As a predominantly white organization, 3HO & IKYTA acknowledge the culture of white privilege and implicit bias that has existed within our community. We are now doing the deep work necessary to change—to raise awareness and educate ourselves in support of anti-racism and social justice. Our hope is that by sharing these resources, we can help to inspire our spiritual community to join us as we work towards a world of true equality, equity, and justice for all.
We Need to Do Better
Anti-Racism Work
Social Justice Resources
I Need to Talk to Spiritual White Women About White Supremacy by Layla Saad
White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo
Rachel Ricketts on Spiritual Bypassing & Why We Need To Quit It
Converting Hidden Spiritual Racism Into Sacred Activism: An Open Letter to Spiritual White Folks by Virginia Rosenberg
Yoga: How White People can Respect what was Never Theirs to Begin With by M. Butler and S. Price
Spiritual Activist Rachel Ricketts Challenges White Women to Rethink Wellness by Erin Bunch
Holy Shit, Being an Ally Isn’t About Me! by Real Talk: WOC & Allies
How White Spirituality, Religious or Not, Allows Racism to Grow by Kerry Connelly
woke. is a quarterly publication that centers and amplifies Black and Brown voices and marginalized narratives. “We focus on meditation & self-care, activism, inspiration, and social justice. I created woke. because as a Black woman and longtime yoga practitioner/teacher, I didn’t see myself reflected in the yoga world.”
Stepping into Spiritual Activism with Rachel Ricketts
Cultural Appropriation with Susanna Barkataki on From The Heart Podcast by Yoga Girl
How to Overcome our Biases with Verna Myers – TED Talk
Anti-Racism Training: Diversity, Inclusion, and Transformation for the Yogic Community – This course will be in three modules- to explore how systems of racism exist and persist; to experience how power and privilege work towards deeper union or separation; to embody practically how to build a conscious community. Each module, which will also include reflective work between each, will provide a deep container to understand ourselves deeper and how to break out of the painful patterns in place within our societies. Practical skills will be honed to truly move towards a space where “We are all one.” Each day will feature in-depth lectures, discussions, group exercises, yoga & meditation. Also, this course features Systemic Constellations – a therapeutic modality to explore and acknowledge the systemic patterning behind racism and prejudice that unknowingly affects our thoughts, actions, and experience. This course requires a high level of commitment. It is open to anyone that has the physical and mental bandwidth to engage in deep work of personal confrontation & revolution. Beyond that, this training is open to all. Scholarships and Sliding Scale is available for those in need of financial assistance.
Anti-Racism for White People is a learning community for people interested in showing up as agents of racial justice. This self-paced journey will support participants in learning, reflection, and action-taking to combat white supremacy and racism in our daily lives. Though this course is designed with the unique challenges of white identity in mind, everyone is welcome. Classes are run by the nonprofit Social Venture Partners LA
Black Lives Matter – #BlackLivesMatter was founded in 2013 in response to the acquittal of Trayvon Martin’s murderer. Black Lives Matter Foundation, Inc is a global organization in the US, UK, and Canada, whose mission is to eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes.
Campaign Zero – Campaign Zero’s data-informed platform presents comprehensive solutions to end police violence in America.
Color of Change – Color Of Change is the nation’s largest online racial justice organization, which helps people respond effectively to injustice in the world around us.
Community Change – Community Change is a national organization that builds the power of low-income people, especially people of color, to fight for a society where everyone can thrive.
Emergent Fund – The Emergent Fund provides resources to support grassroots organizing and power building in communities of color who are facing injustice based on racial, ethnic, religious, and other forms of discrimination. See a list of the Fund’s grantees since 2017 here.
Equal Justice Initiative – The Equal Justice Initiative is committed to ending mass incarceration and excessive punishment in the United States, challenging racial and economic injustice, and to protecting basic human rights for the most vulnerable people in American society.
GLAAD – GLAAD rewrites the script for LGBTQ acceptance. As a dynamic media force, GLAAD tackles tough issues to shape the narrative and provoke dialogue that leads to cultural change. GLAAD protects all that has been accomplished and creates a world where everyone can live the life they love.
Leadership Conference on Civil Rights – The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is the nation’s oldest, largest, and most diverse civil and human rights coalition.
Obama Foundation – “I’m asking you to believe. Not in my ability to create change—but in yours.” President Barack Obama.
Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) – SURJ is a national network of groups and individuals working to undermine white supremacy and to work toward racial justice. Through community organizing, mobilizing, and education, SURJ moves white people to act as part of a multi-racial majority for justice with passion and accountability.
Teaching Tolerance – Teaching about race, racism, and police violence.
Justice in June
The following resources are taken from Justice in June, compiled by Autumn Gupta with Bryanna Wallace’s oversight for the purpose of providing a starting place for individuals trying to become better allies.
“America’s Racial Contract is Killing Us” by Adam Serwer
“Who Gets to Be Afraid in America?” by Ibram X. Kendi
The 1619 Project from the New York Times
“White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack” by Peggy McIntosh
“The Intersectionality Wars” by Jane Coaston
“The Case for Reparations” by Ta-Nehisi Coates
“Tips for Creating Effective White Caucus Groups” developed by Craig Elliott
“Your Body Being Used” CodeSwitch Podcast from NPR ~ 6 min
“When Civility is Used as a Cudgel Against People of Color” CodeSwitch Podcast NPR ~ 6 min
“The Power of Martin Luther King Jr.’s Anger” CodeSwitch Podcast NPR ~ 5 min
“Opinion: My Father Stood for the National Anthem for the Same Reason Colin Kaepernick Sits” CodeSwitch Podcast NPR ~ 4 minutes
“When Calling the Po-Po is a No-No” CodeSwitch NPR ~ 4 min
- Help reallocate city budgets by defunding the police. The following link leads to Defund12.org which generates an email template pre-populated with elected officials’ emails. Simply fill in some of your information and the body of the message (advocating for defunding the police in that city) is automatically filled in for you. Automatic Email Template Link
- Register to vote! If you are serious about real change, your individual vote does matter. Use this link to register to vote, check your registration, vote by mail, get election reminders, pledge to register if you are <18, find the nearest polling place, and fill out your 2020 census form. Take today’s action a step further by sharing this link with friends and planning time into your schedule to vote in the closest upcoming election – city, state, or national.
- Google whether your city or town currently employs evidence-based police de-escalation training. The racial make-up of your town doesn’t matter — This needs to be standard everywhere. Write to your city or town government representative and police chief and advocate for it. Multiply your voice by soliciting others to advocate as well, writing on social media about it, writing op-eds, etc. (Source: 75 Things White People Can Do For Racial Justice)
- Donate to anti-white supremacy work such as your local Black Lives Matter Chapter, the National Council for Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls, the NAACP, Southern Poverty Law Center, United Negro College Fund, Black Youth Project 100, Color of Change, The Sentencing Project, Families Against Mandatory Minimums, A New Way of Life, and Dream Defenders. Join some of these list-serves and take action as their emails dictate. (Source: 75 Things White People Can Do For Racial Justice)
- If you or a friend is an educator, buy said friend books that feature POC as protagonists and heroes, no matter the racial make-up of the class. A few good lists are here, here, here, here, here, here, and here. And/or purchase educational toys that feature POC, such as finger puppets, Black History Flashcards, etc for their classroom. Use these items year-round, not just in February. The racial make-up of students doesn’t matter — kids of every race need to know American history and be exposed to people from different races, religions, and countries. If the friend is interested, buy them for your pal’s classroom. Don’t be shy to ask Facebook friends that you haven’t actually talked to in ten years. (Source: 75 Things White People Can Do For Racial Justice)
3HO/IKYTA Anti-Racism Homework
Each week, the staff of 3HO and IKYTA are gathering together during our regular staff meeting time to engage in challenging conversations about racism. The staff spends time, individually, engaging in homework that is then discussed as a group. We invite our community to follow along in this important work.
“America’s Racial Contract is Killing Us” by Adam Serwer
“Who Gets to Be Afraid in America?” by Ibram X. Kendi
The 1619 Project from the New York Times
“White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack” by Peggy McIntosh
“The Intersectionality Wars” by Jane Coaston
“The Case for Reparations” by Ta-Nehisi Coates
“Tips for Creating Effective White Caucus Groups” developed by Craig Elliott
Converting Spiritual Racism into Spiritual Activism – Virginia Rosenberg
Spiritual Bypassing and Why We Need to Quit – Rachel Ricketts
How Spiritual Bypassing Allows Racism to Grow – Kerry Connelly
How to Overcome Our Biases – Verna Myers
I Need to Talk to Spiritual White Women About White Supremacy – Layla Saad
Holy Sh*t, Being an Ally Isn’t About Me! – Real Talk: WOC & Allies
Little Brown Girls and the Whitewashing of Yoga – Crystal McCreary
How to Use Love to Repair Social Inequality – Chloé Valdary
Coming Soon!