Racial Justice Work at UUCLB

Download the recently developed resource for a racial justice forum: RacialJustice_Resources-Understanding_White_Supremacy

Our former minister often reminded of the importance of “centering the margins” in our congregational life. People are marginalized in many ways, because of gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, disability, socioeconomic status, and more. When we center the margins, those of us in the dominant culture step back, listen, and find our humility. Those of us who have been marginalized are invited to step forward, into leadership, into our own strengths. We all step into beloved community.

We encourage everyone to make the work of racial justice both an activist passion and a spiritual practice. Many of us have taken this commitment to heart. Not only do we work to make racial justice a reality in our church community, we work to realize it in the wider community.

The Unitarian Universalist Church of Long Beach is in one of the most diverse cities in the country. Unfortunately, residents in this vibrant city who are persons of color still encounter discrimination and bigotry.

UUCLB has worked to further racial justice for decades, but with the many killings of young black people in recent years, and the rise of the Movement for Black Lives, we have intensified our efforts.

We have made our dedication to racial justice public with our Black Lives Matter Banner and our 2016 Proclamation in Support of Black Lives Matter.

Download the full resolution: blacklivesmatterresolution_passed05-16

We have organized book study groups to educate ourselves about institutional racism. Then we work to make it part of our daily lives, with workshops about the ways we encounter and resist racism every day. We work in partnership with the Long Beach chapter of Black Lives Matter in support of their community work, including the project to make the Citizen Police Complaint Commission more transparent. We will be expanding to educate and combat Islamophobia, in partnership with our local Muslim neighbors.

If you feel drawn to this work, join us! We meet monthly and welcome new partners.

For more information Contact Racial Justice.