Race Justice and Healing

What is the history of racial inequity? What stories have you been telling yourself about race? How has racism been present in your community, your state, the Church? Education is the opportunity to correct misperceptions, understand complexities, and learn different points of view.

Consider forming a book group to discuss the complex issues surrounding racial oppression. We especially recommend the following books (in order of increasing complexity):

• • Seeing My Skin: A Story of Wrestling with Whiteness, Peter Jarrett-Schell >
  • The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Time of Colorblindness, Michelle Alexander >
  • White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk about Racism, Robin DiAngelo and Michael Eric Dyson >
  • The Cross and the Lynching Tree, James H. Cone >

We especially recommend the following resources:

For fresh, inspiring perspectives about race in America and how to build beloved community: Living into God's Dream: Dismantling Racism in America, edited by Dr. Catherine Meeks, uses a series of essays from various authors to look at the state of dismantling racism in the U.S. today. Themes include reasons for past failures to achieve racial reconciliation, the need to honor rage and grief as part of the healing process, the meaning of white privilege, and what blacks must do to forward the work of reconciliation. This is a good resource for individuals and small groups looking for an honest depiction of racial inequality and the ongoing work of reconciliation. Catherine says, "The work of dismantling racism is most effective when engaged as spiritual formation. It is ongoing in the same way that keeping spiritual disciples of prayer, silence, and Bible study might embraced. It requires patience because it cannot be done in a short period of time."

For understanding how dehumanizing others is used to support structures of power: Less than Human: Why We Demean, Enslave, and Exterminate Others by David Livingstone Smith explores the way people have created a hierarchy of value and dehumanized their fellow humans to rob them of their worth. Read the NPR author interview >

For an understanding of how to reconcile the message of Jesus and violence towards blacks: The Cross and the Lynching Tree by theologian James Cone explores the symbols of the cross and the lynching tree and their interconnection in the history of African American people. From Goodreads: "Both the cross and the lynching tree represent the worst in human beings and at the same time a thirst for life that refuses to let the worst determine our final meaning. While the lynching tree symbolized white power and black death, the cross symbolizes divine power and black life, God overcoming the power of sin and death. For African Americans, the image of Jesus, hung on a tree to die, powerfully grounded their faith that God was with them, even in the suffering of the lynching era."

For a deeper understanding of white privilege: In Seeing My Skin: A Story of Wrestling with Whiteness author Peter Jarrett-Schell looks at the way Whiteness has distorted his perceptions, relationships, and sense of self. He challenges readers to look at the role of race in their own lives and the stakes we have in dismantling racism.

For a look at the way white fragility limits dialogue: In White Fragility antiracist educator Robin DiAngelo examines how white fragility develops, how it protects racial inequality, and what we can do to engage more constructively.

For a new perspective on the history of the slave trade in the United States: The film Traces of the Trade tells the story of Producer and Director Katrina Browne's slave-trading forefathers and debunks the myth that the South is solely responsible for slavery. Browne and her family members explore the history and geography of their past and pose the question of what spiritual and material repair of the past might look like.

For an inspiring story of the fight for human rights and racial equality. Nelson Mandela's autobiography Long Walk to Freedom tells about Mandela's work as president of the African National Congress and head of South Africa's antiapartheid movement, and his role in moving the nation toward multiracial government and majority rule.

For a look at injustice in our criminal justice system and our ability to make a difference. In Just Mercy Bryan Stevenson tells the story of a young man sentenced to die for a crime he didn't commit and Stevenson's transformative journey on his behalf toward justice and mercy.

Becoming Conscious and Well with Dr. Catherine Meeks is a three-part series that focuses on the need for individuals to know themselves and to do their inner work in order to be able to engage effectively in the work of race justice and healing. The series includes videos of Dr. Meeks and questions for reflection. For more information, contact Tracy Methe or Elizabeth Cervasio.

ChurchNext offers five courses to help individuals and groups understand the work of race justice:

• Spirituality and Racial Justice with Michael Curry, available in For Individualsand For Groups formats
• Whiteness and Racial Justice with Kelly Brown Douglas, available in For Individuals and For Groups formats
• Reparation and Racial Justice with Jennifer Harvey, available in For Individuals and For Groups formats
• Theology and Racial Justice with J. Kameron Carter, available in For Individuals and For Groups formats
• Racism and Racial Justice with Eduardo Bonilla-Silva, available in For Individuals and For Groups formats

The Episcopal Church website has curated an extensive list of books, articles, and websites that can be explored by individuals, study groups, and ministry leadership. View resources >

Sacred Ground Dialogue Circles: A ministry of the Episcopal Church, Sacred Ground is a sensitive, prayerful resource that creates space for difficult but respectful and transformative dialogue on race and racism. Participants are invited to walk back through history in order to peel away the layers that brought us to today, reflecting on family histories and stories, as well as important narratives that shape the collective American story. It holds as a guiding star the vision of beloved community—where all people are honored and protected and nurtured as beloved children of God. New circles will be forming in the fall of 2025. Please contact Missioner Tracy Methe if you are interested in joining.

The Soul2Soul Sisters website provides a broad spectrum of resources on the many facets of racism. Included are links to organizations working to end it.

In response to violence across the United States, Virginia Theological Seminary offers Resources For Adult Formation With An Emphasis On Race And Diversity.