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Blog archive

July 2024

June 2024

May 2024

Emergency Preparedness: Are You Ready?
05/28/2024

Farewell from the 2023/24 Social Work Interns
05/28/2024

Gina on the Horizon
05/28/2024

Mark Your Calendars for the Healthy Aging Research California Virtual Summit
05/28/2024

Meet Our New Development Associate
05/28/2024

Putting the Strategic Plan into Practice
05/28/2024

Washington Park: Pasadena’s Rediscovered Gem
05/28/2024

Introducing Civil Rights Discussions
05/22/2024

Rumor of Humor #2416
05/14/2024

Rumor of Humor #2417
05/14/2024

Rumor of Humor #2417
05/14/2024

Rumor of Humor #2418
05/14/2024

Springtime Visitors
05/07/2024

Freezing for a Good Cause – Credit, That Is
05/02/2024

No Discussion Meeting on May 3rd
05/02/2024

An Apparently Normal Person Author Presentation and Book-signing
05/01/2024

Flintridge Center: Pasadena Village’s Neighbor That Changes Lives
05/01/2024

Pasadena Celebrates Older Americans Month 2024
05/01/2024

The 2024 Pasadena Village Volunteer Appreciation Lunch
05/01/2024

Woman of the Year: Katy Townsend
05/01/2024

April 2024

March 2024

February 2024

January 2024

Dick and Sharon, Mixed Race Marriage

By Richard Myers
Posted: 06/19/2023
Tags: videos
 
Notes by Sharon Jarrett:
 
 Dick Myers welcomed participants and then introduced Sharon Kyle and Dick Price.
They are the publishers of the award winning, online weekly newsletter, LA Progressive.  They are a mixed race couple who have participated in Coming to the Table for many years. They also generously share their experiences with the community.
 
The title of their talk was "Let's Talk: White Fragility".  The talk was recorded and is posted on the Pasadena Village Youtube channel. Watch it by clicking the link above.  The richness of the conversation is found in the interactions between the speakers and participants.  It is recommended that the recording be listened to in order to fully appreciate the conversation.
 
The speakers introduced themselves and shared that they have been married for 20 years.  Prior to their marriage, each had been married, she to an African American man with whom she has 2 biological children.  He was married to a white woman with whom he adopted a daughter who is African American.
They believe being an inter racial couple has deepened their respective understanding of race. Dick shared that he was an early supporter of racial equality having developed a early friendship with a Black classmate and being influenced by the writing of James Baldwin. Later, while at university, he met James Baldwin. He believes the newsletter he and Sharon produce is central to their work.  He indicated he wants people to understand the daily "weathering" Black people endure. He used as an example, the daily worry Sharon has as her black son drives to work.
 
The remaining talk centered on a series of questions and ideas, posed and explored with the participants.  The questions included:
 
   What Got Us Here?
 
   What is Race?
 
   Colorblind and Racial?
 
   Learning to be White
 
   White Fragility
 
   White Supremacy/White Fragility
 
   What are the Threats?
 
   Glass Half Full, Glass Half Empty
 
   Where is the Opportunity?
 
The session ended with next steps, three were suggested:
 
    Embrace Fragility
    Understand Damage
    Put Knowledge into Action
 
 
 The next meeting will be on July 7th at 10:00 AM PST. On July 21, we will have another presentation by Brian Biery. Brian, in another of  his excellent presentations about racialy related experiences in our local area, will talk about the hisotry of development in Arroyo Seco. Brian will also discuss temporary issues regarding this unique geographical area.
 
Our discussion group meets twice a month on teh 1st and 3rd friday of each month. At 10AM on the 1st Friday and 12 Noon on the 3rd Friday, Pacific Standard Time. We welcome visitors and more information and registration are available by calling our office at 626-765-6037.  If you'd like to  be added to our mailing list send an email to rgmyers@gmail.com with the subject line : add to mailing list. 
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