looking for OS practitioner in Philadelphia area

Tue May 5 01:43:28 PDT 2009

Well said, John. Thanks for writing this.
Jefftelegraph hill, san francisco

> Date: Mon, 4 May 2009 22:33:53 -0400
> From: john at johnengle.net
> Subject: Re: [OSLIST] looking for OS practitioner in Philadelphia area
> To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> 
> Hi Nigel,
> 
> When my friend communicated that they preferred a person of color to  
> facilitate, my first response was, "I'm not going to put that in my  
> message to the OS list." I knew there would be philosophical questions  
> and didn't feel I had the energy and time to respond, even though I  
> felt no need personally, to call into question the wisdom of this  
> particular group or another one that indicates such a preference in  
> their facilitator.
> 
> When it comes to groups dealing with issues of anti-racism, gender  
> equality, etc. i just assume that each one is dealing with nuances,  
> complexities and intricacies that would require an immense amount of  
> time for me to begin to understand.
> 
> This particular group indicated that they preferred to have a  
> facilitator who is a person of color. I made no mention that they have  
> a preference of color in general.
> 
> I'm white, my wife's black, my three year old son calls himself  
> yellow ; ). My wife and I don't think of ourselves as racist. In fact,  
> we're committed to promoting equality and love among all human beings.  
> I don't know this group wanting the facilitator except for my co- 
> worker who is a part of it. Coincidently, he is white and has two  
> black daughters. But I can certainly imagine either my wife or i  
> feeling like there might be a type of person (color, class, gender,  
> sexual preference) that is better suited to create a trusting and safe  
> environment, depending upon the group involved, even if it's a group  
> committed to love and equality among all human beings.
> 
> Can't you?
> 
> Meeting people where they are is so essential. I know you do this in  
> your work. I've met people who glow when they speak of you and what  
> you do.
> 
> The pain and wounds among many people--even those committed to not  
> discriminate--are so deep. Where I currently live in Florida, black  
> people in their 70's share stories of family members being lynched by  
> KKK and how they grew up in fear and terror. Haiti, where I lived many  
> years and still work, where black Africans were enslaved by whites for  
> centuries, color (and even shade) is, unfortunately, of huge  
> consequence, whether one wants it to be or not.
> 
> In my humble opinion, the fact that an anti-racist group prefers to  
> have a person of colour facilitate their open space meeting should not  
> necessarily call into question their commitment to anti-racism. In my  
> humble opinion, it could be a very wise preference, depending on the  
> circumstances.
> 
> John
> 
> 
> 
> On May 4, 2009, at 8:57 PM, NigelSeys-Phillips wrote:
> 
>> Can an anti-racist group 'prefer' a colour?
>>
>> Nigel
>>
>> Nigel Seys-Phillips
>> Fulcrum Business Management Solutions
>> 30 Mount Elizabeth
>> #13-32 Highpoint
>> Singapore 228519
>> Tel: +65 9639 2510
>> E-mail: nigel at fulcrum.com.sg
>> www.fulcrum.com.sg
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of  
>> Michael M
>> Pannwitz
>> Sent: Monday, 4 May 2009 11:49 PM
>> To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
>> Subject: Re: [OSLIST] looking for OS practitioner in Philadelphia area
>>
>> What color does the anti-racist group prefer?
>>
>> mmp
>>
>> John Engle wrote:
>>> Fellow-listers,
>>>
>>> One of my colleagues is looking for an OS practitioner in the
>>> Philadelphia area. It's an anti-racist group and their preference  
>>> would
>>> be to have a person of color.
>>>
>>> Anyone?
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>>
>>> John
>>>
>>> _________________________________
>>>
>>> John Engle Associates
>>> Tel. 202-236-6532
>>> Haiti Tel. 011-509-3461-3067 or
>>> 011-509- 3685-3273
>>> www.johnengle.net
>>>
>>> Open Space Facilitation
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> *
>>> *
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>>
>> -- 
>> Michael M Pannwitz, boscop eg
>> Draisweg 1, 12209 Berlin, Germany
>> ++49-30-772 8000
>> mmpanne at boscop.org
>> www.boscop.org
>>
>>
>> Check out the Open Space World Map presently showing 461 resident Open
>> Space Workers in 73 countries working in a total of 139 countries  
>> worldwide
>> Have a look:
>> www.openspaceworldmap.org
>>
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> 
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