"Earth Holders understands the interconnection between our environmental crisis and racism and therefore the interconnection between earth justice and racial justice. However, being mindful of this interconnection can be very difficult because we have been unconsciously conditioned to be so afraid of acknowledging the presence of racism and white supremacy in our society, in our communities, and within ourselves.
White supremacy teaches us that you're either a good (non-racist) person or you're a bad (racist) person. So it's understandable that many people, especially white people, are terrified of noticing and naming internalized white supremacy as such!
And yet, it is inevitable that all of us have internalized toxic messages from white supremacy because it is embedded in the founding of the US and in the society that we inherited.
So it's important for us to lean on our practice to remind ourselves that we are human beings raised in a society built on white supremacy and other forms of systemic oppression - but we don't need to be unconscious and mindless to it.
With our practice and sangha, we are able to be mindful of the presence of white supremacy within us and around us - with compassion and equanimity and take right action to address it.
But that's only possible if we're able to take care of the pain and fear that stands in the way between us and being mindful of its presence. "
-Sandra Kim, Founder of Everyday Feminism & Re-becoming Human
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