Othering-Free Zone

[OneGrassRoot]

I started to write this post by giving some background, as a reminder to people who do recognize my name but also for those who don't know me. I was writing about the history of Wishadoo (still there, waiting to be relaunched), being dissed on Glenn Beck's show, my desire to create member- and worker-owned cooperatives, and my realization as I've explored movements such as the "new economy" movement that the membership is always so very white, white, white. Usually white men, btw.

The lack of diversity and the level of segregation always startles me, though I don't know why; I should expect it by now.

Anyway, that was becoming a novella, so I'm just going to share one thing and ask for your feedback.

I'm retooling my websites to have a specific focus on anti-othering. I've been trying to think of something clear and simple that I can share across all the sites -- something which may be good on t-shirts, too; something that makes a statement; something that says to people who are accustomed to being seen as "the other" that I stand with them.

Easter Sunday the idea of creating OTHERING-FREE ZONES came to mind. (I went with "othering-free" versus "no othering" because the latter feels authoritarian.)

Over the last two days I got excited about this idea. I have many ideas as to how this could catch on and be used in various places, various ways.

However, I could be way off in my excitement about this idea and would greatly appreciate fresh eyes and feedback.

I'm currently focused on the Coalition for Good. If you don't mind visiting the home page -- the site is under construction, but there is more detailed information about the vision and mission of the Coalition on the "About" page -- I'd love to know how it lands for you as you scroll through the existing content. (I don't think there's very much.)

Your general impression would be helpful.


http://coalitionforgood.org


THANKS!

[brer cat]

1. I think this has some real potential, OGR.

I liked the emphasis on "unity in diversity" and the t-shirt with a recognizable message of inclusion. I live in an area (southern end of the Appalachian Mountains) where we have only recently had people of color coming into the community. Many of these are students from our small liberal arts college, and I often wonder if they feel apprehensive about how welcoming the "locals" are. The t-shirt would send the message at just a glance.

You have some great ideas, and I look forward to seeing how this develops.

[OneGrassRoot]

3. Thank you, brer cat!

That was precisely what I was hoping for: That it would send a message at just a glance, to both the bullies (racist, bigoted supremacists) and the bullied.

Greatly appreciated!

[Blasphemer]

2. I like this idea a lot

And I agree that "Othering Free" sounds better than "No Othering." I could definitely see this as something that would take off on university campuses. I know where I went to school, there was a lot of anti-racist activism from a variety of student groups while there was simultaneously a problem with hate speech being directed at (primarily muslim) students of color. I wish I was still on campus at the moment, as it is something I could definitely see myself getting involved in. But, yes, you've definitely got something there!

[OneGrassRoot]

4. Thanks for chiming in, Blasphemer!

So glad you connect with the idea and think it has value. Yay!

Thanks much.