A Conference-wide Racial Justice Task Force gathers resources and encourages congregations to engage in conversations around race. If you and your congregation are interested in participating in this group, you are welcome.
Resources to Build Understanding
(Also see the “Take Action” page for study guides and other tools.)
Wisconsin Council of Churches Webinar: Wrestling with Whiteness
Featuring Rev. Dr. Zachary Moon, Associate Professor of Theology and Psychology, Chicago Theological Seminary.
A few resources from Professor Moon’s presentation…
Professor Moon’s suggested books to educate oneself on racism:
- The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander
- The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America by Richard Rothstein
- My Grandmother’s Hands by Resmaa Menakem
- Raising White Kids: Bringing Up Children in a Racially Unjust America by Jennifer Harvey
- White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo
Professor Moon’s suggested books to ‘interrogate’ your theology:
- The Christian Imagination: Theology and the Origins of Race by Willie James Jennings
- The Black Christ by Kelly Brown Douglas
- Stand Your Ground: Black Bodies and the Justice of God by Kelly Brown Douglas
- The Cross and the Lynching Tree by James H. Cone
- Our Lives Matter: A Womanist Queer Theology by Pamela R. Lightsey
Recommendations and Reminders
- Please remind the white folks that it is okay for discussions to happen in all white groups, and they should.
- An important reminder regarding “diversity in racial discussions” – it is often safer for groups of historically marginalized individuals to be in small groups themselves. We have to exhibit extreme care when only 1 person of color or 1 LGBTQ+ person/youth is in a small group. It should never be the work of those individuals to teach or support the learning of those in the majority.
Articles and Resources
Rev. Zayna Thomley offers up a sermon: “Food for Thought: A racial justice sermon.” Access the sermon here>
Detour-Spotting for white anti-racists by Joan Olsson – As the article states: “For white people living in North America learning to be anti‐racist is a re‐education process. We must unlearn our thorough racist conditioning to re‐educate and re‐condition ourselves as antiracists. There is scant social or political encouragement for this journey of re‐education. We are constantly tempted to detour off course by the racist propaganda of society and our own guilt and denial. In the face of society’s and our own resistance, sustaining the will to continue this journey takes bold and stubborn effort.” Read the entire article>
“How to Be Anti-racist – Speak out in Your own Circle” by CNN
Movement for Black Lives (M4LB): Week of Action
Extensive Anti-Racism Resource list.
75 things white people can do article from Medium
Learning for Justice – Clergy, youth ministry and faith formation people can sign up for a free subscription to Teaching Tolerance. They offer a magazine, free training webinars on justice topics and many free resources.
Love Over Fear – Love Over Fear is an ecumenical effort to counter hate language. Learn more >
Anti-Racism educational resources shared with us by Elmhurst University:
- The New York Times Magazine’s 1619 Project
- An ongoing initiative to acknowledge and reframe the consequences of American slavery by placing black Americans’ experiences at the center of the narrative.
- The Anti-Racism Starter Kit
- A useful “how-to” guide on how to become actively anti-racist.
Videos
Just Mercy – 2019 , A biopic about civil rights attorney Bryan Stevenson
13th – Ava DuVernay’s 2016 documentary related to the 13th Amendment of the Constitution, which formally abolished slavery
Workshop on Voter Rights Suppression from June 2022 discusses the racial justice issues at stake in the current fight for voting rights, threats to voting rights in specific Wisconsin municipalities, and concrete ideas of how our members and congregations can advocate for robust voting rights for all.
“The Disturbing History of the Suburbs“ This insightful video illustrates just one historic systemic factor contributing to racial inequality in the United States. Worth viewing! View>
“Inclusion Starts With I“ Diversity vs Inclusion vs Belonging: “Diversity is simply having representation. Inclusion is when people get invited to be at the table. And belonging … is the emotional connection that people are feeling to each other and to the organization.” —Ellyn Shook, Accenture View>
Systemic Racism Explained – a 4:23 video appropriate for use with youth and adults
“One Minute Word” video with Rev. Darrell Goodwin (actually closer to 12 minutes)- “What I need from my White Allies”
This is an interesting, short video on why people should NOT say “all lives matter” when they hear Black Lives Matter. View >
Impactful video to show youth and white families, it is advice parents give to their black children about surviving: View >
This video is a Pentecostal Protest Prayer. View >
Service of Lament: The Many have been offering weekly Lament Services online throughout the pandemic. On 6/3, they offered a powerful and moving service focused on the current situation of unrest and anger over the racial injustices in our country.
View the service >
Books
-
“The Cross the Lynching Tree” by James Cone
- “Disciplines of the Spirit” by Howard Thurman
- “Between the World and Me” by Ta-Nehisi Coates
- “Dear White Christians” by Jennifer Harvey
- “Just Mercy” by Bryan Stevenson
- “America’s Original Sin” by Jim Wallace
- “Tears We Cannot Stop” by Michael Eric Dyson
- “Evicted” by Matthew Desmond
- “The End of White Christian America” by Robert P. Jones
- “Anxious to Talk about It: Helping White Christians Talk Faithfully about Racism” by Carolyn Helsel. Available from Chalice Press
- “Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You” is a new YA book by Kendi and Reynolds (published on 3/10/2020) Click here
- Children’s Book List for Anti-Racist Activism Click here
For more information, contact the Rev. Lisa Hart.