Equity Actions

“LET’S GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER” ARTS CONVERSATIONS. Isn’t it time to be working together for equity and against white supremacy in our churches, schools, and everywhere we’re connected, using the many creative gifts we have all been blessed with to transform lives and make some real changes? This is one of seven sets of questions for all ages that might be used in Equity Voices arts conversations, for participants to express themselves artistically using words, images, photos, a video, a song or any creative means of responding, and also get to know a bit about other people participating in the conversations. Other topics include Self & Family, Other People, Community & Country, Race & Justice, Values, and Visions. Now, during Lent, each topic includes one Scripture-based question as the first in the list.

Please create your answers/responses to these questions using words, images, photos, a video, a song or any creative, artistic means of responding. Then share your response online (on the equity-voices.com website) and/or with your Equity Voices group, friends, family, or other people.

EQUITY ACTIONS: What actions can you take to make life fairer, more equitable and just for yourself and your family and all people?

1. SCRIPTURE: (Luke 10: 30-37) Jesus said, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead… [various people] passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.’ Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” [The lawyer said] “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.” Can you use words, a story, picture, statement, song, poem, video etc. to illustrate or describe your thoughts and feelings about this story?
2. When hanging out with friend(s), acquaintances, and/or family member(s), how would you make them comfortable or try to make sure they had a good time with you? Or how could you show love or concern for them, or help them with something they need? Can you use words, a story, picture, statement, song, poem, video etc. to convey these ideas?
3. What do you think or feel about the selection from the Letter From a Birmingham Jail? (See Appendix B below. ) Can you use words, a story, picture, statement, song, poem, video etc. to convey what you think or feel about the Letter? Or can you imagine and write/compose/illustrate another letter of your own for yourself, your community, or our nation in today’s world?
4. Imagine you are giving a party to celebrate an important occasion. What would you choose to celebrate? Whom would you invite? What activities? Food? Music? How would you make sure people felt welcomed and at ease? Can you use words, a story, picture, statement, song, poem, video etc. to convey what your party would be like?To show yourself or you and others enjoying the party and participating in its activities?
5. Where do your best ideas come from? What is your best source for information? Are there certain topics you think about a lot? Can you use words, a story, picture, statement, song, poem, video etc. to convey where you best ideas come from, how they come to you, and what kinds of concepts you think about a lot? Could these ideas be helpful in building and/or growing equity?
6. What kinds of activities or hobbies do you like to do? What kinds of activities do you do with your family, friends, or other people? How could you share these activities or hobbies with others? Can you use words, a story, picture, statement, song, poem, video etc. to show yourself doing something you like to do, alone or with family, friends, or other people, and how you feel about it?
7. Think about a time you learned something new from a person of another race, culture, or background. What did you learn and how did you learn it? Or what is some new information, technique, lesson etc. you learned recently that might be helpful in building/growing equity? Can you use words, a story, picture, statement, song, poem, video etc. to convey your experience of learning something new from a person of another race, culture, or background? Or explaining how some new information or techniques might be helpful in building or growing equity?

APPENDIX B: Selection from Letter From a Birmingham Jail by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

 “In any nonviolent campaign there are four basic steps: collection of the facts to determine whether injustices exist; negotiation; self-purification; and direct action…

“You may well ask: ‘Why direct action? Why sit ins, marches and so forth? Isn’t negotiation a better path?’ You are quite right in calling for negotiation. Indeed, this is the very purpose of direct action. Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and foster such a tension that a community which has constantly refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue. It seeks so to dramatize the issue that it can no longer be ignored. My citing the creation of tension as part of the work of the nonviolent resister may sound rather shocking. But I must confess that I am not afraid of the word ‘tension.’ I have earnestly opposed violent tension, but there is a type of constructive, nonviolent tension which is necessary for growth. Just as Socrates felt that it was necessary to create a tension in the mind so that individuals could rise from the bondage of myths and half-truths to the unfettered realm of creative analysis and objective appraisal, so must we see the need for nonviolent gadflies to create the kind of tension in society that will help men rise from the dark depths of prejudice and racism to the majestic heights of understanding and brotherhood. The purpose of our direct action program is to create a situation so crisis packed that it will inevitably open the door to negotiation.”