Are Quaker Meetings Safe for Black People?
“I am accustomed to joining communities where I am the only African American present,” Billie Wade says. “That’s been a common thread throughout my life. Coming to Quakerism and discovering that that thread was going to continue was not a surprise.”
“Fortunately, Des Moines Valley [Friends Meeting in Iowa] has been an open, welcoming community to me,” Billie shares. But she also adds, “That said, I still feel lonely sometimes.” Although Friends are willing to talk about unrest in places like Ukraine or Iran, Billie explains, they are often reluctant to have similar discussions about the rejection Black people experience from within the Quaker community. She shares some areas where white Friends can do better.
Transcript and Discussion Questions Available Here
Produced by Layla Cuthrell
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