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What is Sacramento Faces Race?
SFR is a grassroots, unfunded, all volunteer, project run by college students, academics, and professional social justice workers.
MISSION: Advance Understanding of Structural Racism - Institutional and Systemic; How It Operates, How It Currently Affects Black Americans, Other Historically Marginalized Groups, and American Society, While Providing a Springboard and Opportunity For Actionable and Sustainable Change.
What does Sacramento Faces Race do?
SFR does two things - we are a community-wide effort to inspire our entire region to participate in education to bridge understanding from a Black American experience and perspective. We also support projects and programs about equity and justice that are led by our Black community.
What is a Teach-In?
You’ve heard of Sit-Ins. They are a form of protest to bring about awareness of a particular social injustice as seen through the eyes of a particular part of our citizenry. A Teach-In goes beyond that awareness. It is an action of protest declaring an injustice while taking supportive action to aid in the further understanding of social injustice while hearing many perspectives to bring about a resolution.
What is a Read-In?
You get it! These too are a form of protest to bring about awareness of a particular social injustice as seen through the eyes of our marginalized or mistreated neighbors. Read-Ins are for folks who like to read perspectives, especially perspectives that have been well researched or first hand experiences. Then, over a period of time, the readers come together to discuss the issue the group-read book reveals.
Where is a Teach-In?
A Teach-In is anywhere you want it to be—a house of worship, coffee shop, workplace, living room or school. There are some Teach-Ins that will be open to the public and some that are private and not posted.
How does this work?
Justice is up to all of us. "We the People" SFR has approached over 100 people to conduct their personal Teach-In. SFR connects organizations, friend groups, and professionals to materials that help bridge understanding about racism from the Black American experience and perspective. The reach of those people now include over 500 organizations. Although we encourage people to make their Teach-In available to the general public, understandably this topic has some folks feeling protective. Some are even in denial that white people have certain advantages that lead to people of color injustice. The sensitivity of the subject is sometimes better discussed in an environment where the voices, although different perspectives, are at least known to the hosts. SFR encourages people to invite communities that are different from your own. Maybe a Catholic Church could invite a Muslim congregation. Or, maybe an AME Church could invite a Jewish congregation. Yet another possibility is for a school from the suburbs with a mostly White student body, engage with a school that has a more diverse racial population. The more perspectives, the better. We want to learn from each other and feel a little uncomfortable. That is how we create GREAT ideas for change! Keep in mind that SFR has participant guidelines. We also have lots of ideas to help you figure out what approach is best for you. Check out the list of opportunities that are already taking place over the weekend. Oh... and don't forget to look at the Take Action drop down!
What is SFR's perspective and how can we help?
SFR is an opportunity for committed community members to learn about the history, consequences, and subtleties related to a challenging topic society cannot agree upon—systemic racism. We don’t believe that blaming individuals or communities helps to bring about change. Educating ourselves about the root causes of the issue can bring about solutions. SFR offers an opportunity to think more deeply and share thoughts with the hope of understanding the social challenge with more compassion and courage. Ultimately, when we remedy social injustice, it will aid in raising our country’s potential for excellence in our global society. This is why we offer the opportunity to connect with racial justice professionals to help determine your best options.
Why should I participate?
If you are committed to our country’s excellence, then you know that we can only be as good as each individual’s achievement of personal success. If our society is creating barriers for personal success, then that is a challenge for our ENTIRE country, not just for the individual.
"A chain is no stronger than its weakest link; and life is after all a chain," - William James
The fact is that our country’s demographics are changing. We can be part of the solution or perpetuate the inequity. And remember, there is no such thing as "Neurtal" in the space of oppression. Either we're actively participating in solutions or we are complicit in injustice. With more Black people in prison now than were slaves just prior to the Civil War, we need to do something. We need to do something because of the economic burden on our society. We need to do something because people with broken spirits and no hope can develop health issues that often prevent them from participating to our highest potential in society. We need to do something because we are a compassionate people who care about our personal responsibility to those who have not shared in the same privilege of access to success. And we must teach our children that injustice visiting another has the potential to visit them.
We have to remember that in a society that believes in equality for all, we have to practice what we preach. If not, who’s to say that you or your children won’t be the next one to be treated unfairly?
“There is no Negro problem. There is no southern problem. There is no northern problem. There is only an American problem”
President Lyndon B. Johnson
How do I participate?
Sign up on our Participant Registration sign up form and we will let you know what is happening. If you are running an event, please also sign up in our Event Proposal sign up form. Lastly, you can also volunteer your space or services on our Volunteer sign up form.
What if I am not a host?
Good question. Hosting a Teach-In is easy. Just gather some friends and go to a coffee shop or someone’s living room. But if you can’t do that, we will have some learning opportunities that will be open to the public. It is up to each Teach-In host to list their Teach-In for the public to attend. Ultimately, the SFR Team is hopeful that people will see this as a way our community can lead this country in a new approach to our divisive racist issues, and be willing to invite people to their event through our Event Proposal sign up form.
Are there other programs associated with SFR?
YES! So glad you asked. We have several programs going on in addition to the Teach-In. We will keep you posted through the website as people and organizations offer opportunities.
What next?
Lots to do! First, we are working towards creating a repository for local, racial justice opportunities, actions, and resources. We hope you contribute. SFR is open to all suggestions. We would also love you to upload pictures and comments to our Facebook page or tweet about us with the hashtag #sacfacesrace. Keep in mind that next steps are something that you and the rest of the community must decide. But no doubt, SFR will work on ways to connect people with possible next steps after the initial weekend is over. Our hope is that this will spawn lots of discussion moving forward. We would like it to be used as a springboard to encourage further research and action with people who bring different perspectives and credible expertise about remedies to injustice to the discussion.
How can I help?
Cool! Those four encouraging words are so great to hear! You can help promote the weekend. Feel free to be creative in addition to this list!
L O N G LIST OF SUGGESTIONS
How can I start this project in my city?
Contact us and we’ll chat with you about how we succeeded! :) …and what we've learned from our mistakes.
SFR is a grassroots, unfunded, all volunteer, project run by college students, academics, and professional social justice workers.
MISSION: Advance Understanding of Structural Racism - Institutional and Systemic; How It Operates, How It Currently Affects Black Americans, Other Historically Marginalized Groups, and American Society, While Providing a Springboard and Opportunity For Actionable and Sustainable Change.
What does Sacramento Faces Race do?
SFR does two things - we are a community-wide effort to inspire our entire region to participate in education to bridge understanding from a Black American experience and perspective. We also support projects and programs about equity and justice that are led by our Black community.
What is a Teach-In?
You’ve heard of Sit-Ins. They are a form of protest to bring about awareness of a particular social injustice as seen through the eyes of a particular part of our citizenry. A Teach-In goes beyond that awareness. It is an action of protest declaring an injustice while taking supportive action to aid in the further understanding of social injustice while hearing many perspectives to bring about a resolution.
What is a Read-In?
You get it! These too are a form of protest to bring about awareness of a particular social injustice as seen through the eyes of our marginalized or mistreated neighbors. Read-Ins are for folks who like to read perspectives, especially perspectives that have been well researched or first hand experiences. Then, over a period of time, the readers come together to discuss the issue the group-read book reveals.
Where is a Teach-In?
A Teach-In is anywhere you want it to be—a house of worship, coffee shop, workplace, living room or school. There are some Teach-Ins that will be open to the public and some that are private and not posted.
How does this work?
Justice is up to all of us. "We the People" SFR has approached over 100 people to conduct their personal Teach-In. SFR connects organizations, friend groups, and professionals to materials that help bridge understanding about racism from the Black American experience and perspective. The reach of those people now include over 500 organizations. Although we encourage people to make their Teach-In available to the general public, understandably this topic has some folks feeling protective. Some are even in denial that white people have certain advantages that lead to people of color injustice. The sensitivity of the subject is sometimes better discussed in an environment where the voices, although different perspectives, are at least known to the hosts. SFR encourages people to invite communities that are different from your own. Maybe a Catholic Church could invite a Muslim congregation. Or, maybe an AME Church could invite a Jewish congregation. Yet another possibility is for a school from the suburbs with a mostly White student body, engage with a school that has a more diverse racial population. The more perspectives, the better. We want to learn from each other and feel a little uncomfortable. That is how we create GREAT ideas for change! Keep in mind that SFR has participant guidelines. We also have lots of ideas to help you figure out what approach is best for you. Check out the list of opportunities that are already taking place over the weekend. Oh... and don't forget to look at the Take Action drop down!
What is SFR's perspective and how can we help?
SFR is an opportunity for committed community members to learn about the history, consequences, and subtleties related to a challenging topic society cannot agree upon—systemic racism. We don’t believe that blaming individuals or communities helps to bring about change. Educating ourselves about the root causes of the issue can bring about solutions. SFR offers an opportunity to think more deeply and share thoughts with the hope of understanding the social challenge with more compassion and courage. Ultimately, when we remedy social injustice, it will aid in raising our country’s potential for excellence in our global society. This is why we offer the opportunity to connect with racial justice professionals to help determine your best options.
Why should I participate?
If you are committed to our country’s excellence, then you know that we can only be as good as each individual’s achievement of personal success. If our society is creating barriers for personal success, then that is a challenge for our ENTIRE country, not just for the individual.
"A chain is no stronger than its weakest link; and life is after all a chain," - William James
The fact is that our country’s demographics are changing. We can be part of the solution or perpetuate the inequity. And remember, there is no such thing as "Neurtal" in the space of oppression. Either we're actively participating in solutions or we are complicit in injustice. With more Black people in prison now than were slaves just prior to the Civil War, we need to do something. We need to do something because of the economic burden on our society. We need to do something because people with broken spirits and no hope can develop health issues that often prevent them from participating to our highest potential in society. We need to do something because we are a compassionate people who care about our personal responsibility to those who have not shared in the same privilege of access to success. And we must teach our children that injustice visiting another has the potential to visit them.
We have to remember that in a society that believes in equality for all, we have to practice what we preach. If not, who’s to say that you or your children won’t be the next one to be treated unfairly?
“There is no Negro problem. There is no southern problem. There is no northern problem. There is only an American problem”
President Lyndon B. Johnson
How do I participate?
Sign up on our Participant Registration sign up form and we will let you know what is happening. If you are running an event, please also sign up in our Event Proposal sign up form. Lastly, you can also volunteer your space or services on our Volunteer sign up form.
What if I am not a host?
Good question. Hosting a Teach-In is easy. Just gather some friends and go to a coffee shop or someone’s living room. But if you can’t do that, we will have some learning opportunities that will be open to the public. It is up to each Teach-In host to list their Teach-In for the public to attend. Ultimately, the SFR Team is hopeful that people will see this as a way our community can lead this country in a new approach to our divisive racist issues, and be willing to invite people to their event through our Event Proposal sign up form.
Are there other programs associated with SFR?
YES! So glad you asked. We have several programs going on in addition to the Teach-In. We will keep you posted through the website as people and organizations offer opportunities.
What next?
Lots to do! First, we are working towards creating a repository for local, racial justice opportunities, actions, and resources. We hope you contribute. SFR is open to all suggestions. We would also love you to upload pictures and comments to our Facebook page or tweet about us with the hashtag #sacfacesrace. Keep in mind that next steps are something that you and the rest of the community must decide. But no doubt, SFR will work on ways to connect people with possible next steps after the initial weekend is over. Our hope is that this will spawn lots of discussion moving forward. We would like it to be used as a springboard to encourage further research and action with people who bring different perspectives and credible expertise about remedies to injustice to the discussion.
How can I help?
Cool! Those four encouraging words are so great to hear! You can help promote the weekend. Feel free to be creative in addition to this list!
L O N G LIST OF SUGGESTIONS
- Download and Share the poster / flyer
- Download and Share the Article and Press Release
- Post on Facebook,and Twitter!
- Contact Media Outlets by phone, upload video, selfies, and other media comments to:
- http://archive.news10.net/sendit/videoupload
- http://ulocal.kcra.com
- http://www.foxnews.mobi/quickPage.html?page=17196
- http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/cbs13-street-team
- K-LOVE Christian Radio: (916) 251-1600
- KFBK Talk Radio: Newsroom: 916-924-3901; Talk Line: 916-921-1530
- KDee Grown Folks Radio: (916) 631-8599
- Capital Public Radio: KXJZ, (916) 278-8900
- http://archive.news10.net/sendit/videoupload
How can I start this project in my city?
Contact us and we’ll chat with you about how we succeeded! :) …and what we've learned from our mistakes.