It will take a strong cross-class alliance of white people to dismantle white supremacy
Because a cross-class alliance of white people is maintaining white supremacy, we believe that it will take a strong cross-class alliance of white people to dismantle it. It is not possible to build this cross-class alliance if we continue to practice a culture of silence, secrecy, and plain ol’ fronting about our class positions. The first step towards building an anti-racist cross-class alliance is to get clear and honest with ourselves and each other about what we have, why we have it, and what we’re doing with it. (From CRC’s Divestment Principles)
When I was first politicized around wealth, I felt compelled to get involved and take action, but I was so confused about what to do.
At first, I quickly moved from denial into anger and frustration at myself, as I became increasingly aware of my own white wealth. The pattern I settled into, though, was silence.
I joined groups, which consisted mostly of sitting in many meetings in silence near the edges, telling myself that my proper place in this work was on the sidelines, in the background. I took on small tasks and avoided leadership.
I was consumed by my anxieties around social rejection, fears of being perceived as less serious, less committed, for coming into wealth. I felt that acknowledging my wealth would undermine and create distance in my relationships.
Because of this silence, I was consistently ineffective at my organizing. I used my weak relationships as an excuse to never fully commit myself, floating between groups, taking or avoiding commitments without accountability.
CRCAA has shown me that breaking through silence around wealth actually creates openings for connection, that the vulnerability through honesty is far preferable to the isolation created by silence. Through honest, sometimes uncomfortable dialogue, I have built deeper, more sincere political relationships that continue to hold me in the work.
CRCAA has shown me a path beyond the guilt and shame I was holding onto. In a strange way, I had become attached to these feelings. I held onto them as vital tethers to the work that reassured me that I hadn’t become numb to the violence and harm I was part of, that I was still human. But that meant I held onto anger at myself, and ultimately centered my own feelings (like righteousness) in the work over being effective. CRCAA has shown me that my guilt and shame were telling me something valuable and meaningful, that what I was doing with my money was inconsistent with my values.
But I also learned that with deep political relationships, I no longer needed guilt and shame to hold me in the work. I could finally move beyond these feelings.
CRCAA has taught me how I can bring others along this path with me as well. I have learned how many other silent or quiet people in those meetings also came from wealth. It has been an incredible gift to offer what I have learned, to move beyond silence and bring people into a collective movement where we can ultimately end white supremacy.
– Dan, CRCAA organizer
If the culture of silence, secrecy, and plain ol’ fronting has you confused about your own class status, CRC defines “wealth” as the accumulation of more money than you need. This particularly applies to you if you own property, have investments, have or expect inheritance, and/or make a six-figure income.
If that’s you – you have a strategic and necessary role to play in this movement. Join us in our ongoing divestment work! Email us at info@the5methods.org.