{"id":327,"date":"2011-09-22T04:28:57","date_gmt":"2011-09-22T04:28:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/community\/daughtersofeve\/?p=327"},"modified":"2011-09-22T04:28:57","modified_gmt":"2011-09-22T04:28:57","slug":"pagan-cultural-diversity-because-i-am-a-goddess-too","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/daughtersofeve\/2011\/09\/pagan-cultural-diversity-because-i-am-a-goddess-too\/","title":{"rendered":"Pagan Cultural Diversity ……because I am a Goddess too."},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\"\"<\/a>I recently read a post in The Wild Hunt about the AFA (Asatru Folk Assembly) members that were \u201couted\u201d by a reporter at the National Policy Institute National Conference. While there is plenty of information currently on the internet giving details about this particular incident, I don\u2019t think there is anyone speaking directly about how these types of occurrences translate to those of us minorities reading the comments of others inside of our community. If you want the particulars, I say read the Wild Hunt blog for direction on where to find them. That is not my focus\u2026.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I was directed to this particular post yesterday. In reading through this post I initially had to take a moment to center myself and then think again about what this means to me. It means a lot and nothing at all, simultaneously. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I have no judgment about the Asatru path and do not think that a few people of any organization can represent the whole of the organization. My judgments started to appear when I began reading the post of people who were responding to the information that The Wild Hunt provided. I read comments that ranged from comparing the AFA to native Americans, references about Blacks having the \u201chigh crime rates\u201d and even references to superior race. One comment in particular referenced the deconstruction of the white race and \u201cdoing it for our little black, brown and yellow brothers and sisters!\u201d. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I think it is important for any story to outline the back story before proceeding and that is my intention here. Regardless of whether or not the AFA has a leaning towards white pride tactics or not, the harm done to the Pagan community and our minority Pagans is clear with these statements. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s be really clear; I am a Black Woman who is a Wiccan High Priestess. I am no ones \u201clittle black, brown or yellow sister\u201d. Regardless of your thoughts on race, have some respect or at least pretend to. We walk a spiritual walk on this land and take for granted the very power that we have and the power that we borrow from others. How often people forget that we are all traced back to East Africa where the Mitochondrial Eve originated. Migration and genetic mutations helped to create races of people that we can now use to separate from one another. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I do not understand how we arrived at the concept that European Heritage meant Caucasion or White instead of those who are from a particular geographic area. Technically I have European Ancestry inside of me that connects to the \u201cnettlers\u201d in Europe\u2026 and thus my maiden name. I probably have numerous ancestors that are \u201cwhiter\u201d than those who are pushing a white separatist agenda; that would probably be pretty upsetting to reveal. Can I not worship my family traditions with those of my ancestry, even with my Black face? Are we playing the \u201cwho was here first\u201d game of spirituality? How could we possibly decipher who\u2019s connections to a piece of land are more valid than the others? <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

My heritage cannot be defined by the labels that people would like to put on me. The walk of a Black person is far more complex than any set of characteristics or a geographic area. I know that I have been a Priestess all my life, through space and time, all the way back to the originator of all women. I know that my Black face is a reflection of hers and it is unsettling to see people disrespect that so freely, without a real understanding of how they are also disrespecting themselves and their own lineage. In Luisah Teish\u2019s poem Multicolored Mama it says \u201cI will not wear your narrow racial jackets, As the blood of many Nations runs sweetly through my veins\u201d. \"\"<\/a>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

You don\u2019t have to call me a Nigger to be a racist. You don\u2019t have to be exclusive to practice prejudice. You can make statement that promote a tone of non-acceptance, elude to privileges or superiority, hide behind statements of \u201cpride\u201d and it is still racism. It is painful, hurtful and causes harm to all of those around. You can devalue other races and act as if it is not racist, but it is. You can act as if racism is not prevalent in society today or that it is not a factor, but it is.<\/span><\/p>\n

It is exhausting hearing statements that refer to the \u201cunfairness\u201d of Blacks and Hispanics celebrating their pride, as if this is not addressing the social and societal disparity that exists. One of the comments on the blog so elegantly stated, \u201cEvery day is European heritage day. In fact, tons of people are proud of being varying types of European all the time, taking great pride in it without any fear. A huge part of our cultural knowledge and educational curriculum is Europe-centric by default, even if it\u2019s increasingly in the past.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

As the Pagan community continues to have an influx of people practicing the ways of the Gods, we will continue to see more diversity in the faces around the circle. Everyone has the right to be prideful and I actually encourage that but let\u2019s not pretend that it is the same thing. Pride does not separate you from others and is not intended to rate importance. Pride is a true understanding of those parts of yourself that you acknowledge, value, honor and respect. Pride allows you to show that same respect to other people regardless of the texture of their hair or the hue of their skin. Pride equals self love and in turn, the ability to extend love to others. Hate is just hate and is not directly related. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Moments like this are revealing in many ways. They show why minority Pagans are less apt to come to the forefront and join community, why there is so much fear and why venues like Daughters of Eve are so damn important. We show a balance, a face of Paganism that looks different and yet looks exactly the same\u2026 all at the same time. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I hate reading hate, especially internally within the Pagan community, but I know that this reality is something that we must face in order to heal and open the doors to understanding. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Multicolored Momma <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/em>
\nOriginally printed in Jambalaya by Luisha Teish<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

<\/em><\/p>\n

My sweet coffee skin
\nHold secrets in its shade,
\nWhispers silent warning
\nTo a black and white world<\/p>\n

Do not box me in
\nIn your narrow racial jackets,
\nToo tight to move in,
\nToo thin to wear.<\/p>\n

My brown pores bleed
\nWith the sweat of many nations,
\nGenerations of colors
\nOoze down my arm.<\/p>\n

My Bantu behind
\nPlays the drums of dancing griots,
\nTelling stories with my sway
\nSinging songs with each step.<\/p>\n

My high Choctaw cheekbones
\nLove the Mississippi Delta.
\nRemembers Running Cloud\u2019s daughter
\nAnd the Red Man gone.<\/p>\n

My breast angle \u2018round
\nLike the dark gypsy wenches.
\nCrescent moons touch my belly
\nSilver slithers on my throat.<\/p>\n

My almond eyes sparkle
\nTo the sound of Eastern jingles
\nGlass chimes dress my eyelids
\nTinkling bells kiss my brow.<\/p>\n

My dirty red hair
\nSpeaks of crazy Cajun cousins,
\nTalks of faire Creole ladies
\nAnd their dark Spanish men.<\/p>\n

My Tibetan thighs open
\nAnd the Red Sea splits.
\nMy soft lips part
\nBetween Dahomey and Brazil.<\/p>\n

My sweet coffee skin
\nHolds secrets in its shade,
\nWhispers silent warnings
\nTo a black and white world.<\/p>\n

I will not wear
\nYour narrow racial jackets
\nAs the blood of many nations
\nRuns sweetly thru my veins. <\/em><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I recently read a post in The Wild Hunt about the AFA (Asatru Folk Assembly) members that were \u201couted\u201d by a reporter at the National Policy Institute National Conference. While there is plenty of information currently on the internet giving details about this particular incident, I don\u2019t think there is anyone speaking directly about how […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":204,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-327","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nPagan Cultural Diversity ......because I am a Goddess too.<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"I recently read a post in The Wild Hunt about the AFA (Asatru Folk Assembly) members that were \u201couted\u201d by a reporter at the National Policy Institute\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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