Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance

The Action Alliance, in keeping with our mission and guiding principles, is making a commitment to address racism as an essential component of our work to address sexual and domestic violence. We invite all of our members – individuals, sexual and domestic violence advocacy agencies, and affiliate members – to read and consider the statement that follows. Further, we invite those individual members who are white [see “Definition of Race” from DRW] and agencies that are public agencies or private, non-profit agencies to sign the statement, thereby committing to the process of becoming white allies to the elimination of racism.

Signing this statement is expected to represent commitment! Becoming a white ally is an ongoing process. In order to work effectively, it is crucial that white allies recognize and understand the violence that racism has perpetuated – and continues to perpetuate – on people of color. White allies should be accountable to people of color in the partnership to end domestic and sexual violence. Entering into an alliance with people of color to dismantle racism is a powerful step in building new ways of relating to each other. Working together toward this common cause offers the opportunity to promote healthy relationships, which is the foundation for forming violence-free relationships in communities.

In order to understand oppressions in our culture, we must acknowledge the concept of white privilege. In a racist culture, people of color experience disadvantages while white people experience advantages. White privilege implies that white people and the ideas, thoughts, beliefs, and actions of white people are superior to people of color and their ideas, thoughts, beliefs, and actions. If we are to be effective in addressing sexual and domestic violence, we must eradicate white privilege through sweeping social change.

As a movement in Virginia established by individuals and community advocates, we have the power to bring about change. We ask that you join us in striving to be anti-racist in our lives and in our work.

VALUES THAT GUIDE OUR COMMITMENT TO ANTI-RACISM WORK

Certain underlying values and beliefs formed the foundation for the work done in developing this statement.

We value equality for people of color. Ending oppression – the dynamic based on a belief that there are some who are entitled to have power and control over others – is vital to ending sexual and domestic violence. Historically/traditionally, it has been the practice to believe, “Just as men are entitled to have power and control over women, white people are entitled to have power and control over people of color.” Establishing racial equality empowers and strengthens the entire movement to end sexual and domestic violence.
We believe racial justice and equality can be achieved only if white individuals doing this work are able to recognize their own personal role in perpetuating racism and are willing to make a personal investment in working to that end as well as holding those accountable who perpetuate these acts. This recognition and commitment will allow individuals to then move forward in recognizing the roles that our agencies, organizations, institutions, and society play in perpetuating racism as well as recognizing the opportunities that arise to promote racial justice.
We reject the notion of a “color-blind” society, which requires assimilation to white culture and thereby silences the unique perspectives of different cultures. Instead, we acknowledge that not everyone is “just alike.” Honoring the differences between and among people, rather than denying that they exist, benefits all members of society.
We believe that white allies in the process of dismantling racism must work to understand white privilege and its effects on each of us; this is ongoing work that includes listening, watching, learning, and being willing to admit when we do not understand, and being able to accept honest – and sometimes harsh – feedback about the reality of our white privilege.

COMMITTING TO ACTION

As we begin to embrace the elimination of racism within our work and question what it means to be a white ally to anti-racism work, we should hold ourselves accountable for racist behavior. In order to be effective allies, white people must put the privilege afforded them by racism aside and receive leadership from people of color.

The actions that follow were developed by a group of white members of the Action Alliance for review and modification by the Women of Color Caucus and for adoption by the full membership. As members sign on to this Statement of Commitment, they are asked to commit to each item relating to their membership.

Individual Member Commitments to Action

Be an active ally: Address, educate, and inform white people of racist comments and racist attitudes not only in your personal life, but also in your workplace, in your community, and within cultural institutions such as church, government, and media.
Commit to personal growth through understanding how white privilege promotes and perpetuates racism.
Actively engage and listen to people of color. Provide a forum to hear from people of color. Honor the experiences of people of color without expecting one individual to speak for all people of color.
Make a commitment to examine white privilege and how it is present in your life, how it relates to unearned disadvantages for people of color and promotes separatism.
Honor your commitment to be a white ally even in the face of personal risk and discomfort.
Donate time and/or money to anti-racism efforts, events, and organizations, and advocate within your personal and professional networks for others to do so as well.
Promote equality and respect for people of color, challenge white privilege for future generations, and promote peaceful coexistence. Talk with children in your family and in your community about your commitment.

Sexual and Domestic Violence Advocacy Agency and Affiliate Member Commitments to Action

Encourage staff and board members to sign Individual Member Commitments to Action (see above).
Build agency capacity to engage in anti-racism work through training, dialogue, participation in caucuses, and WATAR (White Allies to Anti-Racism Work), creating and supporting a forum for people of color in your agency to build community and share concerns by encouraging individuals to sign the white allies’ statement.
Develop resources in a manner that is accountable to communities of color, including culturally appropriate training, service delivery, resources development, and facilities.
Implement recruitment strategies to reach people of color to ensure that volunteers, board, and staff reflect the racial diversity of the community.
Foster leadership opportunities for people of color on staff.
Conduct an annual assessment of policies and practices to ensure that they reflect the agency commitment to anti-racist work.
Ensure that staff attend cultural competency training and that the administration provides resources to promote anti-racism work.
Be prepared as an organization to honor your commitment to anti-racism work – even in the face of organizational risk and discomfort.
Adopt a public policy agenda that address anti-racism and white privilege. Assess policies for their impact on people of color.

Action Alliance Governing Body and Staff Commitments to Action

Sign Individual Member Commitments to Action (see above).
Sign Sexual and Domestic Violence Advocacy Agency and Affiliate Member Commitments (see above).
Actively support member participation in the Women of Color Caucus, other caucuses, and WATAR.
Ensure that resources are made available to member agencies to promote their anti-racism work.

SIGNING

YES! I am ready to sign on.

We ask you, individual members and member agencies of the Action Alliance, to commit to this work and sign this statement. The process begins by going to the Action Alliance website: www.vsdvalliance.org. You will be asked to provide your member name (as an individual/Advocacy Agency/Affiliate member/Governing Body), an email address, and a mailing address. If you are not already a member, you may become a member of the Action Alliance at the time you sign the Statement of Commitment.

You must be a member in order to sign this statement.

We will use your mailing address to provide you a printed copy of your Statement of Commitment. We will use your email address to send news about trainings, caucus and WATAR meetings, and other information that will support your commitment. Member names of those who have signed the Statement of Commitment will be posted on the Action Alliance website. We will ask you to renew your commitment as an individual, agency, or organization every two years.

We encourage advocacy agency and affiliate members to involve staff, board members, and volunteers in the process of making this commitment. Share this Statement of Commitment, engage your agency or organization in discussion about the commitment, and develop a group consensus for signing.

If you would like additional information about the Statement of Commitment or assistance with engaging your agency or organization in a dialogue about signing the Statement, please contact the Action Alliance Co-Directors, directors@vsdvalliance.org or 804-377-0335. Download statement in Word.

From “Dismantling Racism 2007: A Workbook for Social Change Groups:”

RACE

There is no such thing as race from a scientific or biological point of view.
Even though this is true, race is a powerful political, social, and economic force. Race is essentially a political construct, in other words, it was constructed for political purposes.
The term ‘white’ was constructed to unite certain European groups living in the U.S. who were fighting each other and at the same time was a numerical minority in comparison to the numbers of African slaves and Native peoples.
In order to justify the idea of a white race, every institution in this country was used to prove that race exists and to promote the idea that the white race is at the top and all other races are below, with the black race on the bottom. All institutions were used to promote the idea of white supremacy.
All Europeans did not and do not become white at the same time (Irish, Italians, Jews). Becoming white involves giving up pieces of your original culture in order to get the advantages and privileges of being in the white group.
This process continues today.