How can we each take a concrete and personal act toward reparations for long-standing systemic racial inequalities? Members of the small but growing group Caste Action Alliance (CAA), inspired by Isabel Wilkerson’s book Caste, have established a fund through the Community Foundation of Monterey County to award scholarships to the Black descendants of enslaved people. CAA has been able to award 14 scholarships in the last two years.

The goal for this year is $20,000 to help pay tuition for 12 students, a goal attainable with the help of the UUCMP. Since 2021, CAA has distributed hundreds of copies of Caste, held in-depth discussions of anti-racist books, and participated in community, political, educational, and artistic endeavors with an antiracist focus. For more information, please visit https://casteactionalliance.net – especially the Scholarship and Actions sections.

Thank you, Sharon Miller