Healing Resistance: A Radically Different Response to Harm by Kazu Haga
The Resource Center for Nonviolence (RCNV) presents this series of antiracism book circles as an act of radical education and collaboration. Our hope is to provide a unique opportunity to process the impact of the pandemic and respond to the renewed call for racial equity in our society. Our goal is to create a space in which participants may collectively and individually gain understanding that will result in healing, understanding, multiracial collaboration, empowerment, and meaningful action. They provide a way to maintain energetic human connections through virtual meeting spaces–and some in-person meetings too
The Resource Center for Nonviolence has roots in multiracial movements for liberation–in the US, Mexico, Palestine and Israel, and many lands. Antiracism and nonviolence emphasize the mutuality of healing and resistance. Personal change and social change go hand in hand.
About this book
Healing Resistance is the personal journey of a 41 year old activist born in Tokyo, Japan, who centers his healing and resistance in Oakland, California.
Healing Resistance is also the legacy, principles and organizing methods of Dr. Martin Luther King and his companions in the US civil rights movement, also named the “Nonviolent Movement for America” by John Lewis and James Lawson. Kazu Haga’s story includes dropping out of high school, not attending college, walking from Massachusetts to New Orleans in the Pilgrimage of the Middle Passage retracing the slave trade, protesting the World Trade Organization in Seattle, organizing in the Oscar Grant movement, joining Occupy Oakland, and seeking spiritual resources along the way. Kazu is a certified national trainer in “Kingian Nonviolence” and founder of the East Point Peace Academy in Oakland, California.
Kazu Haga weaves personal stories with the method of resistance that can change our communities and nation. “Nonviolence is a worldview that speaks to the impact of violence, harm, oppression, and injustice on the human condition. It is about the dynamics of conflict and how to transform it. It is about an unwavering faith in the goodness of people and an undying commitment to healing ourselves and society. It is about stripping away the layers of trauma and separation and remembering the core of who we are. It is about coming home.”
Haga, Kazu. Healing Resistance (pp. xxi-xxii). Parallax Press. Kindle Edition.
What to Expect
Many of us are learning more and more about our parts in racism, climate destruction, gun violence, militarism, economic exploitation, patriarchy. Dr. King named 3 of these evils as threats to the soul of our nation, and indeed our own souls. Sometimes our knowledge of violence is overwhelming. Haga’s book is based on time honored liberation movements and provides skills and principles for moving forward together.
This book circle is your chance to meet with others who want to heal ourselves and this world, and who want to make an impact on these oppressions. The place to act is here, in our lives, wherever we live, with our own communities. The Nonviolent Movement for America consisted of hundreds of local campaigns. This book circle is a doorway into your own reflection on ways you can make a difference from your values, your lived experience, and your talents!
This book circle is open to people of every race, culture, activist experience (or inexperience) who want to explore Kazu Haga’s journey, Dr. King’s journey, your own journey, and the journey of everyone in the book circle. Karis and Peter are experienced RCNV antiracism book circle facilitators.They will facilitate participatory sessions including personal grounding practices, attention to each person’s journey, whole group and small groups, book content, and complementary resources beyond the book. We will also create space for each person to design their own personal nonviolent action. Everyone who feels called to do this work is welcome.
Join us as we deepen our understanding of resistance and nonviolence as healing.
A Note on Affinity & Mixed Race Groups
Some RCNV antiracist book circles are offered in racial affinity groups, and others are offered as mixed groups. Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), especially, may benefit from a unified healing experience within a safe container to grieve and process. Thus, book circles offered for mixed races and for affinity groups can be found on the RCNV website.
Healing Resistance will be offered as a mixed multiracial group. Both facilitators are white bodied. Both have experience with multiracial groups. We welcome you to contact us to discuss any questions you may have about us and about the group. RCNV is committed to antiracism and nonviolence. We recognize that racism lives in us and in our culture, and erupts uninvited. We will do our best to not gloss over difficult experiences or conversations. And we look forward to learning from each participant’s lived experience.
Your Circle Facilitators
Peter Klotz-Chamberlin is an experienced nonviolent action trainer, past co-facilitator of Ibram X. Kendi’s How to Be an Antiracist, a member of the RCNV Board, past staff member, and co-founder of the Resource Center for Nonviolence. Peter also worked as an electrical contractor. Peter lives in Santa Cruz, original Awaswas and Amah Mutsun unceded land.
Karis Johnston is a conflict resolution and peacebuilding facilitator and trainer working locally within organizations. She has previously co-facilitated White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo, Me and White Supremacy by Layla Saad, and How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi. Karis currently lives in Felton, colonized land of the Ohlone Native Americans and the Awaswas speaking peoples.
Schedule and Logistics
The Healing Resistance Book Circle will meet weekly on Zoom over the course of 10 weeks beginning Wednesday September 15th – November 17th, 2021. Weekly meetings will be 2 hours from 6:30pm – 8:30pm Pacific Time.
Suggested donations to support the work of The Resource Center for Nonviolence is $25 per person, or more for those wishing to support space for others. Any donation amount is accepted and no one will be turned away for lack of funds.
After you register and as our circle start date nears, your co-facilitators will reach out with more details. We look forward to seeing you.
Questions? Email muna@rcnv.org