ANTI-RACISM
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The Dutch history of slavery impacts racial dynamics to this day. This is especially apparent in Curaçao where the land, the buildings, the language and the people reflect it back to who ever chooses to see. Many white people do not realise that this is in fact a choice.
MeaningFuel specifically applies itself to the facilitation of awareness about how our past has shaped us, how this feeds into everyday racism and what behavioural patterns keep us from change. It offers support in how to break free from these constrictions and commit your authentic potential to anti-racist change in your direct sphere of influence. |
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OUR FOUNDER ON HER JOURNEY
For the longest time I thought racism wasn’t my problem. It belonged in South Africa and the States. Not in the Netherlands and definitely not in my life. Mainly because my life was very white. White friends, white neighbourhood, white lecturers, white bosses, white colleagues.
Not my problem right? Don't get me wrong, it wasn’t for lack of exposure; I had a big city/ liberal/ international life. The core of it was just always white. Nothing I can do about that. My move to Curaçao (formerly colonised by the Netherlands) taught me that it is very much my problem and that there is a whole lot I can do about it. Every-single-day. In every-single-aspect-of-life. What changed? Suddenly I was a white woman in a predominantly black society. That felt uncomfortable, vulnerable, awkward and even scary at times. Not feelings that align very well with how I want to be perceived. It would have been so easy to retreat back into a white bubble. Plenty of those here on the island. Comfortable but dishonest because I knew deep down that this pull towards whiteness was fuelled by racist stereotypes and convictions. Those do not define me. They are part of the impact of our shared history of slavery and colonisation. They are how I was socialised. This was a massive eye-opener! I have been educating myself on racism and what it means to be white ever since. This has triggered major insights that I share online on a weekly basis, put into practice in projects in the region, teach about, explore in friendships and raise my kids with. |
Join us & learn more.
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