With generous support from Near Neighbours, CMF convened our first meeting in a new series on Race and Faith to explore race, religion and intersectional identities among Black Christian and Black Muslim communities; to chart an agenda for change on race equality and to promote greater inclusivity in interfaith dialogue.
With guest speakers Dr Richard Reddie, Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI), Imam Kazeem Fatai, Muslim Association of Nigeria and Dr Carlis Douglas, The HOPE Atrium, participants engaged in discussions about race experiences in faith communities and the challenges of racism in society.
Participants shared experiences of encountering racism in faith-based places and spoke of the intermittent manner in which racism is often tackled with short bursts of reactive activities rather than systematic, long term strategic planning. Participants referred to scriptural teachings and racism as antithetical to equality among human beings as God’s creation; they also spoke of the need to address racism in faith communities as well as in wider society. Participants referred to the need to move ‘unconscious thoughts’ to ‘conscious thoughts’ in order to help us better understand why we say or react in certain ways and to enable ourselves to identify where, how and why problematic ideas and attitudes about others arise. They also spoke about a sustained effort at ‘disrupting racism’ by celebrating Black history, culture and achievements and the need to embed anti-racism training in seminaries to equip religious leaders with skills to speak out and challenge racism in faith-based settings.