June 1, 2020
While the outrageous murder of George Floyd was perpetrated directly by a law officer, his life was ultimately taken by our willingness to accept the racism and historical violence of a state guided by white supremacy. We are organizing toward a future in which Black Lives Matter - where Black communities are safe, nourished, and able to thrive.
The Cumberland County Food Security Council's (CCFSC) mission is to initiate and facilitate collaborative action toward a just, resilient, and sustainable food system that ensures equitable access for all people to enough healthy food. Our analysis is clear. The path to food security is through racial justice.
People identified as “white” must begin this journey by looking within. Change begins when we are able to see our unconscious biases and our Nation’s hidden history of intentional racial oppression.
We are calling on our community to take action. It is urgent and necessary that we mobilize ourselves, our families, and our networks in the “Movement towards Freedom, Liberation, and Justice” (Black Lives Matter). May we look this injustice in the eye and use this pain as a catalyst towards change. In the words of Ruth King, “Anger is not transformative, it is initiatory.” Let us use this anger to fuel meaningful personal and systemic change.
CCFSC has facilitated many Racial Wealth Gap Learning Simulations over the past few years. When we can gather inside again, we welcome the opportunity to partner with your organization to bring this tool to your community. We make the Racial Equity Institute workshop and similar anti-racism training available to our staff and Board members. We recommend them highly.
CCFSC is working with the Maine government on LD 1159, Resolve, to end hunger in Maine by 2030. Racial and economic justice are inseparable. We believe our country’s history of institutional racism is at the root of current poverty and food insecurity. Any plan to end hunger must be fundamentally anti-racist. This hunger and racism is a burden on us all. It compromises the humanity of those who benefit from these unjust systems, making us all complicit in a system that punishes people for being in Black bodies. Work with us to hold ourselves and the system accountable. We can reclaim our humanity from the self destructiveness that is white supremacy.
Here are some things that we can do:
The Cumberland County Food Security Council's (CCFSC) mission is to initiate and facilitate collaborative action toward a just, resilient, and sustainable food system that ensures equitable access for all people to enough healthy food. Our analysis is clear. The path to food security is through racial justice.
People identified as “white” must begin this journey by looking within. Change begins when we are able to see our unconscious biases and our Nation’s hidden history of intentional racial oppression.
We are calling on our community to take action. It is urgent and necessary that we mobilize ourselves, our families, and our networks in the “Movement towards Freedom, Liberation, and Justice” (Black Lives Matter). May we look this injustice in the eye and use this pain as a catalyst towards change. In the words of Ruth King, “Anger is not transformative, it is initiatory.” Let us use this anger to fuel meaningful personal and systemic change.
CCFSC has facilitated many Racial Wealth Gap Learning Simulations over the past few years. When we can gather inside again, we welcome the opportunity to partner with your organization to bring this tool to your community. We make the Racial Equity Institute workshop and similar anti-racism training available to our staff and Board members. We recommend them highly.
CCFSC is working with the Maine government on LD 1159, Resolve, to end hunger in Maine by 2030. Racial and economic justice are inseparable. We believe our country’s history of institutional racism is at the root of current poverty and food insecurity. Any plan to end hunger must be fundamentally anti-racist. This hunger and racism is a burden on us all. It compromises the humanity of those who benefit from these unjust systems, making us all complicit in a system that punishes people for being in Black bodies. Work with us to hold ourselves and the system accountable. We can reclaim our humanity from the self destructiveness that is white supremacy.
Here are some things that we can do:
- Say his name: George Floyd. Say the names of others you know who have had their lives taken by a racist system.
- Vote! People holding power in our government make choices that dismantle or perpetuate racist policies. They must be held accountable.
- Donate to anti-racist organizations and movements:
- Black Visions support black-led organizing https://www.blackvisionsmn.org/
- Reclaim the Block to stay informed about police abolition work in Minneapolis
- Donate to a bail fund so that defenders of Black lives are not caged.
- Attend a protest. (Wear a mask, social distance, and take actions to promote the safety of yourself and others)
- Engage in difficult conversations with friends, family, and community about racism.
- Continually be learning and educating yourself.
- Support BIPOC-owned businesses and organizations in your community.
- Call or email your representatives and demand action. https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative
