Coke or Pepsi? Wine or beer? Caucasian or BIPOC? City or suburb? Person with a disability or person without a disability? As you read the choices given to you, did you also consciously or unconsciously make your selections. However, there were probably a few of you who made a third choice on one or more of these because for example, soda is bad for you, so you chose kombucha. Also, sometimes options are just a matter of personal choice with little to no consequence. While others are a matter of identity. It is here that it may be hard for some to identify white supremacy characteristics because it is woven into the tattered fabric of our communities, country, and world. This has harmful affects on those who are not members of the majority culture. 

Dr. Tema Okun’s White Supremacy Characteristics of  “Either/Or Thinking” and “Only One Right Way” are damaging because they are used as norms and standards without being proactively named or chosen. This creates unhealthy bifurcations of “good and bad” and leaves little room for both/and which invites diversity in thought, action, and expression. People are forced into making hard line choices. For example, work or school stay at home parent or working parent. Personal salvation vs. Social gospel.

Either or Thinking is closely linked to another of Okun’s white Supremacy characteristics, “Only One Right Way.” This rigid way of thinking rewards uniformity and sees something wrong with those who have alternative ways of thinking and doing things, This can lead to an unhealthy of internalized sense racial superiority for those in the majority culture and unhealthy internalized racial inferiority for BIPOC folks. 

Mysticism practices can make room for both/and in our lives. Mysticism practices invite us out of our either/or, right/wrong thinking. We need practices that invite us to let go of our personna, ego, thinking, rigid beliefs into a connection with the Source, our true essence and with others.

There are many practices that can foster such openness. I will suggest two options here. The first practice is Centering Prayer. The Tree of Contemplation Practices offers many ways to engage in Centering Prayer. Centering prayer is usually practiced alone but can also be done with a group.

The second practice, I would like to offer invites a “call and Response,” which means it usually happens in a group. The African American Tradition of call and Response often involves music and sometimes includes drums. There is a variety of music expression. I will offer links to just two examples here:  “Playing Hooky” by Andre Henry and “Ella’s Song” by Sweet Honey in The Rock.

May prayer invite us to the center, may music move us to the center and may love compel us to the center-the place where we have greater capacity to embrace both/and in our lives, wherever, whatever and in whomever it shows up, even in ourselves. 

Additional Resources:

Barbara Holmes - Joy Unspeakable