prairie fire organizing committee

We oppose white supremacy

White supremacy remains a dominant ideology in the United States. This country was founded on the belief that white people are superior to people of color. The culture, history and ideas of white people are the standard against which everyone else is measured.

White supremacy is more than just being prejudiced. It is a system of privilege that benefits all white people and permeates every aspect of our society. All white people do not benefit equally from white supremacy: whites suffer discrimination based on class, gender, anti-semitism, and sexuality. But all whites benefit in a society that blames people of color for poverty and crime.

Institutions of authority regularly deny people of color rights that, generally, whites can count on. Recent exposŽs of racial profiling by the police, extreme bias in the application of the death penalty and in sentencing, and denial of adequate education are examples of this.

We must understand and challenge our privileges. We must confront structures, institutions, and individuals that oppress people of color. Prairie Fire is committed to working with organizations of people of color and supporting them in their work for self-determination. We believe this is an absolutely essential, creative way to fight white supremacy and be part of building a more humane society.