INHERITANCE These daily practices are suggestions. Do what feels right to you. Go as far as you are capable. Remember, sometimes rest is the best practice. Oh… and you might want a journal or notebook for these practices. MONDAY 18
TUESDAY 19
Origin & Roots 25
Rest 26
Values & Beliefs
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
20
21
Setting & Structure 27
Rest
Traditions & Rituals
FRIDAY 22
Rest 28
Traits & Patterns 29
Rest
Myths & Stories
SATURDAY 23
SUNDAY 24
Meditation & Reflection 30 Meditation & Reflection
Rest 31 Rest
Each day, journal or meditate on the following questions: Mon 18 What are your racial origins and ethnic roots? Tue 19 Breathe in. Breathe out. Reflect: How do you feel? Wed 20 Growing up, what was the racial make-up of your family, church, school and community? What was the race of those who were in charge – for example teachers, police officers, pastors, crossing guards, babysitters, etc.? Thurs 21 Breathe in. Breathe out. Reflect: How do you feel?
Fri 22 What traits of implicit or explicit racial biases do you see throughout your family line? Are they continuing in new ways? If not, what has changed? Sat 23 The Serenity Prayer, Part 1 Religious version: God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I can’t change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Non-religious version: I seek the serenity to accept the things I can’t change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Sun 24 Breathe in. Breathe out. Reflect: How do you feel? Mon 25 What values and beliefs did you grow up believing about your own race? What about those of other races? Tue 26 Breathe in. Breathe out. Reflect: How do you feel? Wed 27 What traditions or rituals were adhered to in your family or home involving race? Traditionally, has everyone in your family married within the same race? Were there neighborhoods that your family ritually and routinely avoided? Or was part of your family ritual to have relationships with those outside of your race? Traditionally, did your family go out of its way to live in or attend schools in diverse and integrated communities? Or was your tradition to remain in homogenous communities? What about TV shows, books, movies and entertainment? What was traditionally upheld or ritually and consistently banned? Thurs 28 Breathe in. Breathe out. Reflect: How do you feel?
Fri 29 What was said about race in your home growing up? Or perhaps, if nothing was said, do you think the subject was avoided due to indifference or fear? What were some stories involving race that were passed down in your family? What myths were passed down? Sat 30 The Serenity Prayer, Part 2 Religious version: God, may I live one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time, accepting the hardship of our past as a pathway to peace. May I accept the history I’ve inherited as it is – not as I would like it. Trusting you, God, will make all things right. May I surrender to your will. May I have reasonable peace with the inheritance of my ancestors, leaving behind an eternal legacy of repentance and forgiveness – and be supremely happy in the life ever after. Non-religious version: I seek to live one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time, accepting the hardship of our past as a pathway to peace. May I accept the history I’ve inherited as it is – not as I would like it, trusting that all things will be made right if I surrender to what is true. I desire to have reasonable peace with the inheritance of my ancestors, so that I may leave behind a legacy for future generations of apology and forgiveness. Sun 31 Breathe in. Breathe out. Reflect: How do you feel?