Why Oneness?

We all pay a price due by enduring the scars of racism. One father has to explain to his child why “pulling oneself up by their bootstraps” doesn’t always mean equal access to the job needed to feed his family while another struggles with why he was passed over due to affirmative action. A mother in Compton nervously awaits her son’s arrival from school, praying that the racially motivated gang violence brewing in her neighborhood doesn’t take another son, while the father living in Boston has to explain how anti-Semitism lies behind the actions of a school-yard bully. And, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, we are all reminded of just how divided the country is surrounding an issue which continues to simmer just below the surface – ready to escalate into violence and conflict at a moments notice.

Can we end racism in America?

The question is not can we end racism, but how can racism, ethnic supremacy and privilege be tolerated by a country whose Declaration of Independence States, “that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness…”
Ending racism is not a question of feasibility. It is a question of justice.

How does Oneness work to end racism and why the arts?

The keys to eliminating racism are truth, justice and the understanding that there really is only one race…the human race. But how do we have the conversation needed to become, “One Nation Under God”? We here at Oneness believe that the arts coupled with proven programs hold the answer. From the protest music of the 60’s to the impact which “Roots” had on teaching a country about the legacy of slavery, history provides a powerful example of Arts as a tool for social change.

Our plan to eliminate racism consists of:

	Creating awareness campaigns which both bring attention to need to end racism & how this issue personally impacts us all.
	Oneness workshops, conferences, lectures, educational materials and curriculum resources that provide a safe place for people to have and honest dialogue about race in America which lead to fundamental and tangible change.
	Supporting, co-sponsoring and networking with like-minded individuals and organizations to promote the message of the oneness of humanity.