Systemic Racism

We've debated saying anything... but this makes us complicit with the problem.

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We’ve spent a lot of time over the past weeks in shock over the unnecessary loss of lives of our brothers and sisters with black or brown skin. As we become increasingly aware of our own racism, and I’m defining that as being a beneficiary of a system that has perpetuated advantage to people with whiter skin and disadvantage to people with darker skin, we feel duped, we grieve, we rage, we apologize, we lament, we care.

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Living in Kenya for the last 10 years, a collectivist culture, as opposed to our formative experience in white America’s individualist culture, has opened our eyes to parts of this issue that have increased our understanding and subsequently, our empathy. We’ve been surprised (actually ignorant) in realizing black America is primarily collectivist in thought. That changes everything. In a collectivist mindset, if you’ve wronged one, you’ve done it to all.

Take the George Floyd situation.

• An individualist mindset thinks of George Floyd and the police officer who murdered him as, one guy committing a crime who died at the hand of another guy with race and anger issues. Both were wrong. I’m neither. So I’m okay.
• A collectivist mindset thinks about how our community, our livelihoods, our futures, our very existence is at risk. We will stand and rally together.

To think more collectivist, it helps me to think of George as if he were my child or brother. Even though I would disagree with his behavior (being high and using counterfeit money), I would be enraged if a police officer killed my son because of it. The same for Breonna, Trayvon, Rayshard, etc.

If these precious people were my children, 

I would fight passionately for justice on their behalf.
Every. Time. 

 

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So, we, as a family are asking ourselves...Can we not come alongside our friends of color in a collective way and apologize for the gross injustices that have been meted out on them for centuries at the hands of white Americans? Can we not build bridges towards them in their pain and trauma and hear their stories and listen to their hearts? Will we not fight together with them for justice?

In my job, when I deal with a child who has been traumatized, who rages against everything, destroying property, screaming words of hate, lashing out against all adults because they all represent a threat, our response is compassion and understanding and patient love. We apologize for the wrong done to them even though we didn’t do it. We promise to keep them safe. We work for justice in the courts.

And trust grows over time. 

I have been categorically impressed by the way our black brothers and sisters have handled this systemic issue of racism with dignity and grace and respect. But there is a lot of pain there, and they are a critical members of America and of the body of believers who need others to come alongside them, mourn with them, listen to them, and pay attention to them to heal.

All of us who are white have been ignorant and complicit in benefiting from our skin color for generations (think collectivist). I/We also have not stood up for injustice like we should because I/we were unaware of it and/or ignored it. And that makes me - ME, from an individualist perspective - and US, from a collectivist perspective, racist. Not radical, KKK racist, but subtle, separatist racist. 

It’s time for me to change. It’s time for us to change. 

The bottom line in all of this is, the racial tension in the world is a white problem. Our skin is white, so we’re part of the problem.  We’re listening and we will work for change.

The world is already different than it was two weeks ago and that means we're heading in a growing direction.

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Check out these resources we've been reading together as a family that have created good conversation in our household, they are only a few of MANY.

Articles & Short Vids:
Phil Vischer "Racial Injustice has Benefited Me - A Confession" 

Phil Vischer "Why Are People Talking About Race?"

The Oatmeal "You're not going to believe what I'm about to tell you."
Dr. Anita Phillips - Body Language
Robin Diangelo - "Why it's so hard to talk to White People About Racism."

Books:
I'm Still Here, Black Dignity in a World Made for Whites by Austin Channing Brown

Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson

Solitary by Albert Woodfox

Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup

White Fragility by Robin Diangelo

Movies:
13TH
Just Mercy
Harriet

Join/Follow:
- Be the Bridge on Facebook. Just listen and learn.
- Shaun King on Instagram. When you get tired of the feed, imagine how tired people must be from experiencing it.

Run with Team RANN!

These are strange times. Our kids keep saying, “I can’t believe we’re living in the time of a global pandemic."

Neither can we.  We’ve pondered the significance of so many things during this time.  We’re holding on to our families a little tighter, (except for when we’re arguing with them.) Life somehow feels more precious doesn’t it?

Friends, we think about you daily and we pray for you. We want you to know we are grateful for you. We know things are challenging on many fronts, and we’re thankful for your faithful prayers and continued support. It means the world to us to be able to work at Oasis and help the children and communities around us during these difficult times.

We need your help!!!

Over the years, Oasis has taken major steps forward through small gifts.  Water, shoes, books, and other initiatives have been provided by casting a wide net and asking for a little help.

The Global 5k for Orphans is approaching.  It’s an annual event Oasis is hosting to cast a wide net in addressing the worldwide orphan crisis.  Oasis is fighting the issue directly in Kenya, but, the problem is everywhere.

The Global 5K for Orphans is a ‘race’ in the sense that there’s a sign up, a t-shirt, and a date we ‘run’ together. But there’s no need to run if that is not your style. You can virtually run it. You can walk it. You can sleep it.

What’s important is your engagement!

Join Team RANN in the Global 5K for Orphans!

This year, Oasis is forming Global 5K teams, and we want our team to win.

We have created Team RANN - Team Rick & Ann. We are placing our confidence in you not only joining us, but in getting 10 other family & friend groups to join us.

The young, hipster Global 5K teams think their teams will win through social media connections. We think we’ll win through personal connections. Help us make that happen!

How to Join & Impact a Child

1. Join Team RANN  (this is the link)
• Once on the Team RANN web page, click on ‘Join Team’ under our picture.
• A $35 donation gets you a RESILIANT t-shirt & impacts the life of an orphaned child!
• Or simply DONATE TO Team RANN and help an orphaned child. (T-shirt not included)
2. Invite 10 other families!  If you'd like an editable, pre-written letter to send out to your people, let us know.

Sending Orphaned Children Home

Did you know, during 2019, we intentionally sent 29 children from The Well back home?! 

Many of them transitioned to their guardians naturally, as they progressed to the Oasis High School or College Scholarship Program. 

Others, have stories...

M & T have lived at The Well (formerly House of Hope) for 10 and 11 years respectively. Both were abandoned, too young to verbalize their story, and no one was found in the extensive searches for a parent.

Over the years, these two, along with all  The Well children, have attended the local church.  The church community has consistently welcomed The Well children and knows each child personally.

Early last year, when Oasis was getting to know the guardians, two families from the church showed up. They had heard Oasis was committed to keeping orphaned children with their guardians, if at all possible, and they wanted in! One family asked if M could join their family and the other asked if T could join theirs.

Through a series of home visits, meetings with the children's officer, and counseling for the families and children, we transitioned these children into loving, forever families.  Oasis continues to support the children by providing for their educational needs as well as with regular visits from the social worker. And the families take care of the daily needs of the children.  In these situations, it's been a WIN WIN!

Mama P has two boys who have been living at the children's home for the last 7 years. When I visited her home last January to meet her for the first time, I found she had two additional children at home. She was jobless and the younger two had not yet had the opportunity to attend school.  We began our journey together.

Right away, we talked to her about bringing the boys home. She was not keen on this idea because feeding two was already overwhelming.

But, we took baby steps. The younger two joined the boys in school at The Well. This freed mom up to start developing a jewelry-making skill. We also hired her at The Well once per week.  She, among other single moms, are paid to work at The Well one day a week. This gives them time to participate in weekly counseling and helps relieve our huge laundry pile!

In November, we worked together with Mama P to move her closer to The Well, and the boys transitioned home. It's not been easy. Their house is crowded. The boys have to step outside when the girls change clothes and vice versa. Sometimes, if mom can't find a job for the day, the evening meal is small.

BUT, Mama P is doing it and we're so proud of her! She and her children are together, as a family should be - caring for each other and also stepping on each other's toes.

The pictures here are some of families we're partnering with in the Oasis guardian program. Each have experienced profound loss and trauma, but they have survived, they are standing, and they have hope. We're working on healing and growing together. 

We are committed to walking the challenging road of keeping kids at home wherever possible and working to grow entire families.  At the same time, we're committed to providing a safe home for children who can't be with their guardians right now.