Why We Display a Black Lives Matter Banner

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The Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture is honored to display a banner asserting that Black Lives Matter.  We strive to be an inclusive, freethinking community focused on social justice and personal growth. While we do not require that our members adhere to any religious or political belief, as a community we value the human worth of every person. So we must be committed to racial justice.

In particular, in displaying this banner, we stand in witness against state violence carried out disproportionately – as many studies have demonstrated –against people of color, against those of African descent.  This disparity in the valuing of peoples’ lives is nothing new in American history. It is past time to be public witnesses to that injustice, and to call for change.

Racism, whether unconscious, conscious, or systemic, is a pervasive force in American culture today.  We call for ending the disproportionate deaths caused by racism, and we call for ending the racial injustices that cause trauma and lessen opportunity.

As the BlackLivesMatter website says, “Black Lives Matter is an ideological and political intervention in a world where Black lives are systematically and intentionally targeted for demise.  It is an affirmation of Black folks’ contributions to this society, our humanity, and our resilience in the face of deadly oppression.”

The Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture is not, by displaying this banner, endorsing any particular platform or program or organization. We stand with those who share similar values and concerns.

Questions

If you have questions about the Society after reading this document, please contact our Clergy Leader, Jone Johnson Lewis, or Board President, Rebecca Lurie.  You can find out how to contact them on our website at www.bsec.org.

A Community of Ethics

If you would like to join with us in a community of support for those who want to live in better relationship with others and the wider world, please check us out on a Sunday at 11 a.m. as we explore a variety of important ethical issues.

Answering Some Common Questions

Why not “All Lives Matter”?

If you believe – as we as an Ethical Society do – that everyone matters, then it’s simply a given that black lives must matter. We value black lives and recognize the disproportionate threat to black lives.

In advocating for change and compassion, people often focus on one cause, and there’s an implicit “too” because few would deny that other causes, other people, are also worthy of attention. If you don’t hear the implicit “too” after Black Lives Matter – yet do hear an implicit “too” when other causes are mentioned  – then please examine your thoughts to see whether you include “black lives” in “all lives.”

In study after study, it’s found that African American, Latinx, and Native American people are treated by authorities with more deadly force, more often than are people identified as white, and that those authorities are held less accountable than when people identified as white are the targets of that force.

In the founding years of this nation, the same person could say “all men were created equal” and hold some men in bondage, not seeing them as created equal.  The national anthem could be written with the words “land of the free” by a person who kept some people in bondage.  “All lives matter” too easily has meant, in American history, only the lives of citizens identified as white.

Don’t “Blue Lives” matter?

We mourn if police officers lose their lives when they are carrying out their mission to serve and protect all of us. We particularly abhor such deaths as a result of ideology or hate. But the number of officers killed in the line of duty, while fluctuating a bit year to year, is generally declining. There are laws, policies, and practices protecting “blue lives” and making it highly unlikely that deadly violence against the police will escape consequences. So we don’t focus on the killings of police officers as a major social justice focus.

We call out the actions of those police officers who commit unjustified extrajudicial violence, we call out the system that protects such officers from responsibility for their acts, we call for change in a justice system which disproportionately incarcerates people of color, and we call out the racism of the larger society that devalues black lives.  To say that these ideas are anti-police is an insult to the mission of the police force to serve and protect all people.

What about the violence at some demonstrations?

The “Black Lives Matter” movement has been and remains explicitly and strongly anti-violence. We, like those most involved with the Black Lives Matter movement, seek restorative, not retributive, justice. There are a few in any crowd who are angry and hurt and who don’t respect what the movement would prefer they do.  The actions or words of that few do not speak for the many.

What does displaying the banner mean to the Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture?

Displaying the banner does not mean we have endorsed every detail of every policy proposal or that we support every associated organization in the coalition for Black Lives Matter. Nor does displaying the matter bind individual members (or building users) in their personal beliefs and opinions. Many of our members support many of the proposals and organizations, and we think that even those ideas with which some members disagree are worth discussing as we consider what will end racial injustice and heal the long history of violence and trauma.

Divestment from Fossil Fuels

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The Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture substantially divested its investment fund from fossil fuels in celebration of Earth Day 2015. We did so through the sale of our Energy Sector Mutual Fund, which constituted approximately 7% of our investment portfolio. 

According to our treasurer, Tom Castelnuovo, “We estimate that the sale of our energy fund has reduced our energy stock holdings from approximately 10% of our portfolio  to approximately 3%, a 70% reduction in our energy stock holdings achieved by this one simple act. (Since BSEC held no individual stocks listed on the Carbon Tracker 200, a list of fossil fuel stocks, our only remaining fossil-fuel holdings are held in broad market funds such as an S&P500 Index Fund as well as international mutual funds.)”

BSEC is proud to join hundreds of cities, universities and religious organizations in the worldwide divestment movement. We take our inspiration from our parent organization, the American Ethical Union, whose divestment resolution stated in part:

“The American Ethical Union shall divest itself of any investments in businesses that have a primary purpose of the extraction or distribution of fossil-based sources of energy… We urge [our member Ethical] Societies… and their… individual members to do the same.”

BSEC understands the disastrous consequences to our climate of our continued burning of fossil fuels.  Our resolution on the subject states in part:

“Because scientists and the United Nations overwhelmingly agree that any increase of global warming more than 2°C (3.6°F) would be unsafe for the future of a livable world

Because we are concerned about the threat to life on our planet from catastrophic climate change resulting from the production and consumption of fossil fuels

Because environmental groups like 350.org (www.350.org) and Green Faith (www.greenfaith.org) are promoting fossil fuel divestment as a way to bring to broader consciousness the crisis created by an economy shaped by fossil fuels, pressure the companies to invest in alternative energy and stimulate governmental and social commitment to a clean energy world;

Because we are heeding the call of religious groups nationally – including the American Ethical Union, United Church of Christ and Unitarian Universalists – and locally, including many synagogues and Quaker meetings, which have begun the process of divesting their portfolios of fossil fuel stocks and investing in alternative energy…”

We have decided to divest our portfolio from fossil-fuel stocks in several stages. We take our guidance from 350.org and GreenFaith.org, who envision a 5-year phased approach to divestment.

Said our treasurer, “For FY15, we decided simply to get the ‘biggest bang for the buck’ in taking our first step toward divestment through the sale of our sector SPDR Energy Fund.

On a go-forward basis, we will be looking at fossil-fuel investment alternatives proposed by our congregation including Socially Responsible Investment funds that are screened to exclude fossil fuel investments, greater use of non-energy sector funds, investment in social investments such as worker cooperatives, credit unions and supportive housing, and short sales of fossil fuel stocks.”

“BSEC is committed to fighting climate change through our congregational resources, and we are proud to have taken such a major step to achieving our goal of fossil fuel divestment,” said Jone Johnson Lewis, our interim clergy leader.

What is Ethical Action (Lucy’s Children)

What is Ethical Action (Lucy’s Children)

Purpose

Almost seven years ago, Lucy’’s Children (EAC/LC) was established for the study and discussion of American slavery, its rise and manifestation as well as its continuing impact on our lives. Further,  as the internationalization of economic interests converged early on regarding African labor in particular, EAC/LC also explores related histories in other countries.  Our goal is to provide not only information where there have only been questions, but to address our moving forward.

We are open to members, friends and guests. Our sessions and topics take many forms.   Historical areas are our benchmark.  Personalities, environmental conditions, music, travels, medical and scientific work are among our interests.  

Supported Projects

From time to time, we have engaged in public advocacy  through demonstrations, writings and voice. Some selected writings have been submitted for posting on the website.  Three ongoing projects with us are  Léogâne, Haiti, a joint educational and agricultural effort; the Harriet Tubman Byway,  and Gloves n’Stuff, a local response to migration needs. 

Presentations, Papers and Recordings

Selected presentations have been recorded via zoom. These presentations and selected researched papers, including commentaries can be found on the BSEC website, BSEC.org., go to the video tab and on the BSEC U-Tube channel:  https://www.youtube.com/@bsec/videos. 

Who Can Join?

If you are curious reader and have a willingness to share knowledge and information come see us. Membership in BSEC is not required.  Questions and comments can sent to our email address:  [email protected].

When does EA/LC meet? 

The group will meets based on the readiness of presenters and discussion leaders on their topics of interest.  Starting in each season, EAC/LC is developing its calendar.  Let’s hear from you!

For some of Lucy’s Children media, visit https://bsec.org/lc/