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Roots of Justice co-founder Dr. Regina Shands Stoltzfus talks about how the process of "divide and rule" impacts People of Color, and keeps BIPOC and white people separate. It obfuscates the truth that "the sum is greater than our parts" for dismantling racism.
By: Dr. Calenthia Dowdy, ROJ Trainer Deep anticipation was what I felt rising inside me as I sat in my seat at the movie theater Friday night of The Woman King. It was opening weekend and I was determined to be in that number. Knowing that this story was not fictitious but was based in the fact of a real woman warrior group called the Agojie made me swell with a bit of pride. Set in the 1800s Dahomey kingdom of West Africa where the Agojie, an elite military regime of women take part in protecting their kingdom. The Agojie existed circa 1600-1904 as one of only a few known all-female military units in the world. Also known as the Dahomey Amazons, from the kingdom which thrived during the 18th and 19th centuries in what is now modern-day Benin. The film did not disappoint. It was epic, cinematically stunning, filmed in South Africa, along the coast of KwaZulu-Natal and Cape Town. The warrior women are portrayed as strong, agile, smooth-bodied, and beautiful. Viola Davis plays the formidable Nanisca, General of this women’s army, whose primary task is to train the next generation of woman warriors. And that she does. By Thulani Conrad Moore, Roots of Justice Trainer Lies about historical figures are not unusual, but they are dangerous. Lies of commission are those stories told that are false. Equally dangerous are the lies of omission. Facts that have been omitted to control or shape the historic narrative. Finding the truth takes some digging. Excavating is a process of exposing, laying bare, digging, or unearthing. It usually refers to digging soil. I am digging through history to expose nuggets of U.S. history your teacher didn't tell you. Lies of omission and lies of commission make you miss important stuff. For instance, which of these is true about the first U.S. president, George Washington?
By: Thulani Conrad Moore, Roots of Justice Trainer Understanding racism and White supremacy starts with a question that White people need to ask themselves. People of Color need to ask themselves this question also but that subject will be discussed in another chapter. The question is how do you know what you know about who you are. We are all told who we are by the external forces around us. This question should create an existential crisis point. It is a fact that our identities are shaped by the people around us who tell us who we are. It starts with parents and grandparents. It moves on to other caregivers and school teachers, pastors or religious leaders who tell us who we are. 2020 has been a year of ________! You can fill in the blank. However you fill in that blank, the reality of structural and systemic racism in our country has been woven clearly throughout. It can’t be denied. In the midst of it all Roots of Justice has shown up and pivoted by…
Thanks to you, our loyal supporters for all the ways you show up for us. ROJ is a small operation and we rely on you, our Family. Will you support our mission of equipping institutions to dismantle racism with a financial gift? In Peace and Solidarity, The Roots of Justice Team
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AuthorRoots of Justice trainers and friends share reflections on historical and current events Archives
November 2023
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