link is no longer available
– seek: https://www.georgemarx.org/)
for examples of where one as a white person, particularly man, may find helpful
sites to “do the work” – together with others.
Where we are (already) doing work with “one’s own people”,
one may effectively work with others – who aren’t white and/or male (cis
particularly).
Others – such as East Indian – BIPOC – often of a Brahmin family/community
background may have your/their own paths to follow individually and
collectively, not being “Black” or “white”.
My sense is that Racists Anonymous disproportionately
is most helpful for individuals who lack other, potentially more effective
pathways towards their own work towards (helping end racism.)
Reverend Ron Buford –
https://www.rubywarrington.com/podcasts/racists-anonymous-with-rev-ron-buford/
-
I fully support your efforts to end racism through Racists
Anonymous - http://rainternational.org/
.
I hope that you, Reverend Buford, and/or any of those within
your 12 Step Groups – will respond where you see my message being limited/
and/or wrong in my writing (here). I’m
most happy – to add any responses from you and/or others (to this writing)–
protecting your privacy (when others
particularly), if so desired.
The “answers” (not “answer”) for me are Not Simple at all! My (Black, Female, Queer Identified, Jewish-by-choice)
life partner, and quite a few other Black People are waiting for white people –
often white women – to “wake up” – now in their shock – at the potential,
impending rise of Fascism in our country.
She and they – often say, “where were you” – to me/ us – white (sometimes
female, ) people – prior to November 5, 2024 and January 20, 2025?
George Floyd was far from the first “martyr”!
George Hrbek – who most all of you have never heard of - https://crossculturalsolidarity.com/george-hrbek-the-selma-minister-who-built-a-white-antiracist-spiritual-community-in-chicago/ and/or https://www.georgemarx.org/2023/02/george-hrbek-amazing-man-i-was-lucky-to.html
- a white man – was “doing the work” in 1958.
6/27/31 -
2/19/23
Angela Davis (tomorrow being interviewed for Jewish Currents
Members), Fida Jiryis, Loretta Ross, Esther Armah, and of course Rashida Tlaib –
as well– are – current “leaders”. They are BIPOC women– who we can all choose
to listen deeply to and learn a lot from!
Rashid Khalidi – BIPOC and Peter Beinart – a fellow white,
male Jew are also most helpful – in my Lifelong Growth!
As with Racists Anonymous – I fully agree – that our
work – is a lifelong process.
Rachelle Zola – my close friend – and ally – who is exactly
three years older than I am - https://www.late.love/ + https://africanamericangolfersdigest.com/shes-white-shes-75-and-shes-on-a-754-mile-pilgrimage-from-chicago-to-montgomery-for-social-change/?srsltid=AfmBOorD1la-rEPqq4xRnEZSGSg9Y8fCzDoYwR6h9Rc70IoDIXDJ8-xt
– is currently on a month-long hunger strike
– speaking out against the utter wrongness of – Hunger – in the United States, She is now off her feet – but still not
eating – due to a recent physical ailment Rachelle, you are a Deep Inspiration.
Rachelle Zola – then 76
years old (2024)
having walked well
over 700 miles from Chicago to Montgomery, Alabama
I’m trying!
Disagreeing about the “best” paths doesn’t mean that we don’t
support each other!
Today – I was talked at – for the second time – by a man on
Sproul Plaza in Berkeley– who spoke At Me – upon seeing the front of my t-shirt
which said: LET GAZA LIVE
– telling me that I needed to confront HAMAS – and find Salvation through God!
I told the ally of mine – I was next to – holding a large
Palestinian Flag – who converted to the Muslim Faith some years ago – that I
was going to move on and told the (other) man that I’d heard enough. Seeing the snickering of a young female
(probably Cal-Berkeley) female student, I briefly commented to her and wished
her to have a nice day.
We are not in competition with each other! Mutual – allyship- mutual resistance – mutual
respect – is most helpful and important!
Thanks for listening!
Dialogue – is welcome! Disagreeing
with small or big parts of what I say – when shared with me – and others – is a
“gift” not an imposition!
https://www.georgemarx.org/2025/09/richmond-im-proud.html
The Palestinian Flag –
atop one Flagpole – City Hall, Richmond, California - Now
George Marx with
Loretta Ross – early 2025
Esther Armah – George
Marx – The Privilege Institute’s White Privilege Conference - 2024
https://www.georgemarx.org/2025/08/emotional-justice-esther-armah-amazing.html
Rashida Tlaib – with Georges - Bisharat and Marx – December,
2023
I’ve been very lucky and
Advantaged to have met and seen (in person) wonderful, incredible people such
as are pictured above (as well as Noura Erakat) – who’s not pictured above. My journey continues – hopefully it will
progress in the coming months, and I hope years.
When younger, I had significant
hopes for lasting justice in my lifetime (though I wasn’t “doing the work” yet
then). Then, I was doing the work
(slightly) for my son and his generation – he’s 36 year’s younger than me – to the
day.
Now – I’m deeply committed –
for my grand-daughter’s generation – she’s seven years old.
I feel and strongly believe
that we are facing/beginning moving (into) real, deep Fascism – for the first
time in my lifetime!
It is also – the time – to –
in the words of White Men for Racial Justice – to “get off the porch”! We/I – may fail – and we are guaranteed to
fail if I and We – give up!
We need to sustain
ourselves! Tomorrow evening I will see
Teddy Swims – perform at The Greek Theater in Berkeley. This morning – I played duplicate bridge
online with one of my regular partners – who lives in Little Rock.
Thanks!
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