March 1, 2021 in anti-racism
Anti-Racism Resources
SEPA Synod members participated in a four-week discussion of Debbie Irving’s book “Waking Up White.” In it, she shares the experiences that led her to a greater awareness of the role of race and the impact of racism. An appendix to the book provides a list of suggested resources that readers can access to go deeper. At our last session, members were invited to share resources that they have found helpful. Here are a few of their recommendations:
Free Zoom lecture series:
●“Racism in America” (Montgomery Community College Free Lecture Series) which can be viewed live or streamed later at your convenience . You have to “purchase “ a ticket for each upcoming lecture which costs nothing. https://www.mc3.edu/for-the-community/arts-and-culture/lively-arts-series/speaker-series/bennett-lecture
Videos:
●The Myth of Meritocracy and Rugged Individualism, TIM WISE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKMxE4UgVss
●James Baldwin Debates William F. Buckley (1965) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFeoS41xe7w
Articles:
●From the New York Times Feb 18, 2021. “Draft” Riots of 1863: History records this as a violent demonstration against PresidentLincoln’s order for conscription. The truth is that over the course of some four days, mobs of white New Yorkers roamed the streets of the city … setting fire to buildings and killing people, specifically targeting Black people for the most horrific violence. The article describes the horror, and what happened after.
●As Asian-American violence and hate incidents increase, this is a timely piece by Bee Vang. He writes: Showing “our American-ness” was never enough. This is a deceit of multiculturalism.
Books:
●Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration by Isabel Wilkerson
●Caste: The Origin of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson
Museum Visit:
Lest We Forget Slavery Museum offers a virtual tour of its exhaustive collection of genuine artifacts, each one more chilling than the next: auction tags, bills of sale, shackles, branding irons, lynching photos. There are cases of grotesquely grinning Jim Crow memorabilia, and a whole room of heart-breaking obituaries of young men struck down by gun violence in the streets of Philadelphia. One of the most striking things about the LWF Slavery Museum is how well it traces the trauma this twisted system inflicted upon untold millions, through many generations, including today. See: https://nwlocalpaper.com/local-live-lest-we-forget…
The Anti-racism Team invites you to share your resource recommendations as well as activities your congregation is doing to learn more about racism. Please share by sending an email:
