As the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), we have long claimed to be a people who take action in the face of injustices and oppression. It is time for action.
We are at a turning point. Our siblings are hurting. Crushed from the enormous weight of structural racism that devalues their humanity, we are crying out, “What can we DO?” These resources are not the only way to respond to systemic racism, but they are a start for education leading to action against the sin of racism.
Reconciliation Ministry offers these resources and suggestions for congregations and individuals who want to make a difference in their context. In the summer of 2020, Disciples Peace Fellowship and Reconciliation Ministry partnered on a Parallel Journey “choose your own adventure” experience.
The Justice Primer study is available in English, Spanish, Korean and French linked from the Justice page.
Online resources
- Coretta Scott King Book Award Winners: books for children and young adults
- 31 Children’s books to support conversations on race, racism and resistance
- Black People Need Stronger White Allies
- Guidelines for Being a Strong White Ally
- Disciples Home Missions’ Ministries Across Generations resources for talking to children
If you have additional examples, please email them with links to other information if appropriate.
Books to read
- An Indigenous People’s History of the United States by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz
- Anxious to Talk About It by Carolyn Helsel
- Eloquent Rage: A Black Feminist Discovers Her Superpower by Dr. Brittney Cooper
- How To Be An Antiracist by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi
- I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
- Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson
- Me and White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad
- Raising Our Hands by Jenna Arnold
- Raising White Kids by Jennifer Harvey
- Redefining Realness by Janet Mock
- Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde
- So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
- The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
- The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin
- The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness
by Michelle Alexander - The Next American Revolution: Sustainable Activism for the Twenty-First Century
by Grace Lee Boggs - The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson
- Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
- When Affirmative Action Was White: An Untold History of Racial Inequality in Twentieth-Century America by Ira Katznelson
- What Does It Mean to Be White by Robin DiAngelo
- White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo
Chalice Press titles
- The ABCs of Diversity: Helping Kids (and Ourselves!) Embrace our Differences by Carolyn B. Helsel and Y. Joy Harris-Smith
- Healing Racial Divides: Finding Strength in our Diversity by Terrell Carter
- Preaching about Racism: A Guide for Faith Leaders by Carolyn B. Helsel
- Preaching as Resistance: Voices of Hope, Justice and Solidarity edited by Phil Snider
- Sustaining Hope in an Unjust World: How to Keep Going When You Want to Give Up by Timothy Charles Murphy
- For Such a Time as This: Hope and Forgiveness after the Charleston Massacre by Sharon Risher with Sherri Wood Emmons
- Outlandish: An Unlikely Messiah, a Messy Ministry, and the Call to Mobilize by Derek Penwell
- Pre-Post-Racial America: Spiritual Stories from the Front Lines by Sandhya Rani Jha
- Ferguson and Faith: Sparking Leadership and Awakening Community by Leah Gunning Francis
- Born Apart, Becoming One: Disciples Defeating Racism by Chris Hobgood
- Room at the Table: Struggle for Unity and Equality in Disciples History by Sandhya Rani Jha
- Inclusion: Making Room for Grace by Eric H.F. Law
- Reimagining the Human: Theological Anthropology in Response to Systemic Evil by Eleazar S. Fernandez
- Forward Together: A Moral Message for the Nation by William J. Barber III
- Anxious to Talk About It: Helping White Christians Talk Faithfully About Racism by Carolyn Helsel
- Transforming Communities by Sandhya Rani Jha
- Stakes Is High: Race, Faith, and Hope for America by Michael W. Waters (Winner of the 2018 Religion Communicators Council Wilbur Award for nonfiction)
Articles to read
- “America’s Racial Contract Is Killing Us” by Adam Serwer | Atlantic (May 8, 2020)
- Ella Baker and the Black Freedom Movement (Mentoring a New Generation of Activists
- ”My Life as an Undocumented Immigrant” by Jose Antonio Vargas | NYT Mag (June 22, 2011)
- The 1619 Project (all the articles) | The New York Times Magazine
- The Combahee River Collective Statement
- “The Intersectionality Wars” by Jane Coaston | Vox (May 28, 2019)
- Tips for Creating Effective White Caucus Groups developed by Craig Elliott PhD
- “Where do I donate? Why is the uprising violent? Should I go protest?” by Courtney Martin (June 1, 2020)
- ”White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack” by Knapsack Peggy McIntosh
- “Who Gets to Be Afraid in America?” by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi | Atlantic (May 12, 2020)
Videos/movies
- Black Feminism & the Movement for Black Lives: Barbara Smith, Reina Gossett, Charlene Carruthers (50:48)
- “How Studying Privilege Systems Can Strengthen Compassion” | Peggy McIntosh at TEDxTimberlaneSchools (18:26)
- A Requiem for Ahmaud Aurbery Rev.Dr.Moss,III
Social media to follow
- Antiracism Center: Twitter
- Audre Lorde Project: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
- Black Women’s Blueprint: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
- Color Of Change: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
- Colorlines: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
- The Conscious Kid: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
- Equal Justice Initiative (EJI): Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
- Families Belong Together: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
- The Leadership Conference on Civil & Human Rights: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
- MPowerChange: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
- Muslim Girl: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
- NAACP: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
- National Domestic Workers Alliance: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
- RAICES: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
- Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ): Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
- SisterSong: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
- United We Dream: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
More anti-racism resources
- 75 Things White People Can Do for Racial Justice
- Anti-Racism Project
- Jenna Arnold’s resources (books and people to follow)
- Rachel Ricketts’ anti-racism resources
- Resources for White People to Learn and Talk About Race and Racism
- Save the Tears: White Woman’s Guide by Tatiana Mac
- Showing Up For Racial Justice’s educational toolkits
- The [White] Shift on Instagram
- “Why is this happening?” — an introduction to police brutality from 100 Year Hoodie
- Zinn Education Project’s teaching materials