Check out our Book Studies as we explore some of the most pressing issues we are facing in today's complex word.
Book Studies
Why We Can't Wait
Why We Can't Wait, by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. will be the next book in our study on the Christian Response to Racism in America. Telling oppressed communities to wait..."wait until the pandemic is over," or "wait until the economy stabilizes," or "wait until we can give this our full attention," or "wait until X," is a a convenient but sincere stalling tactic of those have the privilege in being able to "wait." But if you are in the camp of those who need the change, waiting means enduring injustice beyond endurance. Rev. Dr. King Jr. why waiting is no longer an option.
Our Gathering Days are every other Tuesday starting March 2nd.
Gathering Days:
- March 2, Intro and Chapter One: Mary Moreaux
- March 16, Chapter Two: Elaine Shanafelt
- March 30, Chapter Three: Tia Hatch
- April 13, Chapter Four: Carol Heisel
- April 27, Chapter Five: Beth Russell
- May 11, Chapter Six: Betsy Shanafelt
- May 25, Chapter Seven: Brian Nelson-Munson
- June 8, Chapter Eight: Brett Strobel
- June 22, Afterword and Closing:
Time: 10:30 am - 12:00 pm
Zoom Meeting ID: 934 4957 6090
Or click here:
https://greaternw.zoom.us/j/93449576090
Resources:
- Frederick Douglas, "The Meaning of July Fourth to the Nero;" speech: www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4h2927t.html
- Five Ways to Fight White Supremacy: https://youtu.be/V59P1E2molg
- How to be an Active Bystander:How_to_Be_an_Active_Bystander_When_You_See_Casual_Racism.docx
- "Bye Line" with Jonathan Capehart (April 18, 2021):
- "Bye Line" with Jonathan Capehart (April 25, 2021)
- White Fragility by Robin D’Angelo
- White Rage by Carol Anderson
- Caste by Isabel Wilkerson
- Dying of Whiteness by Jonathan Metzl
- The Sum of Us by Heather McGhee
- Pew Study about the rapidly growing multiracial demographic in the U.S.: www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2015/06/11/multiracial-in-america/
White Fragility
This Study has concluded meeting, however you may find of the links and resources found below to be beneficial. Also, please join us for our current study. You will be most welcome!
Racism is our Country's original sin, according to Jim Wallis. It is systemically woven into our culture that privileges caucasians and disadvantages other ethnic groups. Why do white people find it so difficult to talk about racism? How might having the difficult conversations change the systems of privilege?
Join us as Brian Nelson-Munson leads us through Robin DiAngelo's book, "White Fragility: Why it is so hard for white people to talk about racism."
Days: Mondays starting August 10th
Time: 3:30 pm
Zoom Meeting ID: 934 4957 6090
Or click here:
https://greaternw.zoom.us/j/93449576090
Class Outlines/Notes:
- August 10: Introduction Moving_Towards_a_More_Just_World.pdf
- August 17: Chap. 1-2 Moving_Towards_a_More_Just_World._Ch._1_and_2.pdf
- August 24: Chap. 3 White_Fragility._ch._3_4.docx
- August 31: Chap. 4
- September 7: Chap. 5 White_Fragility._Ch._5_The_Good_Bad_Binary.docx
- September 14: Chap. 6 White_Fragility._ch.6._Anti-Blackness.pdf
- September 21: Chap. 7 White_Fragility_Chapter_7.docx
- September 28: Chap. 8
- October 5: Chap 9 White_Fragility_Ch._9.pdf
- October 12: Chap 10 White_Fragility_Chapter_10_v._2.pdf
- October 19: Chap 11
- October 28: Chap 12
- November 2: Wrap up
Additional Resources:
Anthony Peterson gives an excellent TEDx Talk on how he is learning about racism from his white grandchildren.
- Dr. Brene Brown shares an insightful podcast on shame an accountability which focuses on racism. https://brenebrown.com/podcast/brene-on-shame-and-accountability/
- Dr. Megan Ming Francis shares her experiences of racism on this TEDx Talk and challenges us to get to its root cause. https://youtu.be/-aCn72iXO9s
- Dr. Robin DiAngelo talks about Deconstructing White Privilege, (sponsored by the General Commission on Religion and Race of the UMC.) https://youtu.be/DwIx3KQer54
- Dr. Peggy McIntosh: White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Backpack. Dr. McIntosh explores what white privilege about. Invisible_Backpack.pdf
- Dr. WEB Du Bois: The Souls of Black Folks, examines the experience of Black persons in the early 20th Century. DuBois-Souls_of_Black_Folk.pdf