ACTION begins ‘Sacred Conversation on Racism”
By LINDA M. LINONIS
YOUNGSTOWN
ACTION’s “Sacred Conversation on Racism” began at a clergy breakfast at Martin Luther Lutheran Church, 420 Clearmount Drive, where the Rev. Dave Kamphuis was host pastor. The beginning dialogue laid the groundwork for future sessions on the complicated, multifaceted issue.
John Norton of St. Paul, Minn., director of training for Gamaliel, based in Chicago, offered a presentation on racism Thursday. Gamaliel, founded in 1986, trains community and faith leaders to build political power and create organizations that unite people of diverse faiths and races.
He said Gamaliel, through its training programs, aims to build collective power to influence the economy and jobs, strengthen faith communities and heal communities.
ACTION – the Alliance for Congregational Transformation Influencing our Neighborhoods – is affiliated with Gamaliel.
“We need to discuss the original sin of the United States – racial oppression,” he said. Norton said racism has different levels – individual racism “is my own feelings” while structural racism is the use and abuse of power by community institutions.
He showed a brief documentary on “Delmar Divide” about Delmar Street in St. Louis, where vastly different social and economic situations are found on the two sides of the street.
Compared in four categories, it was shown the south side had homes valued at $335,000, residents with incomes of $50,000, 70 percent of residents with bachelor’s degrees and 73 percent white residents. On the north side, homes were valued at no more than $75,000, incomes were at $18,000, 10 percent of residents had bachelor’s degrees and 98 percent were African-American.
Norton posed this question to those in attendance: How did the “Delmar Divide” relate to Youngstown? Participants quickly said there is a “Youngstown Divide,” citing one example that people comment on what side of a street they live on and whether it puts them in the inner city or suburbs.
He asked participants at tables to quickly discuss how structured racism plays a role in the status quo, what could be done to dismantle organizations that perpetuate structured racism, and what stands in the way of achieving that goal.
Various situations pertinent to the city were noted. The main result was the overwhelming agreement that the dialogue must continue.
The Rev. Joseph Fata, an ACTION executive board member, discussed briefly the advantage of monthly clergy meetings, which members approved. Coordinating the dialogue will be the Rev. Dr. Robin Woodberry of New Bethel Baptist Church, the Rev. Jack Pettis of Mount Zion Baptist Church, the Rev. Jeff Stanford of Beulah Baptist Church and the Rev. Ed Noga of St. Patrick Church.