Jews Talk Racial Justice - Ep 43: The Importance of Affinity Spaces
QUICK EPISODE OVERVIEW
In this week’s episode, we talk about the importance of affinity groups, which are spaces for people with shared identity to safely unpack dynamics around oppression. Though it may feel counter-intuitive, affinity spaces are actually important tools as we develop our liberatory consciousness.
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DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Tracie and April begin discussing affinity spaces, particularly white affinity spaces to discuss dynamics around whiteness and racism. Have you been in these types, or other types, of affinity spaces? How was that experience? If these are new for you, what are your initial reactions?
April notes that affinity spaces are different from segregation, pointing out that we engage in affinity spaces all the time, for example, being in an all Jewish space. What affinity spaces do you find yourself in without realizing it?
April explains the differences between a segregated space and an affinity space, hinging on oppressive dynamics and how they manifest or not. Segregation is inherently oppressive, while affinity spaces help to unpack oppressive dynamics. Do you understand the difference? Explain it in your own words.
Tracie uses the example of discussion antisemitic microaggressions at work and how Jewish and non-Jewish employees need specific spaces to discuss this. This is because affinity spaces help to prevent marginalized groups from being re-traumatized, like in explaining why antisemitism is harmful. How does this example illuminate the importance of these spaces?
April reminds us that the oppressor group still may have been wounded somehow and affinity spaces allow dominant group members to be vulnerable. Why is this important?
April talks about the evolution of interfaith affinity spaces and how they were originally created to discuss certain dynamics but then they were dissolved once they were no longer needed. How can this example serve as a model for the future? How is the experience of interfaith folks different from navigating racism (and it very much is)?
April invites us to think about what other questions come up from this initial overview of affinity spaces. What other questions do you have? Submit them here!
INSIGHTS FROM THIS EPISODE
“Everybody deserves affinity spaces, and I want multiple affinity spaces for every person.”
“We are working to undo the harm and damage that has been done by oppression. And, for certain groups of people who are used to being in a dominant group or in an oppressed context, it can be helpful to begin practicing liberatory consciousness in an affinity space to allow people to come together.”
“Can you see how it might be useful to have a space where only the Jewish employees got together in order to talk about what it’s felt like and how it’s been without having the people who were guilty of those microaggressions being able to overhear what they’re saying? And, you can see where it would be useful for the non-Jewish employees to be in a space and be talking about it so that they can be like, ‘well, why is it offensive when I say that?’”
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?
Let us know in the comments below.