Ep 43: The Importance of Affinity Spaces

Send us a message via text message! Link accessible at joyousjustice.buzzsprout.com. ✅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. Find April and Tracie's full bios and submit topic suggestions for the show at www.JewsTalkRacialJustice.comLearn more about Joyous Justice where April is the founding and fabulous (!) director, and Tracie is a senior partner.: https://joyousjustice.com/Read more of Tracie's thoughts at her blog, bmoreincremental.comLearn more about the Jews of Color Mishpacha Project at https://www.jocmishpacha.org/ Reflections/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! Support the showDiscussion and reflection questions:What in this episode is new for you? What have you learned and how does it land?What is resonating? What is sticking with you and why?What, if anything feels hard? What is challenging or on the edge for you?If relevant. what feelings and sensations are arising as you reflect on themes from this episode, and where in your body do you feel them?What key insights or strategies are you carrying forward and how do you want to weave them into your living and/or leadership?