Saturday June 12, 2021
The Power of The Circle
Transforming Race Relations in Jacksonville
There’s something magical about human beings gathering in a circle. The tender beauty of this circle of South African children feels ancient, innocent and sacred. The spirit in the space has a power that stops me every time I see it.
Their circle represents warmth in their of relationships, values of their community and the latent potential of these children.
Some of you might be aware of the story behind this photo. The children gathered in an open field. An anthropologist studying South African culture told them a bowl of fruit on the other side of the field belonged to whoever ran to it first. Rather than sprinting to the fruit, the children glanced around, smiled, clasped hands and strolled together to form in a circle where they shared the fruit together.
When asked why, they answered: Why compete for the fruit when we can sit together and all have some. They were articulating the African principle of Ubuntu which, in Swahili means “I am because we are.” Their view of themselves and their world was of community; their individual existence was integrally connected to each other. Why compete when all could benefit by sharing?
The picture of these children and the principle of Ubuntu move me deeply. Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. once wrote: “All meaningful and lasting change begins on the inside.” To understand the deeper meaning of Ubuntu I desire to understand what it means in my life. Upon reflection, meditation and prayer, I have come to this conclusion:
I desire to live in a world that manifests Ubuntu. And, I desire to live that way in my life --- to share, to collaborate, to contribute to the community, to put the collective interests of my fellow citizens on a par with self-interest.
A Personal Ritual of Forgiveness
Almost 20 years ago, I was CEO of a nonprofit in Jacksonville dedicated to racial equity, racial healing and racial justice --- MountainTop Institute. During those years, MountainTop Institute did good work with more than 40 organizations in this city. While the institute often built collaborations, many times we decided to go it alone, motivated, I now realize, by feelings of urgency, ego and arrogance. Had I been more patient, more humble, more understanding of things like the spirit of Ubuntu, the institute could have been much stronger at collaborating. Our city might have been better for it, already. And, I wasn't there yet. I did not know then what I know now.
My Vision of Possibilities
I had not yet explored in sufficient depth those forces in me that come from my lived-experiences as a Black man — the depth of my rage; the extent to which I hid that rage behind a mask of cordiality and civility; the power of internalized racism on my psychological makeup (that peculiar mixture of beliefs around White Supremacy and Black Inferiority); the price I paid daily for leading an organization in a mindset that worked against trusting collaboration.
I had not learned how to balance a practice of quiet, deep contemplation, self-forgiveness and graceful humility while also running an organization. That seems to be the way understanding works for me. I often learn by experience what I desire to teach others — personal experiential learning that goes beyond intellectual, "head" knowledge to attain higher insight and self-awareness.
Among the new personal skills and habits I have since learned is the ancient Hawaiian ritual of forgiveness called Ho’oponopono. I'll put that ritual to use here:
To my friends and colleagues in Jacksonville, I offer the words and spirit of Ho’oponopono from my heart to yours: “I am sorry. Please forgive me. I love you. Thank you” — for welcoming me into your Jacksonville, for forgiving me.
The result I fervently desire is acknowledgement of my imperfections as a human being, and the creation of space for forgiveness. I forgive myself also. Unknowingly, I violated the principles of Ubuntu at a time when a collaborative spirit and action might have made a significant difference.
And, it is never too late for redemption, for forgiveness. Ubuntu continues to represent opportunities to come together in order to create inter-organizational synergies capable of city-wide and even nation-wide racial healing. From my own experience, I’ve developed a clearer vision of what’s possible in our city if we learn and employ the spirit of Ubuntu.
My Vision of Possibilities
Imagine Jacksonville (and every city and town everywhere) listening to the “different others” among us across the divides of race, gender, sexual identity, religion, physical and mental ability and economic barriers. Imagine all the organizations currently engaged in racial equity or racial healing working in collaboration to facilitate gatherings with circles of small groups earnest with curiosity, mutual respect and a renewed sense of understanding and cooperation.
Imagine the kind of peaceful, sharing, creative, prosperous thriving community we could be. I believe we can create our own style of Ubuntu right here, right now.
Imagine us coming together in new ways to turn race relations in Jacksonville upside down, making success in positive race relations a flagship priority that ranks above any organization’s individual success.
What if funders, heads of church groups, eager teachers, leaders of every organization all got together and decided to consciously and intentionally turn our city into a Tier One model of racial equity?
What if thousands of people sitting in small groups in settings all across our city elevated the sense of racial possibilities in our city to create a new consensus on how to move forward together?
We’re in a moment of significant opportunity. The murder of George Floyd, and the protests that followed, has fixed the attention of our city and our country on the effects of racial inequities and the need for racial healing. The window for change is open.
Growing Racial Reconciliation in Jacksonville; The Spirit of Ubuntu
In Jacksonville alone, more than a score of organizations have added strengthened racial equity to their agendas. This includes nonprofits, corporations, government agencies, hospitals, philanthropic organizations, faith-based organizations, educational institutions.
The following is a list of some of the organizations engaged in this array of initiatives. I believe there are many more, as well as all the efforts underway in private in the business and public service sectors.
The Civil Rights Learning Exchange --- Gracious Circles, run by Drs. Rudy Jamison and Chris Janson of the University of North Florida’s Center for Urban Education and Policy.
The United Way of Northeast Florida with its $ 1million racial equity grant from Miller Electric.
904WARD, led by Dr. Kimberly Allen, through its $1 million racial equity grant from The Community Foundation and other philanthropists --- Programs include The Race Card dialogue sessions, healing circles, racial equity research and social justice action.
The Jacksonville Community Remembrance Project, sponsored by 904WARD, that conducts healing circles during soil collection ceremonies memorializing victims of lynchings, and dialogue circles during trips to the Montgomery Equal Justice Initiative Museum and lynching Memorial. JCRP also plans to hold a solemn Silent Walk commemorating the lynchings, in the Fall.
Truth & Reconciliation Circles by Khalil Osiris at St. John’s Cathedral, and the Litany of Repentance and Beloved Communities project of the Episcopal Church.
The Jacksonville Repentance Project, announced in January as a citywide initiative of white Christians & Churches “to repent from the history of White Supremacy in Christianity,” run by Matt Hartley.
The National Civil Rights Conference planned for August by civil rights icon Rodney Hurst and Dr. Rudy Jamison, around the time of Axe Handle Saturday.
OneJax Civic Discourse circles, and its 2021 online Global Summit, presented by Truth & Reconciliation Conversations.
Stronger Together – discussion groups within the City Council, led by Council members Joyce Morgan and Michael Boylan.
Jacksonville - Southern Baptist Convention — Seven pastors whose churches are members of the evangelically-oriented Southern Baptist Convention, have signed onto “The Jacksonville Statement” affirming their Gospel of Unity and Racial Reconciliation that commits their churches to work toward racial reconciliation.
The Northside Coalition, led by Ben Frazier, that focuses on nonviolent direct action and also works with other progressive organizations to conduct forums and panel discussions on key issues regarding racial equity.
A number of private corporations conduct racial awareness and reconciliation training. A couple of the local companies have won national recognition for their work. For, example, for several years, Florida Blue's diversity program was recognized by Diversity Inc. magazine as one of the top 50 in the nation.
All Things Diverse, led by Dr. Tammy Hodo, has organized a coalition including OneJax (Rev. Kyle Reese), the Urban League (Richard Danford) the Episcopal Diocese and others for a racial reconciliation conference in October. The organization also ran the Diversity Leadership Conference, a virtual event in February, and numerous other engagements around the city.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office is considering several experiential training methods for racial dialogue between police and the community. These include the work of The Center for Council, based in San Francisco; Inspire for Change, T-Neisha Tate’s program sponsored by Florida Blue, which has been successful with police in Miami; and dialogue sessions by Drs. Chris Janson and Rudy Jamison of the University of North Florida.
The NAACP and Urban League - Continuing their history-making century-old tradition of working for social justice and racial reconciliation.
Study Circles – The foundational work of Charlene Taylor Hill, who with her staff, the Human Rights Commission of the city, and a team of volunteers --- racial justice champions all — initiated the Study Circles movement in 1997. Rumors are that Study Circles has some possibility of being re-instituted, now.
The Jacksonville Civic Council — has created a Social Justice Task Force to explore what role the JCC might play.
The Community Foundation of Northeast Florida - several new initiatives, including funding 904WARD, under the stewardship of President Nina Waters.
Jacksonville Public Education Fund - President Rachael Tutwiler Fortune and her team are involved in a number of initiatives.
Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce - involved in various racial equity efforts, under the leadership of Carlton Robinson and Tamika Wright.
This is a sampling. There are others. These groups call their circles various names and embody various methods --- healing circles, gracious circles, study circles, repentance circles, compassionate circles, redemption circles, restorative circles, civil discourse circles, heart circles, wisdom circles and others. Some offerings are run as panel discussions and conferences rather than the circle format, but the intention is similar — to advance the cause of racial justice and equity.
This is an impressive lineup run by dedicated leaders, practitioners and their organizations. Their talent and commitment to the cause of racial justice is undeniable. Collectively, this array of activities contain the seed of spiritual salvation in our city which is otherwise plunging headlong into massive projects of gentrification --- building and development --- while neglecting the deeper cultural, societal, economic, communal and human needs of its residents.
As individual offerings these initiatives will have impact. However, imagine the impact generated by a collaborative approach that assembles all this talent and energy into a synergistic citywide campaign greater than the sum of its parts --- community wide racial reconciliation driven by a spirit of collaboration and cooperation: Ubuntu, Jacksonville style.
Envision a movement that has the potential to grow into rippling waves of well-facilitated experiential engagement.
Funding Opportunities
Collaboration will also magnetize financial support. Locally, the $2 million in funding from Miller Electric and the Community Foundation can be leveraged into a multi-million-dollar local campaign to raise funds that will support a vastly scaled effort; abundant funds that will reduce the need for competition and create clarity about strategic priorities that will appropriately allocate resources.
Nationally, foundations are seeking innovative, all-inclusive structural approaches.
Last October, The Ford Foundation doubled its support for racial justice, to $330 million, to “boost Ford’s ongoing commitment to advancing racial equity at a critical time when America is in an historic and long-needed reckoning over racism and injustice.”
Kellogg Foundation has committed $90 million to its “Racial Equity 2030” campaign to “build and scale ideas for transformative change around the world.”
The Kresge Foundation has developed a new $30 million grant campaign that “doubled down on long-standing racial justice work” to support “dozens of new partners across the nation.”
Some 90 percent of foundation heads recently interviewed by the Ford Foundation plan to “focus more on racial equity in the future … doing more to integrate equity into their strategy and grantmaking approaches.” Major foundations now include racial equity as a criteria for all grant applicants .
Through collaboration, we can all position our city to take advantage these and other opportunities through a process that embodies the values of Ubuntu – trust, caring, sharing, collaboration and love of community. An attitude of abundance would replace the scarcity mindset. We would access an abundant feast rather than scarcity in which we compete for funding crumbs.
There is a higher purpose at work here --- the potential for achieving redemption, reparation, healing and forgiveness --- King’s Beloved Community. It will be a tragedy if we sacrifice the potential for large-scale, sustainable change at the alter of individual programmatic success.
The Power of the Circle
Recent news coverage has served to spotlight racial inequities, but newspapers and television cannot create authentic engagement. That can only be achieved when people sit face-to-face --- in open circles of chairs with no tables or desks --- to hear each other’s stories and experience the pain and dislocation our racial barriers create in all our lives; and to experience the joys of truly sharing it all the good, the bad, the ugly, the dreams, the ups, the downs in our lives --- Small Groups on a Massive Scale.
Under the right conditions, the truth rolls out like thunder. What comes forth is clarity about the consequences of American racism --- how it impacts all Americans --- an inherently powerful and undeniable reality, whether consciously acknowledged or not.
In Jacksonville, support circles gather regularly in at least 35 different areas, according to an article in the Times Union, from cancer support groups, to 12-Step recovery groups, to grief support groups … etc. etc.
Over the past three decades, my wife and business partner, Shirley Stetson, and I have sat in hundreds of circles, in settings of all kinds. We’ve found people hunger for authentic contact, under conditions of safety and openness. The story-telling is rich with personal experience, values, cultural traditions, tears and laughter. Every person sitting in the circle learns, and feels heard and understood as the group listens to each person with deep respect and empathy in round after round of deepening communication.
Over the years since the 1960's, Diversity and Inclusion processes focused on story-telling in corporations, colleges, universities, nonprofits, government agencies, churches, synagogues and mosques has helped to bring us this far. It is more than time, now, to greatly expand the opportunity. This work has grown to incorporate Equity into the focus. In any circle process the space must be safe for participants to express their feelings and ideas along with a willingness to listen deeply.
The facilitator's role is critical: to help each small group to function in an atmosphere of openness and learning held in place by a set of Norms to insure that safety for everyone. The facilitators are the guides and circle keepers. They are detached guardians, compassionate holders of the form. They keep the participants attuned to the heartbeat of the group and on track as they journey around the circle and into the sharing process. Facilitators have the sacred role of opinion-free observer, guide and gentle encourager.
Given our racial history, these conversations are often intense. The space feels increasingly safe, eye opening and sacred even for the group, increasingly powerful and respectful of all individuals, their lives, their beliefs, their struggles, their triumphs along their life's winding paths. A shared understanding of their current realities and a clearer vision of the possibilities of their futures together emerges along with a stronger and stronger consensus on the required changes for individual, group, organizational and community advancement and positive growth.
Small Groups on a Massive Scale
The idea of “Small Groups on a Massive Scale” describes healing, learning circles around the city that expand opportunities for people to sit with each other, sharing their lived experiences around race. A friend recently commented that we need to make racial reconciliation circles as available as Dollar General Stores --- easy access for all who desire to participate --- a citywide movement that fundamentally shifts the racial climate and culture.
Some people will continue to resist changing their beliefs and behaviors. That’s the 80/20 rule of change, a natural part of the process. However, working these issues in Jacksonville over the last 25 years, it has become clear thousands of people are ready to engage, with both Blacks and whites more than willing to share their stories together.
This is not a question of Black people educating whites; nor, of whites figuring out how to wake up and take responsibility.
It’s a question of sitting together in a safe circle to experience mutual interconnectedness at a deeply personal — and profoundly spiritual --- level, as new consciousness rises like a flower from the bottomless streams of intense, well-facilitated, dialogue.
The Flower of Life --- A Form That Sustains Natural Collaborative Growth
I take a deep breath. I focus on the images above. My spirit lifts. I see different iterations of what is called “The Flower of Life.” Under close examination I see the flower emerge from within the image.
These images represent a new way for me to comprehend the dynamic, organic growth of a network of organizations moving into close collaboration, based on building trusting relationships and open, respectful communication.
In next month's blog, I’ll elaborate on what these images and notions mean to me, and why I'm convinced that our ability to develop trusting relationships is key to collaboration: Ubuntu alive in Jacksonville!