Johnetta and Leroy Jordan are the parents of three grown daughters and a teenage grandson, all of whom are very active in their churches. Johnetta recently retired from an administrative position with the State of Illinois. Leroy is the director of the Office for Black Catholics in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois and a retired educator.		Merlin and Daphné Skretvedt met in Daphné’s homeland, St. Lucia, where he was a Peace Corps volunteer. They married in Minnesota and spent most of their life in France, where they worked for the UN and other international organizations until they retired in Edwardsville, Ill., to be near their grandchildren.

Daphné Skretvedt

    Prior to my participation on the anti-racism team, I used to think that convincing others by argument and speaking up on the wrongness of racial slurs and biases could somehow change a racist environment. I believed that personal relationships, even seeing our interracial marriage as an example, could overcome racism. My participation on the team took the subject to a deeper level, now demonstrating that racism is systemic, traceable through U.S. history and the domination, through the misuse of power, by whites over people of color. Coming from the Caribbean, I began to see that our analysis has a universal application even though our experiences in the West Indies might have differed from that of the African-American.

    Countering racism requires a much deeper approach than any personal effort I could make. The idea of working with a team of white people and people of color, and starting from a common definition [for racism] which we hold, was appealing. This was no longer an “us “ “them” strategy about how we might convince one another of our beliefs, but something that enveloped us all and our need to break out of the cycle of oppressor and victim. Our work could only begin by taking a long hard look at ourselves.

    As a Springfield Dominican Associate, I had already been exposed to the concept of “preaching” in which our lives can become a powerful sermon. And I was convinced that if any group would have the vision and stamina to engage in such soul-searching and transformative work, it would be the Springfield Dominicans.

    The most challenging part of this teamwork is the slow, plodding pace at which we must travel, the tendency for enthusiasm to waver, and the practical application of our analysis to the congregation. Most rewarding is working with a group that strives to understand each other’s vulnerabilities and which places its hope in the working of the Holy Spirit. I look forward to the transformation of the Springfield Dominicans into a non-racist institution — a beacon to the wider community of Springfield.

Merlin Skretvedt 

    I joined the Springfield Dominican Anti-racism Team as the only white male member because I have felt for a long time that racism in our country is a long standing problem which must be overcome to make us all free. I have learned much about the history of our country and how racism has been promoted since the time of our founding fathers.
We white people are missing out on many interesting and important experiences in life if we do not accept and participate in the culture of all ethnic and so-called “racial groups” in our country. I say, so called racial groups, because this grouping is an idea of the white male. It is my greatest hope that training in anti racism will spread through out our country and that all will come to understand that the difference in color pigmentation is a sorry excuse to believe that this is responsible for anything of importance.

    Perhaps we will all see the time when all people will look upon one another as simply a child of God.

 Johnetta Jordan

    As I think back over the time spent on the anti-racism team, I am surprised at the amount of time it has been. This is a positive thing. It has been challenging, enlightening, reinforcing some things I already knew. I think that getting to know myself better and getting to know some of the other team members on a personal basis are highlights of the team experience.

    When I first moved to Springfield and began attending St. Patrick’s, it was the Dominican Sisters who made me feel most comfortable and welcome. This was before we had children. After the experiences with them there was no question about where my children would attend school. I was not disappointed in the quality of education my older children received at St. Patrick’s. In fact, when we moved to a larger home, I wanted it to be in St. Patrick’s Parish. I had great respect for the Dominicans.

    When my oldest daughter came home one day to ask for money to “buy pagan babies,” I began to question what the Dominicans were doing to my children. Those “pagan babies” looked just like my children. I decided that it was ignorance on the part of the Dominicans.

    When I heard about the new path the Dominicans were embarking upon, I was very pleased. When I heard that they needed partners to help them with this, I eagerly volunteered. I still have the utmost respect for the Dominicans, even though some of them are misguided. I told myself that I couldn’t place blame only on the sisters, unless I was willing to commit to helping them understand what they were doing wrong.

Want to know more?

Follow these links: Growing Up in a White World  Breaking the Barriers of Racism Moving from an Island of Privilege   Raising Awareness of Racism

    It has been a hard process. It is a struggle. At times, I feel like what we are doing is just blowing in the wind. Then one of the older sisters, not a part of the team, will say something like, “You are really working hard. I don’t understand what it is you are doing, but thank you for your efforts.” I am sure that if that sister knew what we are really doing, she would not be so supportive. But then again, maybe she would be, after all God is a very significant part of what we are doing.

    Sometimes I have a habit of trying to make people feel better. One of the things I struggle with on the team is not doing that. This is the place and time that I must be brutally honest. If it hurts, then it hurts.

    At one of our sessions, one of the sisters told me that if her family knew what she was doing, she would be disowned. I didn’t even hesitate to tell her that in my culture we had extended families; one became a family member just because they wanted to and the family accepted them. I told her that at our house we have three bedrooms that were not being used. She could become a member of our family anytime. The surprise in that is that I meant it, I was not just saying it to make her feel better.

    In a way, the Dominicans are becoming more like family. My daughters are beginning to know them as individuals, sight unseen. When they do meet, my daughters say “ I knew that was she from your description.”

    I knew this would be a lengthy process and my one regret is that I may not be around to see it to fulfillment. I am sure it will happen.

 Leroy Jordan

    To say my life has been shaped to a great extent by racist acts is an understatement. Growing old in the United States is a trip. I, like most African Americans, have a love-hate relationship with America – loving what the country professes to be and hating what it really is like. Growing up in Murphysboro, Ill., was an adventure I will never forget.
For example, when I was a child, every spring, the colored folks’ section of Murphysboro was flooded by the Big Muddy river. We could not live in the uptown section of the town. Fortunately, our house was on a small hill and the water never reached our house. I grew up thinking it was because Bethel A.M.E church was between our house and the flooding waters. But more importantly, God certainly wouldn’t let it flood our home. You see, we always believed our ancestors and our family had a special relationship with God. My family history is full of stories of how God would see us through all kinds of trials and tribulations. Stories of how relatives stood up in the face of racism and are still standing up today are a part of every family gathering. We always believed that God had a special purpose for us and that God would guide our path. We also believe that there is no honor greater than serving the Lord and living so God can use us. My mom always would say “God works in mysterious ways.” As I grew up, more and more did that statement appear to be true.

    Thus, all my life I have tried to stand up for charity and justice. I’ve tried to live my life as a model for the children, especially family children, coming after me. For the most part I am doing that.

    Every once and a while, at our supper table, my dad would tell us to be home before dark and all of us should go with our mom if she had to be out after dark. When the white folks got upset, usually about some rumor, we had to stay home and stay away from the windows. Sometimes, during a bad white man uprising, our cousins would come and stay with us. Uncle James would bring his rifle with him just in case. Eventually things would cool down and return to normal, whatever that was. Dad would tell my brother Peter and me we should always protect our women folk because whenever white men get mad they look for colored women. At first I didn’t understand what he meant, but as I grew up I began to understand just how degrading and demeaning those situations really were. Sometimes I think a man can’t understand sexism until he has experienced racism.

    For that matter, the women in my family have always been strong women who saw themselves as the equal to any man. They were pioneers in the women suffrage movement and were principals, teachers, social workers, and preachers long before it became fashionable for women to work outside the home. Aunt Dora, who lived to be 110, grew up with Booker T. Washington. She personally knew W.E.B. Dubois. She told us many stories about her life in Monroe, La., and the early untold freedom activities in the U.S. Aunt Elizabeth, Aunt Mary, and Aunt Annie, were all college graduates. Grandma Wrendy saw General Sherman march through Georgia. She could stand up to any man, white or black.

    The men in my family were equally involved in fighting for justice. Many of my uncles were preachers and teachers. Several were principals of black schools in Southern Illinois. I’ve heard many stories about one or the other being threaten with beatings and death because they would not comply with some custom or mandate. For example, Uncle Son, Dewitt Johnson, during the 1930’s and 1940’s was a recruiter. He recruited black men to come north to work in the factories. He became so successful at it that a reward was put up to identify or capture him. Many times white men would board the train looking for him. He lived to be 89 years old and pastored a church in Beloit, Wis. Before his death, the Smithsonian Institute created an exhibit and wrote a short story about his life. I see the exhibit whenever I go to Washington D.C.

Why did you agree to become a member of the Springfield Dominican anti racism team? 

    My path has crossed many times with the Springfield Dominicans. Some of those times have been mentioned by my wife, Johnetta in her statement. In addition, as a black male Catholic activist, I have always viewed the Springfield Dominicans as a religious congregation which backed up its words with actions.

    To my knowledge, the diocesan black Catholics have always felt welcomed by the Dominican Sisters and felt their invitations to attend various functions were sincere. We have always been welcome at the motherhouse. We know that the Dominicans, for many years, have hired people of color to work for them. We know the Dominican Sisters continued to teach at St. Patrick School in Springfield after the white parishioners took their kids out of the school. We know the Dominicans started the St. Martin DePorres Center to help the poor on the east side of Springfield. We know the Dominican congregation took a leadership role in the fair housing issue in the city, and stepped up to the plate when no one else would stand up for the poor.

    Finally, when the Springfield Dominican congregation said they wanted to become an anti-racist congregation and they needed people of color to help them, I was overwhelmed with joy. Their vision of Church challenged me to contribute whatever skills and knowledge I have to accomplishing that vision. I know it will take many years to accomplish that goal but I am committed for the long haul.

What have been some of your observations about the anti-racism team?