BLACK SALON SERIES
The Black Salon Series was intended to facilitate a process of establishing BFP’s internal political alignment and shared framework around four key ideological pillars, to guide and frame the development of our NYS Breathe Act Platform as well as BFP’s long-term approach to achieving our priorities. Throughout the month of September we hosted a weekly schedule of sessions (2 per topic), with each week focused on one of the four key ideological pillars we identified as vital foundations of our collective work and BFP’s NYS Breathe Act Platform.
Each week’s topic there was a STUDY session to present a deeper understanding and analysis of the topic,followed by an ALIGNMENT session to struggle and build collective alignment as a coalition.
SESSION GOALS & OUTCOMES
THEORY OF CHANGE
OBJECTIVES (STUDY)
Discuss how we think change happens and establish a shared Theory of Change definition- Outline the purpose, process and model for developing it as a coalition.
Evaluate BFP’s established long-term priorities that frame the development of our Theory of Change.
Identify and analyze the components and gaps of BFP’s framework to establish, that contribute to the development of our Theory of Change.
DECISIONS (ALIGNMENT)
Reach consensus on BFP’s Theory of Change definition and development process.
Draft and approve a Theory of Change document (2-3 paragraphs)- Incorporating our values, principles and newly developed shared-frameworks. This will be used as the foundation and structure of our Breathe Act Platform
Discuss how we think change happens and establish a shared Theory of Change definition- Outline the purpose, process and model for developing it as a coalition.
Evaluate BFP’s established long-term priorities that frame the development of our Theory of Change.
Identify and analyze the components and gaps of BFP’s framework to establish, that contribute to the development of our Theory of Change.
DECISIONS (ALIGNMENT)
Reach consensus on BFP’s Theory of Change definition and development process.
Draft and approve a Theory of Change document (2-3 paragraphs)- Incorporating our values, principles and newly developed shared-frameworks. This will be used as the foundation and structure of our Breathe Act Platform
ABOLITION
OBJECTIVES (STUDY)
Explore theories and frameworks of abolition-
Identify existing points of alignment, struggle and tension within BFP.
Facilitate process of discussion, analysis and consensus to achieve shared-understanding of abolition for BFP to adopt.
Start to develop political bottom lines around abolition that will guide our Breathe Act Platform and campaign work.
DECISIONS (ALIGNMENT)
Decide on BFP’s abolitionist position and its limitations in our organizing work.
Define and reach consensus on reformism (meaning small steps that don’t move us to abolition) versus abolitionist reforms (small steps that do move us towards abolition).
Explore theories and frameworks of abolition-
Identify existing points of alignment, struggle and tension within BFP.
Facilitate process of discussion, analysis and consensus to achieve shared-understanding of abolition for BFP to adopt.
Start to develop political bottom lines around abolition that will guide our Breathe Act Platform and campaign work.
DECISIONS (ALIGNMENT)
Decide on BFP’s abolitionist position and its limitations in our organizing work.
Define and reach consensus on reformism (meaning small steps that don’t move us to abolition) versus abolitionist reforms (small steps that do move us towards abolition).
ANTI-CAPITALISM
OBJECTIVES (STUDY)
Engage in collective political education around what capitalism is, the ramifications of it as an economic model, and our relationship to it as Black folks within the system.
Identify what it means to be anti-capitalist as a coalition and how that manifests in our politics, organizing work, legislative goals and ways of being with each other (and communities).
Concretize our shared anti-capitalistic values and principles that will guide the development of our 2022 Breathe Act Platform and Legislative Priorities.
DECISIONS (ALIGNMENT)
Collectively define anti-capitalism and reach clarity on definitions for socialism, solidarity/care economy, communism, anarchy.
Discuss and create a list of implications of anti-capitalism and above positions for our groups and collective.
Engage in collective political education around what capitalism is, the ramifications of it as an economic model, and our relationship to it as Black folks within the system.
Identify what it means to be anti-capitalist as a coalition and how that manifests in our politics, organizing work, legislative goals and ways of being with each other (and communities).
Concretize our shared anti-capitalistic values and principles that will guide the development of our 2022 Breathe Act Platform and Legislative Priorities.
DECISIONS (ALIGNMENT)
Collectively define anti-capitalism and reach clarity on definitions for socialism, solidarity/care economy, communism, anarchy.
Discuss and create a list of implications of anti-capitalism and above positions for our groups and collective.
REPARATIONS
OBJECTIVES (STUDY)
Explore the accepted framework for reparations, its global history and current proposals around reparations.
Identify existing points (on reparations) of alignment, struggle and tension within BFP.
Facilitate process of discussion, analysis and consensus to identify shared position on reparations and determine how it is incorporated into our 2022 Breathe Act Platform and campaign work.
DECISIONS (ALIGNMENT)
Agree on reparations frameworks we will be using.
Distinguish, document and agree on the difference between invest/divest and reparations.
Vote if current reparations proposals meet our criteria.
Explore the accepted framework for reparations, its global history and current proposals around reparations.
Identify existing points (on reparations) of alignment, struggle and tension within BFP.
Facilitate process of discussion, analysis and consensus to identify shared position on reparations and determine how it is incorporated into our 2022 Breathe Act Platform and campaign work.
DECISIONS (ALIGNMENT)
Agree on reparations frameworks we will be using.
Distinguish, document and agree on the difference between invest/divest and reparations.
Vote if current reparations proposals meet our criteria.
Study Session Videos
BFP Summation Presentation by Reena
