MLK Facebook Post by Kenny Wiley

     The article below was written by, and, posted on Facebook, by Kenny Wiley, a black man, a lifelong Unitarian Universalist, and a Director of Faith Formation at Prairie UU outside of Denver. 

I need my Unitarian Universalist faith family to read this post.
     I feel icky writing that--like, you can make your own decisions, right? But what happened this weekend, in terms of our racial justice hopes and dreams as a faith, is that important.
     I served as an advisor at the MLK youth con in Denver over the weekend. The 75ish youth, who spent the weekend engaging in racial justice work, asked: Would we stick with the traditional Marade route, 15,000ish strong, or would we take some risks and join the hundreds planning to "#ReclaimMLK" on an alternate route?
     Those who work with youth can especially imagine how many questions such a dilemma brought up. The logistics and back-and-forths, while important, are not the point here. 
     In the course of the community discussing whether--and how--to participate in the civil disobedience, some of our youth of color felt frustrated and dismissed in the large group conversation, both by white youth and white adult advisors. One UU youth of color spoke their disappointment, people clapped and thanked them for speaking, and then the group moved on. As tears began flowing, it was clear something needed to be done.
     In general I consider myself a decent, but not great, religious educator. I like my job at Prairie UU--our congregation SHOWED UP at the Marade Monday, by the way--but I'm more known for my work with UU World.  The fact that I was in the room--and that two other religious professionals of color were also in the space--made a HUGE difference.
     Though there were only a dozen(ish) people of color in the room out of 90-something, I decided to take a risk and ask the youth of color if they wanted to caucus to have a safer space in which to talk.
     I call it a risk because 15-year-old me never would have accepted. Hole up with other black & brown folks away from everyone else? Um, no. But I asked anyway because 16-year-old me would've wanted to say yes.
17-year-old Texan UU me had but one advisor of color around (and his attendance was erratic due to work) and needed a mentor who looked like me.
     The youth of color said yes to the caucus, and said yes to themselves.
     What they decided is important, but again, not the point here. Over the course of a night--with guest appearances from Black Lives Matter, activists who happened to be in the building, and who gave their time to youth they didn't know from a faith they don't share the night before some huge, risky actions… the UU youth of color went from "Wait, we can caucus?" to "Yeah, UU advisors of color and BLM folks, thanks, but we got this." 
     IN ONE NIGHT.
     They do "got this."
     White UU friends, when we talk about making our faith more diverse and our staffs more diverse, it's not just about you. It's about our youth of color who often grow up in white friend groups and sometimes in white families. It's about the fact that the MDD adult staff who serve youth has some INCREDIBLE white folks on it, but the three of us folks of color, with our own journeys of pain and training and discovery, were the ones who made the call to help the youth of color center themselves.
     The youth of color, as they found and wielded their power, helped lead our community into a powerful space that honored where folks are on their journeys. Those ready to join the front lines and sing, "Which side are you on?" got to sing. Those who needed to be with the main march got to be--and in the end, we all sang, "Eyes on the Prize," and others, together, because of those YoC.
     The youth of color spoke truth to white adults who needed to hear it, those who have incredible souls and hearts and still, at key times, can get in the way.
     Friends, this work is not hypothetical. It is not abstract. The work of UU religious professionals of color sometimes goes un(der)appreciated, and sometimes gets overpraised out of guilt. But make no mistake: we matter. When you think of "who we are" as UUs, you better not forget us.
     UUs of color make concessions every Sunday, and on some weeknights, as well. I am in this faith because it is home, theologically and otherwise. If you are white and UU and reading this, I consider you my family, micro/macroaggressions and all. That room of youth and adults of color, mostly UUs...that was home. That's my ministry, even as I gladly serve the larger faith. 
     (Adults of Color): We need to be in the damn room.
Every UU reading this: I love you. 
UUs-and-other folks of color: I need you to survive.
(andmaybeshareifyouwannna)
Kenny Wiley