Inviting you to the me + white supremacy book circle
Grounded in Layla F. Saad's Me and White Supremacy, a community-supported 3 month journey to kickstart your life-long anti-racism work.
Dear friends,
I trust you’re doing well as you can in this moment in time. If you’re in the northern hemisphere, I hope that spring is beginning to emerge and offer you some joy, whether via daffodils, bird song, budding trees, warmer sunshine, etc.
During the past month, I participated in a month-long silent meditation retreat in the mountains outside of Asheville, NC. It was an absolutely precious time for me, and I don’t have enough words to express my gratitude for the two teachers, Rupert and Kerstin, as well as Southern Dharma Retreat Center. If you ever have an opportunity to receive teachings from them- do it (they all offer shorter-length retreat options)! I’m still processing my time on retreat, but if you’re curious about what this experience was like, feel free to reach out or comment below if you’re interested in a separate blog post devoted to it. Anyhow, now I’m preparing to depart for the Happy Farm at Plum Village in France, where I will spend spring and summer as a “happy farmer”.
While in month-long retreat, I worked my way through Layla F Saad’s profoundly illuminating work- me and white supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor. Her words and invitations have absolutely changed the way I see myself and our surrounding world, and I feel I’m at the very beginning of learning and practicing how to forge a path grounded in anti-racism. As this is one of the most impactful books I’ve ever read, and with a desire to explore this body of work with community support, I’m hoping to find enough friends + loved ones interested in mutually supporting one another to deepen into these teachings.
Book circle details and sign up
Book:
me and white supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor by Layla F Saad
You can buy the book online here, or check with a local bookstore :) I recommend to obtain a copy asap so that you can take some time to leaf through and distill whether you do in fact want to participate.
Intention:
To gather beloved community who hold white privilege [who unintentionally and unconsciously perpetuate white supremacy] to horizontally support one another in deep looking, thoughtful, honest, and heartfelt speaking, and curious, deep, and heartful listening.
To foster consciousness of our racialized conditioning, learn to combat racism, and become good ancestors.
Participation is free, so you’re simply invited to offer your time, energy, and care.
Format:
This circle will be held according to The Circle Way guidelines, created by Christina Baldwin and Ann Linnea, to ensure the
When:
Sundays (beginning March 30th) 11am PST/ 2pm EST/ 7pm GMT
Length of circle TBD- likely an hour to an hour and a half, depending on number of participants
Schedule and Book Pacing:
March 30, 2025: Introduction and Day 1/ White Privilege
April 6, 2025: Days 2 + 3/ White Fragility and Tone Policing
April 13, 2025: Days 4 + 5/ White Silence and Superiority
April 20, 2025: Days 6 + 7/ White Exceptionalism and Review
April 27, 2025: Days 8 + 9/ Color Blindness and Anti-Racism against Black Women
May 4, 2025: Days 10 + 11/ Anti-Blackness against Black Men and Black Children
May 11, 2025: Days 12 + 13/ Racist Stereotypes and Cultural Appropriation
May 18, 2025: Days 14 +15/ Review and White Apathy
May 25, 2025: Days 16 + 17/ White Centering and Tokenism
June 1, 2025: Days 18 + 19/ White Saviorism and Optical Allyship
June 8, 2025: Days 20 + 21/ Being Called Out/Called In and Review
June 15, 2025: Days 22 + 23/ White Feminism and White Leaders
June 22, 2025: Days 24 + 25/ Your Friends and Family
June 29, 2025: Days 26 + 27/ Your Values and Losing Privilege
July 6, 2025: Day 28/ Your Commitments
Sign up
Please fill out this short form if you’d like to participate. Once you’re registered, I will share a document with the circle way guidelines, structure of our circle meetings, and the meeting link.
Alternative Resources
Regardless of your participation, thanks for reading this post and considering your relationship with racism and anti-racism.
If you are unable to participate, here are a couple alternative resources:
Racial Justice, Racial Equity, and Anti-Racism Reading List compiled by Harvard Kennedy School
Comrades Education “(formerly White Awake) hosts educational programming, community building, and skill development in service of grassroots, working class, antiracist, and decolonial movements.”