Garrett Bucks: The Power of Working Within Your Community
For Garrett Bucks, wanting to help marginalized communities was a no-brainer. He felt as though he needed to make the world around him better. What he, much like other people, failed to realize that these communities are well-organized with established networks. After being told this, Garrett understood that the work he needed to do was with other white people.
Garrett is the Founder of the Barnraisers Project, which trains white people who don't think of themselves as activists on how to welcome their communities and networks into the world of justice and liberation. Additionally, Garrett also authors the White Pages newsletter, which reflects on white people’s relationship with racism and each other.
In this illuminating, vulnerable conversation, Garrett talks about his typical white man journey and how this led him to where he is today. We talk about the value of reaching out to those within your community and the impact that this has when people dedicate themselves to this cause. We also touch on the power of true organizing, the role that white people should occupy, and rounding off, Garrett shares ways we can offer support. Tune in to hear it all!
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Key Points From This Episode:
The story of how Garrett came to do the work that he is doing.
Two biases that white people have to move past to understand which communities need them.
What the Barnraisers Project's mission is, who they work with, and the type of work they do.
Some success stories from the Barnraisers Project.
Why organizing is so important to ensure truly just communities.
How white people can hold authentic space while still stepping into their power.
There have to be models of how to be white without causing harm to people.
How Garrett and Barnraisers need support right now.
Reflective work white people can start doing now.
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Tweetables:
“Our [white people's] current relationship with the school system is one of either scarcity, fear, or protection.” — @garrettbucks
“Organizing in any context requires actually being committed to another person and another person's potential enough that you don't just yell at them or don't just tell them what you think, but that you get a sense for their fears, value.” — @garrettbucks
“You’re a human being who also can get to create and have dreams and connect with other people and who’s not good at something but then who’s also good at something we need, so go and do.” — @garrettbucks
“On a practical level, I’m trying to rebuild community.” — @garrettbucks
“I want more communities of white people who care about liberation with each other.” — @garrettbucks
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Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Garrett Bucks on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/garrett-bucks-9283832/
Garrett Bucks on Twitter — https://twitter.com/garrettbucks
The Barnraisers Project — https://barnraisersproject.org/
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