Doing the Work: SURJ (Showing Up for Racial Justice)

Today’s link post is a little different. SURJ is a 501(c)4 non-profit, which means your donations to them are not tax deductible. That said, the first link (to save you time) is where to donate to them. I want to note here that unlike most non-profits I’ve worked with over the years, SURJ does not send a ton of emails or text begging for money. They do (unless you opt out) send emails and texts reminding you of upcoming trainings and events. I find this very helpful, and if you don’t, you can always opt-out.

SURJ’s Mission:

SURJ’s mission looks different from most racial justice organizations. From their website, they state: “We are a national network of groups and individuals organizing white people for racial and economic justice”. It organizes white people specifically to protect rights for people of color, particularly Black and Indigenous people. Further, SURJ calls on white people to recognize our privilege and use it. Harnessing our privilege, we can help stem the tide of injustice that the institution of racism has wrought in the United States. It rejects the idea that people of color are responsible for liberating themselves. Instead, it centers the idea that as people who have benefited from discrimination against Black, Indigenous, and other people of color, white people have a special responsibility to address the consequences of this discrimination.

What SURJ does:

“Showing up for Racial Justice” means showing up. They keep links to prior trainings on organizing, direct action, and mutual aid that anyone can educate themselves through at any time. SURJ provides national training and direct action calls and local organizations in the United States and Canada. Through these, anyone interested in racial justice can find ways to contribute to an action important to them. In addition, the SURJ meetings and trainings are designed to encourage community building in ways we rarely see anymore in the United States.

If you want an idea of what you’d be getting into, the national website has an archive of online meetings that you can watch at your own pace. One of the most recent is a webinar presented by Dr. Angela Davis giving advice to people wanting to contribute to the work.

Where to Pitch In Now:

If you’re looking for a way to contribute, SURJ maintains a current campaigns page for you. As part of a commitment to responsibility, read their safety and security guide regularly as needed. A toolkit page gives you guidance in how to do the work. And if you want to lead a local chapter, here’s where to start. SURJ Faith provides ways for white Christians and other people of faith to fight against white supremacy in their communities from within. Finally, learn some of the basic assumptions behind the work on the Resources for a Strong Movement page.

Further Thoughts:

The organizational principles SURJ upholds are useful for many different sorts of direct action and mutual aid organizations. When you seek ideas on how to set up an organization devoted to a cause, reading through the website will provide lots of places to start. I’ve worked with non-profit organizations for decades, and SURJ’s commitment to transparency and education rates above most. Even if you’re not a “joiner” (like me), attending SURJ trainings and using their resources will help your activism.

Thank you.

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