What does it take to be Community?

It's a simple question. It's basic and clear. So why is it so difficult? A case in point:

The Church Within A Church Movement office where I work is in the Chicago neighborhood called "Boystown." It's also known as "Lakeview East", "Wrigleyville" and less formally, The Gay Area. In the last several weeks there has been increasing fear about violence in Boystown after a white man was stabbed by a black youth. This event has capped years of competing forces in the community coupled with distrust of the police who have repeatedly harassed LGBT black youth.

Residents and frequent visitors to Boystown have taken to expressing themselves on Facebook . The names of the Facebook pages are telling: "Take Back Boystown" and "Let's Take Boystown Back from Racist Jerks." Emotions are high and the neighborhood is hyper-alert. Keith Ecker of the "Windy City Times" writes about the racial aspects of this violence here. Last night I attended a CAPS (Community Alternative Policing Strategy) meeting where over 600 people gathered to offer solutions to the problems. Few solutions were offered. Most who spoke wanted to vent and blame. I am still shaken today, by the "them" and "those people" rhetoric and the open hostility towards poor black youth.

What does it take to be Community?

(my paraphrase of Mathew 25:37-40)

Then those who have things, will answer him, 'God, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you sleeping on the street and invite you in or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we offer a safe neighborhood for everyone to live and be? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

And God replied, it's like this; whatever you did for those who are not like you; who don't have your education, your privilege, your abilities, who don't talk like you, who don't have as much as you, you did for me.

Does it take just "doing" to be Community? At the CAPS meeting I was startled when a white man shouted at a black youth; "we built a $30,000,000 LGBT community center." What wasn't communicated back was that most of the Center's youth programming has been shut down because the neighborhood doesn't want the (mostly) black youth loitering around the center. The "doing" has not yet become "welcome, neighbor."

Audre Lorde offers insight when she says in Sister Outsider, "In order to work together we do not have to become a mix of indistinguishable particles resembling a vat of homogenized milk. Unity implies the coming together of elements which are, to begin with, varied and diverse in their particular natures. Our persistence in examining the tensions within diversity encourages growth toward our common goal."

It seems we need to clarify the common goal. Is my goal your goal? Is what I need in my community what you need? And in exploring what that the common goals might be, I live with these questions: how can a gray-haired lady model something that honors diversity in this hostile environment. How can I be part of the effort to show the racism and economic injustices for what they are and actively work to build a bridge to solutions? How can I use my power as a white lesbian woman in Boystown?

What does it take to be Community? I pray we figure this out.

Let's Talk About It

Do you have a response to my "What does it take to be Community?" meditation? Would you like to gather with others and talk about it?

Let's Talk :: Tuesday July 12 at 11am CST / noon EST / 8am PST

Send me an email I'll send you the call-in information.

thanks - cathy