“Our stories, perhaps my story, and the years of feeling inferior…has affected my core being in such a painful way. Parts of me feel profound sadness other parts rage.… This journey of peeling the layers of internalized classism is long and arduous. Feeling a shift in my attitude towards myself and my working class roots and growing stronger because of our group has made all the difference.”

Dear Friend,

Above is part of a recent email I sent to my Class Action Straddler group. I am sharing it with you because Class Action and internalized classism have both impacted me so deeply that I am called to share my story. It isn’t easy to be so vulnerable but my gratitude for the knowledge I have gained because of Class Action has inspiresd me to do so. Class Action is a critical catalyst bringing healing and action to all of us impacted by classism.

Through Class Action I am coming to new understandings about myself and about others. I want to make sure this opportunity is available to whoever is ready. The Inspiring Action campaign seeks to significantly expand Class Action’s reach. And now, with the Founders’ Challenge matching gift, I can give $100 and Class Action will get $200. How can I say “no” to that? I hope you’ll join me in making a gift to help Class Action meet this match. Each dollar you givewill be matched dollar for dollar.

I’m also grateful to each person who gives to Class Action. Thank you for helping Class Action to be here for me, and for the countless others touched by this work.

It was about four years ago that I started my class inquiry. I had not been aware until I attended my first Class Action workshop of my internalized classism. It was months and many workshops later that I understood the full impact and the depth of shame and self-hatred I held around my working class upbringing. I was learning that I accepted some random and arbitrary classification that I was inferior, unworthy, not intelligent enough, lesser than, etc. I developed low self esteem and felt ashamed of my working class ways and accepted that the middle class way was what I ought to aspire to so that I could then value and respect my existence.

These feelings go back a long time, but it has taken years to identify them, know they are related to my class of origin, and begin to question their reality. Through Class Action I am coming to new understandings about myself and about others. When I look back at the impact of growing up working class, I realize the years of feeling inferior affected my core being in such a painful way. Parts of me feel profound sadness, other parts rage. This journey of peeling the layers of internalized classism is long and arduous. Feeling a shift in my attitude towards myself and toward my working-class roots, and growing stronger through a Class Action support group is making all the difference.

For years I simply accepted myself as “less than.” To understand my feelings as a result of years of conditioning has given me hope that I can undo this conditioning and love and most importantly, respect me. I no longer want to tolerate being looked down upon, judged, devalued or disrespected (by myself or others). I want to understand my own classism , including prejudices and thoughts I hold about people with wealth and people who are poor.

Opening my own heart to the pain of the realization of how much class affected me, I’ve been able to open up to hear other people’s pain. I’ve learned that we’re all engaged in some emotional class struggle. That shame can stem from at having too much or too little, being too smart educated or not educated enough, or even being uncomfortable in social settings. A random and arbitrary system created “us” versus “them,” “has” versus “has not” in our society. Yet when it comes right down to it, we’re all worthy and valuable human beings.

Breaking open the taboo subject of class. It opens opportunities for us to transform our feelings and our experiences so that we can understand each other with kindness and compassion. I’ve seen this work first-hand: attending workshops, participating in a group for Straddlers,* and even serving on the board. My personal and direct experience tells me that Class Action makes a real difference in people’s lives.

Since its founding almost three years ago, Class Action has made enormous leaps. It’s grown from a small local organization to one with national impact. Workshops and presentations have reached more than 5,000 people. Articles have appeared online, in national diversity publications, and newspapers. The range of work is impressive:

• Over 150 radio interviews
• Workshops and presentations in 18 states
• Presentations at schools and universities across the country
• A Web site that receives over 10,000 visits a month from people across the globe

Understanding that no single outreach method that will reach everyone, Class Action creates engaging programs and resources to raise awareness and inspire action to end classism.

One new tool, the film Enough, really impresses me. A young teenager interviews her peers to examine the myths of classism. It is poignant to see young children today talking about something that I at that age was clueless about but was affecting me deeply.

It matters that we create more opportunities for more people to begin to end the shame and silence of classism. Class Action’s new resources are reaching out even further than before:

• Bringing the eye-opening film Enough and an interactive curriculum into middle and high schools
• Publishing Talking Across the Class Divide, a new manual anyone, anywhere, can use to delve into cross-class dialogue
• Distributing the informative Straight Talk about Class and Classism brochure

This year Class Action is taking a risk, expanding its budget by $200,000 to launch the Race-Class Intersections and Wealth-Blind Admissions programs and strengthen infrastructure. Investing in new staff, new programs and new research will increase Class Action’s long-term impact. This growth is critical to make sure that classism enters and remains in the national dialogue.

I want to see Class Action succeed. I give to Class Action because of the personal transformation I’ve felt over the past three years. I know that if I don’t give, who will? The work is important and needs to continue – for each of us, for the planet.

From 29 donors in its first year, Class Action’s supporters have grown to close to 500. We come from across the class spectrum, each giving in accordance with our means. With such an increase, obviously I’m not alone in my gratitude for Class Action.

Generous donors offered Class Action a challenge to help expand the circle of supporters even further. For each gift given – up to a total of $22,000 – new and increased gifts will be matched 100%.

Together we can grow the circle to over 1,000 people by year-end.

Perhaps through my story you understood something about yourself, or about another. Perhaps you can see Class Action’s impact in a new way and consider joining me as a supporter of this work. Hopefully you will join me in helping Class Action meet the Founders’ Challenge. Your gift today will doubly expand Class Action’s resources to continue this transformative work.

Warmly,

Char Gentes

Former Board member, grateful Class Action workshop participant and Straddler group member

P.S. Your gift will be matched dollar-for-dollar – but only if it is received by June 30th. Please help us to ensure teens and adults of all classes to know that they are worthy and valuable.

Make your Inspired Gift here!

Class Action
P.O. Box 350
Hadley, MA 01035-0350
tel: 413.585.9709

fax: 413.585.9708
info@classism.org

Keep me informed!
Want to be kept up to date on the latest Class Action issues and events? Click here.