Mission

The mission of the BUC Racial Justice program is to support congregants in developing and living out an intentionally anti-racist identity. In the personal, interpersonal, institutional, and cultural aspects of our lives and communities, we aim to be actively anti-racist. As a congregation, we strive to be welcoming and inclusive for people of all races, affirming the worth and dignity of all, and to act on this commitment in our wider community.

Our Strategies

• To be proactive in confronting and dismantling racism, and healing its effects, in ourselves and our institutions.
• To educate ourselves on the historical basis for the construct of “race” and on structural racism and white supremacy; how these are held in place, both historically and today.
• To understand the responsibility of white people in ending racism and breaking the silence that surrounds it.
• To build beloved community, people of color and white people together, as we work to dismantle racism.
• To hold each other accountable, growing beyond shame and guilt, practicing the skills of interrupting racism, and demonstrating good faith as we work to become more effective anti-racist activists.
• To engage regularly in social justice actions to address structural racism.

Our Work

“Living the Pledge” Workshop

The Racial Justice team offers a 12-hour workshop that enables participants to integrate the Pledge to End Racism in their daily lives by:

• Learning how to confront racism and bias in everyday encounters;
• Recognizing and challenging systemic racism;
• Making a personal commitment to help end racism in their community.

Developed by members of First UU Church of Richmond, the workshop is based on the Birmingham Pledge created in 1997 by Jim Rotch, an attorney in Birmingham, Alabama. Participants develop a community of support and an understanding of how to use this support to deepen their work in building a just and equitable multicultural world.

Supporting the Work of Frontline Communities

Frontline communities are those that experience the most immediate and worst impacts of inequity and injustice. Our team works to build partnerships with organizations whose experience on the frontlines informs the work needed to dismantle racism. One such organization is Michigan Liberation, a nonprofit founded and led by formerly incarcerated people who are working to dismantle structural racism in the criminal legal system.

Forums and Action Alerts

Forums on racial justice topics are offered periodically and include ways for participants to further their learning and/or engage in action to address the particular topic. In addition, we publicize news about community projects, legislation and policy action, and other opportunities for members to act on their commitment to end racism.

The Michigan UU Social Justice Network (MUUSJN), of which BUC is an active member, also publishes action alerts related to legislation and policy on social justice issues, including racial justice. Click here to register for MUUSJN alerts.

8th Principle of Unitarian Universalism

Authored by Paula Cole Jones and Bruce Pollack-Johnson, this principle was endorsed by Black Lives UU and recommended for adoption in 2017. BUC’s GUUSH group (high schoolers) adopted it in July of 2021. In May of 2022, the BUC membership voted overwhelmingly in favor of adoption. Visit 8thprincipleuu.org to learn more about the 8th Principle.