25 to 1: People of Color Experiences in Unitarian Universalism 1980-2005 May 26, 2006 25 to 1: People of Color Experiences in Unitarian Universalism 1980-2005 Joseph M. Santos-Lyons Masters of Divinity Thesis (M.DIV) Harvard Divinity School Professor Wallace Best, Thesis Advisor Catherine Playoust, Senior Seminar leader Diane Moore, Faculty Advisor May 26, 2006 Page 1 of 153 25 to 1: People of Color Experiences in Unitarian Universalism 1980-2005 May 26, 2006 Dedication To my wonderful family who sustain and remind me of heaven and earth. For our newest life Miyka’ela Luwalhati, her mother Maria Aimee, her Kuya Gabriel Hiraya. Also to Bernadette Santos, my mother-in-law who helps us out in so many ways. And finally, for the generations of People of Color, within Unitarian Universalism, who have shared the free faith, and for me, those outside yet sympathetic to my work, growth and ministry. To friends, authors and mentors who shaped my heart and soul in this life – Isabel Allende, Rigoberta Menchu, Dolores Huerta, Angela Davis, Quintard Taylor, Edwina Welch, Daniela Diaz, Mustafa Kasubhai, Javier Cervantes, Robin Morris Collin, Alexandra Caballero, Consuela Zumwalt, Andrea Adams, Trevor Montieth, Carmen Rubio, Brandon Sugiyama, Daniel Garcia, Cindy Nguyen, Kim Nguyen, Glen Banfield, Maleah Ermac, Nathan Thuan Nguyen, Leslie Lum, Jae-sik Kaufman, Eun-yung Paik, Alyce Gowdy-Wright, Kristen Harper, Danielle Gladd, Melvin Hoover, Leon Spencer, James Brown, William Jones, Robette Dias, Manish Mishra, Marisa Gutierrez, William Sinkford, Joo Young Choi, Diane Arakawa, Cheng-Imm Tan, Jose Ballester, James Coomes, Mark Morrison-Reed, Michelle Bentley, Tony Brumfield, Janice Marie Johnson, Hope Johnson, Gordon Bailey, Natalie Nguyen, Chester McCall, Mitra Rahnema, Dzu Do, Belva Brown Jordan, Cheryl Giles, and Wallace Best. Personal Note: In September 2006 I will be beginning a Ministerial Internship with the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Philippines based in Dumaguette and Manila. I am raising funds for my internship expenses, given the limited resources of the UU Church of the Philippines to pay for my basic living costs and ministerial development. Funds have been received from the Fund for International Unitarian Universalism, covering roughly 50% of the costs anticipated. I am seeking to raise an additional $3000 for the internship. I am asking those who receive this thesis to consider donating $20 or more. If you are willing, please send to PO Box 3011, Portland, OR 97208 or paypal to [email protected]. Tax-deduction is a possibility, but please contact me first. Thank you for your consideration. Page 2 of 153 25 to 1: People of Color Experiences in Unitarian Universalism 1980-2005 May 26, 2006 Table of Contents Chapter I: Introduction .................................................................................................................... 6 Personal Story ........................................................................................................................... 10 Story of Rev. Jones ................................................................................................................... 13 Chapter II: Methodology and Frameworks ................................................................................... 15 Framework 1: Jones’s Diagnosis Determines Therapy ............................................................ 16 Framework 2: Dias Historical Development of Institutional Racism ....................................... 17 Dias Historical Development of Institutional Racism Chart .................................................... 20 Chapter III: Terms and Scope ....................................................................................................... 21 1980-2005 ................................................................................................................................. 21 People of Color Terminology ................................................................................................... 25 Chapter IV: Survey of Unitarian Universalist People of Color .................................................... 30 Chapter V: Whiteness of Unitarian Universalism ........................................................................ 40 Chapter VI: What Is At Stake ....................................................................................................... 49 Visions of UU People of Color ................................................................................................. 52 Historical Literature .................................................................................................................. 55 Race and Racism in the UUA ................................................................................................... 56 Congregational Race Relations ............................................................................................. 58 Denominational/Associational Race Relations ..................................................................... 62 General Assembly (GA) Race Relations .............................................................................. 64 Racial Barriers in UU Congregations ....................................................................................... 67 Chapter VII: People of Color Communities (1980-2005) ............................................................ 71 African-American Unitarian Universalist Ministries (1989-1998) ........................................... 71 Diverse & Revolutionary Unitarian Universalist Multicultural Ministries (1997- ) ................ 72 DRUUMM Asian/Pacific Islander Caucus (2003- ) ................................................................. 73 Latino/a Unitarian Universalist Networking Association (1996- ) ........................................... 75 UU Network on Indigenous Affairs (1992- ) ............................................................................ 77 UU Ministers Association ......................................................................................................... 77 UUA Board of Trustees ............................................................................................................ 78 Young Religious UU................................................................................................................. 79 Continental UU Young Adult Network .................................................................................... 80 District People of Color Efforts ................................................................................................ 81 Congregational People of Color Ministries .............................................................................. 81 Chapter VIII: Racial Ideas in Unitarian Universalism 1980-2005 ............................................... 83 1980-1983: Post-Empowerment Controversy........................................................................... 83 1984-1991: Racial Code Talking .............................................................................................. 90 1992-1997: A Question About Racial/Cultural Diversity ........................................................ 95 1997-2001: An Answer To Racial/Cultural Diversity .............................................................. 99 Page 3 of 153 25 to 1: People of Color Experiences in Unitarian Universalism 1980-2005 May 26, 2006 2002-2005: Black President of a White Denomination .......................................................... 106 Chapter IX: People of Color History in Unitarian Universalism 1980-2005…………………..129 Religious Professionals of Color ............................................................................................ 112 1980-1989 ............................................................................................................................... 113 1990-1999 ............................................................................................................................... 118 2000-2005 ............................................................................................................................... 122 Chapter X: Conclusion and Recommendations ......................................................................... 124 Recommendations for Unitarian Universalist People of Color Ministry: .............................. 125 Recommendations for UUA Race Relations .......................................................................... 127 Table 1: Timeline of Racial Ideas 1980-2000 ............................................................................. 130 Table 2: List of Ministers of Color Fellowshipped by the UUA 1980-2005 .............................. 132 Appendix A: Survey of Unitarian Universalist People of Color 2005 ....................................... 134 Appendix B: Crossroads Continuum on Becoming an Anti-Racist Multicultural Institution .... 137 Appendix C: Meadville/Lombard Theological School, Multicultural Ministry Program (MMP) Bibliography ............................................................................................................................... 142 Definitions: GA – General Assembly, the annual meeting of delegates from Unitarian Universalist congregations in North America. UU – short for Unitarian Universalist. Generally used to describe individuals or specific organizations aside from the central administration of the association of congregations. UUA – short for the Unitarian Universalist Association