Take the Richmond Pledge to End Racism

I BELIEVE that every person has worth as an individual.
I BELIEVE that every person is entitled to dignity and respect, regardless of race or color.
I BELIEVE that every thought and every act of racial prejudice is harmful; if it is my thought or act, then it is harmful to me as well as to others.
Therefore, from this day forward:
I WILL strive daily to eliminate racial prejudice from my thoughts and actions.
I WILL discourage racial prejudice by others at every opportunity.
I WILL treat all people with dignity and respect.
I WILL commit to working with others to transform the Greater Richmond region into a place that treats people of all races, ethnicities, and cultures with justice, equity, and compassion, and
I WILL strive daily to honor this pledge, knowing that the world will be a better place because of my effort.

What is the Richmond Pledge?

The Richmond Pledge to End Racism, based on the Birmingham Pledge, is a personal commitment to work on ourselves and with others throughout the Greater Richmond, Virginia area to address racism in all its forms.

Who is the Richmond Pledge to End Racism for?

The Pledge to End Racism offers individuals, faith communities and other groups a place to start to build a common understanding, language, and commitment for a just, more equitable society.

  • Individuals sign the Pledge and make personal commitments to work on themselves and with others throughout the Greater Richmond, VA area to address racism in all its forms.
  • Faith Communities adopt the Pledge to focus and support their own anti-racism initiatives, inviting their congregants and others in their community to sign the Pledge to End Racism.
  • Organizations engaged in anti-racism work help us connect Pledge signers with meaningful ways to fulfill their personal commitments to end racism.
  • Businesses and other organizations communicate their commitment to being anti-racist by adopting the Richmond Pledge to End Racism.
Forward Together

We believe the Pledge to End Racism is one way into the critical conversation on ending racism.

Our Community Partners

The following groups & organizations have adopted the Richmond Pledge to End Racism and are helping to create a network of support and commitment to anti-racist policies and ideas. Click on their logo to learn more about them. We hope your organization would consider joining us.

Join Us

Our vision for the greater Richmond, VA region is to see an end to racism in all its forms in our community.

The Richmond Pledge to End Racism is a movement

We seek to be a catalyst for anti-racism work among individuals and organizations by:

  • assisting in connecting individuals/groups who are engaged in anti-racism work to one other
  • helping to leverage the diverse strengths available across a consortium of racial justice aware congregations and organizations
  • providing counsel and training to those who are just beginning or need rejuvenation in their anti-racism journey
  • amplifying the priorities of Black led anti-racism work
Our events

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about our activities

Subscribe to our Newsletter

We send a monthly newsletter with information to help you keep your Pledge to End Racism commitments, including announcements from our Richmond partners on how to get involved with their anti-racism work.

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Frequently Asked Questions

The Pledge to End Racism Movement is more than a signature on a page. It’s a living, breathing process to help all of us become better equipped to talk about race and racism and take action to end systemic racism. There are various ways someone could get involved with this anti- racism movement. Here are a few ideas.

The easiest answer is “it depends.” We suggest you reach out to our Community Engagement Coordinator (use the form on this page) to learn about how other groups are using the Pledge in their anti-racism work and discuss ideas for your group. You might also take a look at our Richmond Community Partnership guide.

The Living the Pledge Workshop is a 12-hour workshop designed to give participants confidence in their ability to talk about and confront racism wherever it lives.   Currently, it is offered as a 6-week series via Zoom. Learn about our next offering or add your name to our waitlist to get notified when our next workshop will be offered.

If you do not live in the Greater Richmond, VA, area and are interested in the Pledge to End Racism, visit our National Pledge to End Racism Initiative website for information about how you can bring the Pledge to End Racism to your community.

Contact Us

Would you like more information about the Richmond Pledge? Please reach out to our Community Engagement Coordinator using the form below!