OBSERVATIONS
Diversity Dinner speaker provides strategies for talking about race
A few years ago, a gentleman (whose name I did not get in my notes, much to my regret) stopped by Homewood village hall during Mayor Rich Hofeld’s Meet the Mayor session.
He implored Hofeld to find a way to incorporate Frederick Douglass’s “What is the Fourth of July to the Slave” speech into the village’s Independence Day celebration. (That conversation led to the Chronicle’s 2020 Independence Day video project, “Celebrating powerful voices for freedom and equality.”)
As he was leaving, he said with some passion, “We have to give up white privilege.” And I said, “How?”
Yes, the question betrays my obliviousness, even after reading somewhat obsessively about racism for years. It’s one thing to recognize the deep problem embedded in our society. It’s another thing to get clear on what my role is in maintaining the system and what exactly I can do about it.
That’s why I was so glad to see that Debby Irving was chosen to lead a workshop at this year’s South Suburban Diversity Dinner on Oct. 12 at Flossmoor Community Church’s community house.
She is a racial justice educator and author of “Waking Up White, And Finding Myself in the Story of Race.” Her workshop was titled, “Transformational Conversation, Moving from Fear to Curiousity.”
Irving’s book recounts her journey from being well-meaning but rather ineffectual and fairly oblivious on matters of race to someone who through difficult conversations and experience slowly recognizes the contours of white privilege that cushioned her from the obstacles faced by nonwhite people and protected her from the knowledge of her role in a racial hierarchy.
She eventually realized that her safety and comfort were effective impediments to understanding and action. She was ill-equipped to face race.
In the process of divesting herself of comforting blinders, she learns to recognize her own privilege and provides a guide to those who want to pursue the project themselves.
One key to that process, and the one she emphasized at the workshop, is learning how to talk about race.
“One of the things I have found whenever the topic of race comes up people are tongue-tied. Especially white people have a huge fear of saying something wrong, of being called out,” she said after the workshop. “I related to that because I once had those fears. I started to realize that what I really was afraid of was any kind of conflict, because I had no skills.”
She says in the book that she was raised by protective parents and absorbed lessons in how to avoid uncomfortable subjects.
“I had been raised to think, ‘If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.’ ‘Don’t rock the boat.’ I came out of childhood with no conflict navigation skills,” she said. “Once I started to get some skills, conflict wasn’t so scary.”
Her book and workshop offer strategies for how to break out of comfort zones to have conversations about race or other challenging topics.
“I dive deep into why these conversations are so hard,” she said. “Problems are easier to solve once we understand what makes them a problem in the first place.”
I can relate. As someone raised in a white town, in a white county, in a white state, my upbringing looked a lot like Irving’s (and we’re about the same age, so we come from the same generation), including the obsession with niceness which forms a veil of obliviousness that distorts our view of race, even when we try to look right at the problem.
Irving’s message supports the main purpose of the Diversity Dinner series, which brings people together to find common ground through communication and community. It is useful for anyone who could use help delving into difficult subjects, but I think it’s especially good at helping those of us who continue to struggle with the viscous trap of white privilege.
I recommend her book, and was glad to see a full house for the Diversity Dinner workshop.
THE WEEK >
Meetings
Flossmoor Community Relations Commission will meet at 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 23, in village hall, 2800 Flossmoor Road.
- Find the agenda here.
Homewood Board of Trustees will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 24, in village hall, 2020 Chestnut Road.
- Find the agenda here.
- Attend remotely here or dial 312-626-6799. ID 980 4907 6232, passcode 830183.
- Contact the board at [email protected] or by placing written comments in the drop box outside village hall. Comments submitted before 4 p.m. on the meeting date will be distributed to all village board members prior to the meeting.
- Highlights: The board will consider a redevelopment plan and two Class 8 property tax relief designations for Apparel Redefined, a custom apparel printing and monogramming company, which plans to move its headquarters and production facility to 1313-1351 175th St. The board also will consider a special use permit for a crematorium in the business condominiums on Bretz Drive.
Stuff to do
Monday, Oct. 23
Property Tax Assistance for Businesses. The Southland Development Authority and the Cook County Assessor’s Office are sponsoring a workshop from 1 to 2 p.m. at Worth Village Hall, 7112 W 111th St. Register here.
Tuesday, Oct. 24
Haunted Ho-Flo Bike Ride. GoodSpeed Cycles, 2125 183rd St. will host a family-friendly, costumed tour of horror and high camp, touring the best home and yard decorations in Homewood and Flossmoor by bike. The eight-mile ride starts at 6:30 p.m. at GoodSpeed. Cost is $3 per person to benefit the Homewood Cancer Support Center. Donate on-line or at the ride. Everyone should have lights on their bikes.
Wednesday, Oct. 25
Read, Rock n’ Rhyme Storytime. The 10:30 a.m. program at Homewood Public Library, 17917 Dixie Highway, is designed for kids aged 0 to 7 years old and gives them a chance to get up and dance, shake and wiggle during stories, songs and rhymes. Registration is not required, but preferred.
Friday, Oct. 27
Parker Junior High play. Student actors will perform “All’s Well in Roswell (Isn’t It?)” at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27, and 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28, at Parker Junior High School, 2810 School St. Tickets can be purchased starting Monday, Oct. 23, in the Parker main office or during student lunches and are $5 adult/$3 students and seniors ahead of time and $7/$5 at the door.
Flashlight Pumpkin Hunt. The hunt for kids ages 3 to 12 will take place from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Irons Oaks Environmental Learning Center, 20000 Western Ave., Olympia Fields. The pumpkin trail will have activities along the way. Participants must be accompanied by a non-paying adult and should bring a flashlight. Each child needs to register for the program. The fee is $10 for residents, $15 for non-residents. Click here to register.
Saturday, Oct. 28
Trick or Treat Trail. Children 10 and younger are invited to come Trick-or-Treat at Millennium Park, 18600 Harwood Ave., Homewood. Youngsters must be accompanied by an adult. The Homewood-Flossmoor Park District event is free for Homewood and Flossmoor residents, but registration is required. Registration slots are staggered 15 minutes throughout the event. Non-residents can register for a fee of $2. Click here to register.
Myth & Magic stories. Folk and fairy tales were not originally meant for small children. Kelly Campos will be telling stories in their original intent as cautionary tales at Homewood Public Library, 17917 Dixie Highway, at 2 p.m. The show is intended for teens and adults.
Roller Derby minor league bout. The Chicago Knockouts roller derby league will hold a youth bout at 2 p.m. in the Homewood Auditorium, 2010 Chestnut Road. The Horrific Haunters will take on the Comic Book Crushers. Doors open at 1:30 p.m. Tickets $10, online and at the door. Accessible seating available at no extra charge.
Bark-Or-Treat at Flossmoor Station. Flossmoor Station Restaurant & Brewery and Flossmoor Business Association are sponsoring a Halloween costume competition for pets at 3 p.m. on the brewery’s caboose deck, 1035 Sterling Ave. The entry fee is $10 per household, which will be donated to the South Suburban Humane Society. Winners will receive gifts from local Flossmoor businesses. Tickets and more details are available online.
Parker Junior High play. Student actors will perform “All’s Well in Roswell (Isn’t It?)” at 3 p.m. at Parker Junior High School, 2810 School St. Tickets can be purchased starting Monday, Oct. 23, in the Parker main office or during student lunches and are $5 adult/$3 students or seniors ahead of time and $7/$5 at the door.
Sunday, Oct. 29
Candy Catapults. Kids aged 9 to 13 will be able to test their aim at the Flossmoor Public Library’s candy shooting range. The event from 3 to 4 p.m. in the Helen Wilson Meeting Room at the library, 1000 Sterling Ave., will include making a catapult and using it to launch Halloween candy at targets.
Notices
Trick or treat hours. The hours for trick-or-treating in Homewood and Flossmoor will be from 3 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 31. Homewood is inviting kids to trick-or-treat from 3 to 5 p.m. at village hall, 2020 Chestnut Road; the police and fire departments, 17950 Dixie Highway; the Homewood Public Library, 17917 Dixie Highway; and the Homewood Science Center, 18022 Dixie Highway.
< THE WEEK
- Strike Up the Band at Willow School (Oct. 20, 2023).
- Two contracts approved for HVAC work at H-F (Oct. 20, 2023).
- GSU plans groundbreaking Oct. 23 for Social Justice Initiative building (Oct. 19, 2023).
- Memories flood back for H-F Class of 1973 alumni (Oct. 16, 2023).
- Crews respond to fire at Home Depot Monday afternoon (Oct. 16, 2023).
- Hundreds support Cancer Support Center’s Walk of Hope (Oct. 16, 2023).
- Flossmoor welcomes new police officer (Oct. 16, 2023).
- Flossmoor recognizes local breast cancer survivors (Oct. 15, 2023).