Instagram Posts from the Week of Nov. 24, 2019

Podcast Rec. - Nov. 26, 2019

Past Listen - Latino USA: “Whose Country ‘Tis of Thee” (Released Aug. 25, 2017)

“Once I got to the park, it was total chaos. We were on the streets marching, I was with other activists, and I just saw a sea of people marching with Confederate flags, shouting awful, mean things, spitting on me and my friends, pushing us, hurting us, hitting us.” - Paola Sanchez Valdez

“We’ve seen a couple of different patterns in the tips we’ve received. The first one, and I think probably the most common thing we see people report to us, verbal harassment or intimidation, with the phrase, ‘Go back to your country,” or ‘Get out of my country,’ or some variation on those two...I think one of the things that maybe didn’t surprise me but I like to share whenever I talk about the project is that these incidents are not restricted to any geographic area. We see incidents coming in from all over the country...Incidents of hate really happen everywhere.” - Rachel Glickhouse

“Donald Trump is taking the surveillance tools that we developed for the war on terror and using those tools to find and deport immigrants.” - Alvaro Bedoya

“What we have is amnesia in the United States and across the Americas about what our common history is, and we have amnesia about the contribution of mestizo peoples across the Americas.” - Robert Con Davis-Undiano

In this episode of Latino USA, Paola Sanchez Valdez was interviewed regarding the counterprotest she was a part of as an activist and student at UVA when white nationalists protested in Charlottesville. In the next segment, Rachel Glickhouse shared about the work of ProPublica’s work in documenting hate crimes. Later in the episode, Alvaro Bedoya spoke about immigration and surveillance, Robert Con Davis-Undiano shared about his book Mestizos Come Home! Making and Claiming Mexican American Identity, and Ruxandra Guidi spoke about her home country of Venezuela and her work as a journalist. When a national leader promotes building barriers, it should not surprise us that people are harmed by the emboldened hatred of white nationalist terrorists. Please take the time to listen to the linked Latino USA podcast.

#latinousa #podcast #podcastrec #whosecountrytisofthee #nadiareiman #paolasanchezvaldez #natalieromero #heatherheyer #charlottesville #uva #counterprotest #dismantlewhitesupremacy #endwhitenationalism #endxenophobia #propublica #rachelglickhouse #mariahinojosa #alvarobedoya #immigration #surveillance #robertcondavis-undiano #ruxandraguidi #venezuela #socialjustice #loveyourneighbor #justice #seekjustice #lovemercy #walkhumbly #broadeningthenarrative

Account to Follow - Nov. 27, 2019

As you can see in Tina Strawn’s IG profile, she is an “antiracism and social justice advocate, educator, and activist.” She also leads antiracism and yoga trips to Alabama and has joined @speakingofracism as a co-host on the Speaking of Racism podcast.

I am thankful for Tina Strawn’s posts, the truth she shares, and the action steps she provides. In the short time I have been following her page, Tina Strawn has encouraged me and equipped me for engaging in the ongoing work of being antiracist in my personal life and in calling others to join in antiracism work to dismantle white supremacy in individuals and institutions.

Follow @tina_strawn_life if you aren’t already, and support her work through Patreon.

#tinastrawn #accounttofollow #antiracismadvocate #socialjusticeadvocate #antiracismeducator #socialjusticeeducator #antiracismactivist #socialjusticeactivist #antiracism #socialjustice #advocate #educator #activist #endracism #dismantlewhitesupremacy #activism #blacklivesmatter #justice #tellthetruth #empathy #equality #reflection #action #loveyourneighbor #seekjustice #restorativejustice #lovemercy #walkhumbly #challengethenarrative #broadeningthenarrative

Additional Rec. - Nov. 28, 2019

Additional Rec. - “Thanksgiving: The National Day of Mourning” by Allen Salway

Today is Thanksgiving, and I wanted to share this article by Allen Salway (@lilnativeboy). I have included quotes below.

“Being a young, Native student in America during October to late-November is complete mental exhaustion. This time of year in particular, society continuously pushes us into oppressive climates where we are gaslighted through a series of holidays that either reimagine history, play on and exploit painful stereotypes, or both.”

“In 1637 the Pequot Massacre took place, when over 700 Native men, women and children were slaughtered in what's now known as Mystic, Connecticut. The following day, the governor declared a day of thanksgiving and held a feast to celebrate their victories in battle.”

“This holiday can be sugar-coated as much as people like to justify colonial violence, but note that it is a painful, annual reminder of our genocide and white supremacy — two of the very foundations of this country, alongside slavery. This day is viewed as the National Day of Mourning by several Native communities, which was started as a protest in 1970 — organized by the United American Indians of New England (UAINE) to honor our ancestors and highlight the struggles they endured then to modern times, as well as the acknowledgement of the racism and oppression experienced today.”

“To me, Thanksgiving is a reminder of our resistance as Indigenous People navigating this settler society that continuously tries to erase and destroy us, yet we are still here.”

Please read the full article, and at the end of the article, there are links you can click to support the work of Allen Salway and causes such as the Navajo Water Project.

#additionalrecommendation #recommendation #thanksgiving #thenationaldayofmourning #allensalway #indigenouspeoplearestillhere #supportindigenouspeople #navajowaterproject #empathy #equality #reflection #action #loveyourneighbor #love #humanity #learning #justice #socialjustice #seekjustice #restorativejustice #lovemercy #walkhumbly #mourn #lament #repent #repair #tellthetruth #dismantlewhitesupremacy #challengethenarrative #broadeningthenarrative

Book Rec. - Nov. 30, 2019

Current Read - Jesus Feminist: An Invitation to Revisit the Bible’s View of Women by Sarah Bessey

“I want to be outside with the misfits, with the rebels, the dreamers, second-chance givers, the radical grace lavishers, the ones with arms wide open, the courageously vulnerable, and among even - or maybe especially - the ones rejected by the Table as not worthy enough or right enough” (Bessey, 2013, p.4).

“At the core, feminism simply consists of the radical notion that women are people, too. Feminism only means we champion the dignity, rights, responsibilities, and glories of women as equal in importance - not greater than, but certainly not less than - to those of men, and we refuse discrimination against women” (Bessey, 2013, pp.13-14).

“I loosened my grip on my opinions. I entered recovery for being such a know-it-all. I stopped expecting everyone to experience God or church or life like I thought it should be done. In fact, I stopped using the word should about God altogether...I learned the difference between critical thinking and being just plain critical” (Bessey, 2013, pp.49-50).

“In the Old Testament, the word ezer appears twenty-one times in three different contexts: the creation of woman, when Israel applied for military aid, and in reference to God as Israel’s helper for military purposes (in this context, ezer appears sixteen times)...God did not name women as secondary helpmeet assistants. No, friend - women were created and called out as warriors” (Bessey, 2013, p.78).

“You, sister - did you know? You are a warrior, alongside your brothers, on God’s mission in the world. Brother, did you know? You have an ally; you aren’t in this alone. And this calling of fellow warriors is not exclusive to husbands and wives in a marriage relationship: men and women together in the Kingdom of God are allies” (Bessey, 2013, pp.78-79).

“In Christ, there is no such narrow descriptor of biblical women - dependent on roles and chores, job descriptions and marital status, quieting our wisdom and intellect and voices, experiences and unique circumstances” (Bessey, 2013, p.99).

“I still don’t know how to live my life except on my haunches at the feet of Jesus, eyes fixed on his face. Nothing else ‘works.’ No formula, no method makes me feel so fully human and alive as the radical act of living loved. Once you taste Love, you are ruined for the empty shells of religious performance and conditions” (Bessey, 2013, p.105).

“I think you have a great women’s ministry when the women of your community fall wildly in love with Jesus. Church ladies like this are the overflow of women who are empowered to lead, to challenge, to seek justice and love mercy, to follow Jesus to the ends of the earth like our church mothers and fathers of the past. You have a great women’s ministry when there is room for everyone” (Bessey, 2013, p.132).

“We are creating a world where every woman can be who she is, without apology, in freedom. She is loved. She is rising. She is awake at last, and as the Chinese proverb says, when sleeping women awake, mountains move. She is secure in the love and freedom of her God; she knows the voice of Jesus down in her bones. And therefore, she loves” (Bessey, 2013, p.135).

“But as the people of God, we have a choice: we either make excuses or we make mountains move, one stone at a time, one after another after another. Radical faith looks a lot like faithfulness, and look at what God can do with that...Sometimes it’s the daily unsexy work of loving people and choosing justice, even if no one ever notices. But know this: God’s heart for humanity is good news for the poor, comfort for the brokenhearted, and release for the captives” (Bessey, 2013, p.148).

“I’m through wasting my time with debates about women-should-do-this and women-should-not-do-that boundaries. I’m out. What an adventure in missing the point. These are the small, small arguments about a small, small god” (Bessey, 2013, p.171).

This book brought me to tears several times. I am still in the anger and cynicism cycles as I am in the process of breaking free from toxic theology, but Jesus Feminist fueled hope as the words of Sarah Bessey were full of grace and kindness as she delivered truth.

#currentread #jesusfeminist #bookrecommendation #bookrec #sarahbessey #reading #learning #equality #feminism #feminist #womenarepeopletoo #faithjourney #jesuswasafeminist #endsexism #endmisogyny #endmisogynoir #enddiscrimination #evolvingfaith #deconstruction #reconstruction #challengethenarrative #broadeningthenarrative 

Some Follow Up and My Own Failure

Estimated Reading Time: 7 minutes

I posted Friday about not being in church as an institution. I wrote about the spiritual abuse I experienced that led to my departure. Today, I want to be vulnerable and share a way I messed up because I don't want to fall into the same narcissistic patterns that harmed me. And I have nothing to fear in being honest about my own shortcomings. Stories that highlight my anger, pride, and immaturity are embarrassing, sure, but they also highlight my humanity, imperfections, and utter dependence on God. I accept limits, and I accept that I am limited.

Before I begin, I want to clarify that though the claims I listed were not the reason for my departure from the church, I am not saying that those are invalid reasons for the departure of others. I also want to say I’m really not mad (anymore) about everything that happened. I have forgiven the one who spiritually abused me. My forgiveness, though, does not negate the necessity of holding this leader accountable and urging the leader to repent. After I left, I wrote a letter to the leader. I chose the format of a letter rather than an email because I did not want to continue correspondence. The leader wanted to act like everything was fine between us should we see one another in public. I, however, could not pretend like there was not a problem between us. This leader’s actions, words, and accusations broke trust with me, and the leader did little to acknowledge that broken trust or repair the trust between us. The leader’s unconfessed sin made it too difficult to be around the leader. This isn't me holding a grudge. Rather, I am acknowledging that there is division, and I won't pretend like it doesn't exist because that isn't beneficial for anyone. This leader brought harmful accusations against me, spoke damaging things, and pridefully questioned my character and motives. The leader cannot expect things to be fine between us and doesn’t get to decide that things are fine between us. In the letter, I communicated to the leader that there was sin against me and that I was just trying to provide an opportunity to repent and repair. The leader never properly asked for my forgiveness, but I wrote to the leader that should the leader ask for forgiveness in a way that owns and confesses wrongdoing while working to repair the damage done, I will joyfully extend forgiveness. I know some people who don’t understand the full story have criticized me for not having compassion, but I refuse to enable sin and call it Christian compassion. My forgiveness also does not mean that I will never speak of the spiritual abuse. I cannot be silent while others are hurting, too. I hope my boldness leads others to speak up, too. The last thing I want to say about the incident is that I was not asked if there was anything that leadership could do to change my mind or cause me to stay, though the same has been asked of at least one person. In the letter, I stated three things that could be done: 1) Establish an executive board for accountability; 2) Take a sabbatical; 3) Schedule counseling sessions. These three things would be beneficial for the whole church, but they would also aid in the healing and flourishing of the leader as well. After all of this, I still deeply care for this leader and want God’s best for this leader.

Now onto my own failure. I will try to write in a way that protects the identity of those involved who may not want to be identified. This year, I attended an event and acted like a complete jerk. I really did. Throughout the event, little comments were triggering for me regarding men and women and certain interpretations were being shared that I no longer agree with after listening to the Almost Heretical Gender Series. One statement after another piled up, and I got up to leave because I knew I was about to say something louder than the frustration I was already vocalizing to the person beside me. At that point, I was so upset that I knew it would be hard to stay calm if I said something. As I was heading out the door, another sentence was spoken that stopped me in my tracks. I knew I had to say something. I walked back in and sat back down. Then another sentence hit me hard, and I blurted out, “Actually, no,” followed by a rant that reeked of pride before I softened my tone as I was winding down on my diatribe. When everyone was praying, I left, came home, and cried. I told Stephen that I didn’t know what came over me but that I knew I needed to apologize to the people who hosted and to the person I launched a tirade against.

Some people have sympathized with me, knowing that my intentions were never to hurt anyone. Though my intentions were not to inflict harm, I failed to exercise humility. I was full of regret for not coming in with more humility. I wish I had said, “From what I understand after some research on that…” But that’s not what I did. I needed to own where I erred, ask for forgiveness, and try to make things right. All I want from the leader who sinned against me is for the leader to do this, so I had to do the same, regardless of intentions.

I messaged the people who hosted, explained what I had been thinking, let them know I would be reaching out to the person I sinned against, and asked for their forgiveness. I also obtained the email address of the person I sinned against, but before I could email, I saw this person in a local fast food restaurant. Without offering any excuses, I apologized for the lack of humility I displayed and asked for forgiveness. The person hugged me, forgave me, and was such a picture of the grace of God to me. As I reflected on this experience, I responded to a poetry prompt that required me to write a poem about something I consider evil. I wrote a poem about my pride, likening myself to a Pharisee. In early November 2021, I learned that Pharisee should not be used in this way because it is anti-Semitic. Kevin Garcia brought this up in their episode "Bad Theology Kills" on the Broadening the Narrative podcast. In light of this, I have removed the poem and updated the remainder of this post.

Y’all, I am the most prideful person in the room. Always. And when I forget this, which is often, I puff up with additional pride and attempt to escape correction and instruction. Even as I write this, I know there is someone I need to apologize to for an impatient response I gave a few weeks ago. I’m not always the victim, but I’m also not always the villain. I think of the lines from Propaganda's song “Made Straight” - “Life is not a comic book/There are no perfect victims or villains, just us.” I realize I can be the villain, and am, in some situations. But the times that I need to confess for acting in ways that harmed others don't absolve those who have hurt me of the responsibility to own where they've erred. Knowing that there is something I need to repent and repair does not release others of repenting and repairing their sin against me. We’re siblings, which means we will hurt one another, but then we all must be willing to apologize and work at the relationship until we get it right. And when there is power at play, the one with power must be humble enough to not lord that power over others and listen to the one who does not hold the power until the relationship is restored.

So there you have it. I fail, too, which you already knew, and I am fully aware that I have numerous shortcomings. I am also aware that I need my siblings, their insights, perspectives, and corrections. Here’s to not fulfilling Proverbs 29:1 - “One who becomes stiff-necked, after many reprimands will be shattered instantly - beyond recovery.”

Grace and peace.

#humility #narcissism #evolvingfaith #deconstruction #reconstruction #spiritualmisfit #loveyourneighbor #lament #repent #repair #seekjustice #restorativejustice #lovemercy #walkhumbly #blog #blogger #newblogpost #challengethenarrative #broadeningthenarrative

Let's Put an End to the Rumors: Why I'm Not in Church

Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes

I’ve heard many a rumor through the grapevine regarding my departure from the church as an institution. There are some people who, for whatever reason, have not spoken to me directly but think they know. And then there are those who know partial details or the full story but who still somehow walk away from the conversation without completely grasping the gravity of what I experienced.

I will briefly respond to the most common rumors that have circulated past my ears.

Claim: There was disagreement over social justice issues.

This is not the reason for my departure.

Claim: There was disagreement over gender roles.  
This is not the reason for my departure.

Claim: There was disagreement over theological interpretations. 
This is not the reason for my departure.

Claim: There were certain preferences not being met by the church.
This is not the reason for my departure.

Claim: I didn't give things enough time.
After the initial meeting where I was sinned against, I requested a follow-up meeting several times. It took 6 months for this second meeting to take place. Prior to the initial meeting and in the 6 month span, multiple emails were sent, a couple that were never responded to. During the follow-up meeting, the leader made it clear that, in the opinion of this leader, there was no sin against me, though there was in the initial meeting and in the follow-up meeting as harsh accusations were hurled at me and malicious intent was assigned to me. There was literally nothing else I could do, especially knowing how loyal the followers of this leader are.

Claim: By the time I met with leadership, I already had my mind made up to leave.
This is not true.

So, why did I leave a particular church? I left that particular church because I was spiritually abused by the main leader who used the position and the power that came with it to silence me into not bringing up sin that had been committed against me. There was a persistent unwillingness to admit wrongdoing, not just against me but against numerous other people. When this person was confronted and graciously called to repentance, there was gaslighting, dismissal, denial, distraction techniques, additional harsh accusations against me, defensiveness, and a diminishing of the harm done by this person. The level of pride and lack of empathy from this leader communicated to me that I could not trust this person and could no longer submit to the leadership of this person.

The words of Diane Langberg, PhD, on Twitter have helped me tremendously in my healing.

On November 13th, she tweeted, “It is always the responsibility of the shepherd or the one with power to maintain the integrity of the relationship. Always.”

On November 15th, she tweeted, “We must never assume that someone who is gifted verbally and has theological knowledge is spiritually wise and mature. Sometimes that leader is a well-disguised narcissist, working the system and the people in it to feed himself.”

Also on November 15th, she tweeted, “Both the narcissist leader and others around him believe that if he/she fails the whole system will go down. The leaders and followers in that system end up serving the system rather than God which means we are subservient to the system rather than the God of the system.”

And on November 16th, she tweeted, “When allegations of abuse arise, particularly about a leader, many believe truth will ‘hurt’ the church and so sin is excused, covered up, or given an innocuous name. Such actions protect the institution, not the name or true body of Christ.”

Many people who know this leader and who don’t, have made excuses for the behavior by saying things like, “We all sin,” or they put the blame on me for putting this leader on a pedestal. I agree that we all hurt one another. I just expect for brothers and sisters to be able to humbly admit it when we do. And while I may have idolized this leader, that doesn’t absolve the leader of the responsibility to acknowledge the sin against me and repair the damage done. As I explicitly stated to this leader, “You broke trust with me and have done little to nothing to acknowledge this and repair the trust, so I cannot submit to your leadership anymore.”

I have also heard numerous people ask the wrong questions in light of people leaving the church. For example, questions like, “Do you think the church is going to shut down?”, “Are you going to go to ________ Church?”, and “Are you mad at me?” are unhelpful questions that do not get to the root of any problems and that fail to care for the hurting sheep. Much more beneficial questions to consider are, “How are you doing spiritually?”, “Is there anything that could have been done differently?”, and “In what ways can I support you even if we aren’t part of the same local church?” Ask these questions and empathize with those speaking about their pain.

Though my dignity was restored at another church, a recent incident indicated that my situation is beyond the scope of many church folk, so I have not attended church as an institution since September. Through house church type gatherings hosted in our home several Sundays, weekly therapy, and a few meaningful relationships, I have not been isolated these past few months. There is not one way of abiding in Christ, and everyone’s journey with Jesus looks different. I am full of hope as I heal.

If you have further questions, you can certainly reach out to me, though I cannot guarantee I will feel safe responding to your inquiries. I must exercise wisdom to know if I can trust the people who want to know my story because no one is entitled to know.

Grace and peace.

#rumors #responses #spiritualabuse #accountabilityforleaders #power #abuseofpower #narcissism #evolvingfaith #deconstruction #reconstruction #spiritualmisfit #loveyourneighbor #lament #repent #repair #seekjustice #restorativejustice #lovemercy #walkhumbly #blog #blogger #newblogpost #exvangelical #challengethenarrative #broadeningthenarrative

Instagram Posts from the Week of Nov. 17, 2019

Headlines and History - Nov. 17, 2019

In an ABC News report from October 14, 2019 by The Associated Press titled “Ole Miss Honors Student Wears Blackface, Prompts Warning,” you can read about an unnamed student who “reported himself to the college for posting a photo in which he is wearing blackface.” The article details information about an email the university sent that explained that the student is working on a "Restorative Justice Plan" and provided “tips on how to choose costumes.” The piece concludes by listing various politicians who had photographs released of them wearing blackface.

Alexis Clark wrote the article “How the History of Blackface Is Rooted in Racism,” which was published February 15, 2019 for History.com. She explicated the inception of blackface and minstrel shows, mentioned the geographical scope of the shows that were not relegated to solely one area of the United States, traced the rise in popularity of the shows, described the decrease in the use of blackface, and referenced more recent examples of people wearing blackface.

Kat Blaque also published a video titled “What Is: Blackface” on Sept. 29, 2014. Kat Blaque provides “a very brief overview of what blackface is and how it’s impacted black people, specifically in America.” Kat Blaque states, “Blackface, demonstrably, has been used to dehumanize black people and has subsequently led to the perpetuation of institutionalized racism.”

In conclusion, don’t do blackface. Challenge and broaden the narrative that centers the comfort of white people over the dignity of black people. Our present is intertwined with and informed by our past. We must face the past so we can heal the future.

*Edited to add: On June 17, 2020, I came across The Redemption Project with Van Jones for CNN. I read the words, “Face the past. Heal the future.” I will no longer use this phrase for my Headlines and History posts beginning in June 2020.

#blackfaceisrootedinracism #dontdoblackface #justdont #katblaque #endracism #endwhitesupremacy #dismantlewhitesupremacy #antiracist #antiracism #socialjustice #loveyourneighbor #seekjustice #lovemercy #walkhumbly #lament #repent #repair #facethepast #healthefuture #headlines #history #headlinesandhistory #historyandheadlines #challengethenarrative #broadeningthenarrative



Podcast Rec. - Nov. 19, 2019

Current Listen - Rumors of Grace with Bob Hutchins: Episode 30 - Rahim Buford "Decarceration and Transformative Justice" (Released Oct. 7, 2019)

“I eventually would be shipped to Turney Center Industrial Prison and Farm, which we called Turney Center and Vietnam, and this was a crazy place because it was like a plantation. You had a metal plant, a wood plant, a sign plant. They had a farm. It was a lot of land, and it was surrounded by the Duck River, and I distinctly remember they had a picture of Nathan Bedford Forrest and General Lee on the wall as you go into the visiting gallery, and 99% of the officers were Caucasian.” - Rahim Buford

“Out of that experience, the academic experience, I forged my community, and much of that community I still have today. That’s something that is absolutely necessary, I think, for most people who go to prison. Once you die a social death, and you become what they say ‘infamous,’ and you’re no longer legally a person, that’s a fact, you’re no longer legally a person once you go to prison, even though you maintain a few constitutional rights. As an infamous person, people can lie on you and you can’t challenge it in court because the courts say you have no character. But to be in the academic environment I didn't feel any of that, of what the courts and the stigma of what society puts on a person: ‘inmate,’ ‘convict,’ ‘felon.’” - Rahim Buford

“Because I want to put my face on something to say that if I can change and do some things that are positive, there are many, many others like me. And when I think about how I got out of prison, it was a community effort. It was people showing up. There were probably 40 people at every hearing that I had.” - Rahim Buford

“One of the things I think I came to realize was to know what freedom is not. And that’s what the total encagement, being in prison, you know what freedom is not. It doesn’t mean you know what it is, but you know what it’s not.” - Rahim Buford

“Decarceration is what my life is dedicated to because I believe that in Tennessee we’re better than what we are…we don’t have to lock our way, we can’t lock our way up, out of a problem...We can do it differently. There are alternatives. But it takes a community...It can even begin with you need to know your neighbor...You don’t even know your neighbor, you don’t even know your neighbor’s name, literally. And so if we’re living in a world where separate, where being separate is the way, then love can’t exist there. It cannot exist there...There are two energies that we primarily operate in: it’s either love or fear. Fear is what separates you. The thing you fear you want to kill, you want to remove it, you want to get rid of it, you don’t want to see it, you try to hide it. But the thing you love you want it next to you, you want to take care of it, you want to protect it, you want it to thrive and live on. We don’t have that yet for one another like we should. We have it for our families, but there’s a larger family.” - Rahim Buford

“When you take and put people in these cages, they are being treated less than human, they are at a greater risk of being harmed even more from just the fact that yeah, they did wrong,  yeah, if you want to say they deserve to be punished, what does it look like? Because the people determining who gets punished, they don’t look like me. They don’t live in my community...The people who are predominantly in these cages are African American and the poor. But the people making these statements and opinions about how they should be treated, they’re not. And if we look at it historically, here’s the thing I think a lot of Americans don’t get...the black man and woman in America who have ancestry rooted in chattel slavery have yet to receive justice themselves.” - Rahim Buford

“We still have slave language in our Constitution, that slavery is prohibited except if you’ve been duly convicted of a crime...We haven’t even gotten rid of the language...I think if you take somebody’s body into captivity, you have a responsibility to make sure that person doesn’t come out the same way that he or she went in. So if you’re going to put me in exile, help me to become a better person.” - Rahim Buford

“When we talk about judging and retributive justice, we need to start with the country first. And you know, some white people would say, ‘Ok, well that was what my ancestors did’...That’s true, you did not do that, no you did not, but guess what? You benefited from it. You still benefit from it. Because just being white can be the difference from getting a loan and not getting a loan, from getting a job and not getting a job, from being shot by the police and not being shot by the police. Being white in America affords you certain privileges that being black does not. And when you’re black in America and you’re formerly incarcerated, you double the whammy on the person. So it’s even extra. So we deal with not just racism, we’re dealing with felonism.” - Rahim Buford

“We could have the Lord’s Prayer for real. 'Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.' We could have that in America. But you have certain people that don’t want us to have that, and my question is, ‘Why? Why wouldn’t you want to be a part of building the best possible America that we can be?’” - Rahim Buford

In this episode of Rumors of Grace, Bob Hutchins spoke with Rahim Buford about his incarceration, decarceration, and transformative justice. Grace, wisdom, and love flowed from Rahim Buford. Please take the time to listen to this episode.

#bobhutchins #rahimbuford #rumorsofgrace #podcast #podcastrecommendation #podcastrec #freedom #community #incarceration #decarceration #transformativejustice #unheardvoicesoutreach #nashvillecommunitybailfund #nashville #grace #mercy #empathy #equality #listening #learning #justice #socialjustice #restorativejustice #love #loveyourneighbor #challengethenarrative #broadeningthenarrative


Account to Follow - Nov. 20, 2019

As you can see in Lisa Sharon Harper’s IG profile, Lisa Sharon Harper is the Founder and President of Freedom Road (@freedomroad.us). She hosts the Freedom Road podcast and is the author of several books, including The Very Good Gospel: How Everything Wrong Can Be Made Right and Forgive Us: Confessions of a Compromised Faith with Mae Ellis Cannon, Troy Jackson, and Soong-Chan Rah.

If you visit the website for Freedom Road, you can read about the mission of Freedom Road: “We consult, coach, train and design experiences that help groups in multiple sectors do justice in just ways.” Lisa Sharon Harper “founded Freedom Road in 2017 and set out to assemble an equally prolific and diverse team of leading experts, advocates and trainers dedicated to shrinking The Narrative Gap, as coined by Lisa Sharon Harper, in our nation.” I first heard Lisa Sharon Harper on an episode of the Truth’s Table podcast titled “#SilenceIsNotSpiritual” as she spoke in light of #metoo and #churchtoo. Lisa Sharon Harper is a prophetic witness and a gift to the Body of Christ.

Follow @lisasharper if you aren’t already, and support Lisa Sharon Harper and Freedom Road.

#lisasharonharper #accounttofollow #supportblackwomen #freedomroad #shrinkthenarrativegap #faith #race #gender #economicdevelopment #environmentaljustice #intersectionality #empathy #equality #reflection #action #loveyourneighbor #checkbiases #checkassumptions #dismantlesystemsofoppression #humanity #learning #socialjustice #seekjustice #restorativejustice #lovemercy #walkhumbly #repent #repair #challengethenarrative #broadeningthenarrative 



Additional Rec. - Nov. 21, 2019

Additional Rec. - “Penny in the Air: My Story of Becoming Affirming” by Sarah Bessey

I will let Sarah Bessey speak for herself.

“In the years afterwards, this woman and I struck up a friendship of sorts, emailing occasionally to check on each other, praying for one another, becoming friends on social media, that sort of thing. My instincts about her were right on: she was an incredible woman of God and a good human being. Eventually I learned that in addition to being a powerful and mighty woman of God, in addition to being an anointed pastor, in addition to being a devoted follower of Jesus, in addition to being kind and bold, faithful and content, funny and compassionate and godly, she was also a lesbian. And just like that, the penny dropped. All the study, all the footnotes, all the scholars, went from being a jumble of intellectual opinions to a lived experience in one encounter with the Holy Spirit alongside a beloved sister in Christ. I was transformed. All of a sudden my arguments and thesis and references – while helpful to get me to that place of openness – became secondary to the obvious truth staring me right in the face and praying. My own encounter there reminds me of something in Acts 10, an angel surprised an Italian centurion named Cornelius. Cornelius was a good man, a prayerful and compassionate and well-respected good man. The angel showed up in his home and told him that his goodness and faithfulness had caught the eye of God and so he had a message for him: find Peter and invite him to come over.”

“I’m an imperfect ally but I’ve been learning and practicing, committed to this path for years now. It has cost me – it has recently cost me my church, it has cost me friendships, it has cost me professional opportunities – and I would pay every price over and over and over again to be in holy solidarity with LGBTQ+ believers (who suffer at the hands of our churches and our culture in a way that makes my paltry sacrifices look laughable) and to be alongside of each other as we all follow Jesus. So remember to sit down at the feet of those who have suffered, those for whom this isn’t theory or theology, those for whom this isn’t an exercise in thought or opinion but their real lived life, the ones who, as Broderick Greer says, ‘engage in theology as a matter of survival’ and I say, ‘I’m here to learn from you. Lead me. I will listen to you. I will respect your story. I will submit myself to the margins.’”

I think often of a conversation I had last summer with an older woman in the faith. She told me, "Nicki, we make things so complicated. But God is saying, 'Love. It's as simple as love.'" "Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love ​— ​but the greatest of these is love." -- 1 Corinthians 13:13 (CSB) May we be people who are characterized by the "greatest of these."

#additionalrecommendation #recommendation #pennyintheair #mystoryofbecomingaffirming #sarahbessey #empathy #equality #reflection #action #loveyourneighbor #love #endheterosexism #endhomophobia #enddiscrimination #checkbiases #checkassumptions #humanity #learning #socialjustice #seekjustice #restorativejustice #lovemercy #walkhumbly #lament #repent #repair #challengethenarrative #broadeningthenarrative



Book Rec. - Nov. 23, 2019

Past Read: The Myth of Equality: Uncovering the Roots of Injustice and Privilege by Ken Wytsma

"Richard Rohr, Franciscan friar and international speaker, wrote one of the best descriptions of white privilege: White privilege is largely hidden from our eyes if we are white. Why? Because it is structural instead of psychological, and we tend to interpret most things in personal, individual, and psychological ways. Since we do not consciously have racist attitudes or overt racist behavior, we kindly judge ourselves to be open minded, egalitarian, 'liberal,' and therefore surely not racist. Because we have never been on the other side, we largely do not recognize the structural access, the trust we think we deserve, the assumption that we always belong and do not have to earn our belonging, the 'we set the tone' mood that we white folks often live inside of - and take totally for granted and even naturally deserved. Only the outsider can spot all these attitudes in us. It is especially hidden in countries and all groupings were white people are the majority" (Wytsma, 2017, p.26).

"The dominant culture in America has rarely prioritized the pursuit of civil rights for minorities - it has often been a long, slow march. A thin personal gospel, along with an oversimplified understanding of deeply entrenched racial systems (what I've called 'the myth of equality' in the title of this book), has often allowed race to be made secondary to other foreign, domestic, and spiritual concerns" (Wystma, 2017, p.65).

"Somehow I'm aiming for and only think I'm going to be comfortable with privilege, which becomes problematic when I'm confronted with the reality that privilege and equality don't go together (Wystma, 2017, p.90).

"If the understanding of salvation we receive at the beginning is so truncated or disconnected from the whole story of Christ and the good news of restorative justice, it is no wonder that we have such a difficult time understanding how we bear any responsibility with regard to justice in society. Working for justice might seem like a good thing but not a necessary one… But truncated doctrines of salvation can explain a lot of radical ways in which Christians have compartmentalized faith throughout history to allow for such inconsistent thought and action as professing love of Jesus while committing gross injustice against our neighbor" (Wystma, 2017, p.123).

"Instead of putting energy into denying that we're racist, a more transparent and honest response might be to admit our desire to be free from racist thinking - and commit ourselves to searching for latent forms of bias within ourselves and trying to address them" (Wystma, 2017, p.150).

This book is one I highly recommend. Ken Wystma is thorough as he exposes the myth of equality and uncovers the roots of injustice and privilege. I also love that royalties from this book will help publish books by authors of color, as indicated on the back cover. Have you read this book? I would love to hear your thoughts.

#pastread #themythofequality #bookrecommendation #bookrec #kenwytsma #privilege #whiteprivilege #injustice #reading #learning #empathy #equality #reflection #action #seekjustice #socialjustice #racialjustice #restorativejustice #lovemercy #walkhumbly #lament #repent #repair #love #loveyourneighbor #challengethenarrative #broadeningthenarrative

Systemic Racism Series: Whiteness

Estimated Reading Time: 12 minutes

As I stated in last month’s post, my goals through this systemic racism series are to expound on history and data to demonstrate the systemic nature of racism in various institutions and structures in the United States. I will address whiteness as an institution in this particular post.

Whiteness 

To begin exploring the systemic nature of racism that infects the institutions and structures in the United States, I want to start by addressing whiteness. There is history and meaning associated with identifying as white, and whiteness in this country has been used to elevate those considered white. White privilege, the idea of white supremacy, and institutional power concentrated in the hands of people who are white, particularly white men, all stem from the creation and perpetuation of whiteness. As a clarifying point, I am not saying that there is anything inherently wrong with less melanin. However, historically less melanin and geographic location in select countries led to the creation of white as a race that was superior, establishing a hierarchy of races that were, in contrast, inferior. When I refer to whiteness, I am referring to the idea of some people being white that stems from the construct of race. I will use the Be the Bridge Whiteness 101: Foundational Principles Every White Bridge Builder Needs to Understand document to briefly look at white identity, white privilege, and white supremacy.

White Identity

For white people who have never had to think about themselves as white, talking about race is difficult. One reason for this is because, as expressed on page 7 of Whiteness 101, “White culture is so dominant in America that, like the proverbial fish in water, many of us have never spent time examining what white culture is, or what it means in the greater American cultural and historical context.” The writers of Whiteness 101 talk about developing a healthy white identity, and I think the only way to have a healthy white identity is to, in the words of Ekemini Uwan, divest from whiteness. In her blog post “The Blood of Jesus is the Bridge; Not My Back,” Ekemini Uwan wrote, “To a room full of white women, predominantly, I told the truth about the wickedness of whiteness which is a central pillar of the racial caste system, the need to divest from it and their need to reclaim and embrace their God-given ethnicity.” Page 8 of Whiteness 101 has some reflection questions to work through, and the section ends with the writers stating, “Developing a healthy white identity does not mean drowning in white guilt or reveling in white pride. It is essential we learn (or rather unlearn) our history, and acknowledge the role we have played in the oppression of people of color. This self-examination can (and should) be painful. It can be tempting to walk away from conversations about racism and live in denial rather than face our complicity. But if we can push through, we can also gain a vision for how to capitalize on our identity as white people in order to bring about a more just society and to be a source of good in the world.”

White Privilege

I know that many white people who live in poverty or who have struggled due to poverty bristle when they hear the term “white privilege.” Even Bill O’Reilly tweeted on July 19, 2018, “Enjoying my time in Ireland. Visited County Cavan where my ancestors were evicted from their land in 1845. That forced them to come to America legally so they wouldn’t starve. Pardon me if I reject the ‘white privilege’ scenario if applied to my family.” Ibram X. Kendi responded to this by sharing the post on Instagram on July 21, 2019 with the caption, “To reject the existence of White privilege is to say White people have more in the US because they are more. And to say Whites are more is a racist idea. This is why rejecting ‘the “white privilege” scenario’ is essentially accepting the Whites are superior scenario.”

On pages 9-10 of Whiteness 101, the writers explain, “As we move through life, this means that parts of our identity give us an advantage, where other parts of our identity leave us at a disadvantage. Social psychologist and theologian Christena Cleveland describes privilege and oppression as ways that society either accommodates us or alienates us. Privilege is about the way we are advantaged or disadvantaged by each category of our identity compared to others in that same category. For example, let’s look at some of the major categories that define our identity: race, gender, class, education level, country of origin, language ability, and physical health. The most privileged positions in each of those categories are: white, male, upper class, highly-educated, American-born, English-speaking, and able-bodied. Have you noticed how most positions of wealth and power in our country have traditionally been held by people whose identities include the most privileged positions in each of those categories? While we would like to believe that America is a meritocracy - that everyone has an equal chance of succeeding - the truth is that since our nation’s founding, privileged people have fashioned a society that advantages people like themselves, while disadvantaging others. This is not to say that people who are oppressed cannot succeed; it just means they will have to overcome more barriers to achieve their success. This is also not to say that privileged people don’t work hard; it just means they will have more doors opened wide for them, that won’t open as easily for others.”

In Robin DiAngelo’s book White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk about Racism, there is a list that illustrates “the racial breakdown of the people who control our institutions...in 2016-2017.

- Ten richest Americans: 100 percent white (seven of whom are among the ten richest in the world)

- US Congress: 90 percent white

- US governors: 96 percent white

- Top military advisers: 100 percent white

- President and vice president: 100 percent white

- US House Freedom Caucus: 99 percent white

- Current US presidential cabinet: 91 percent white

- People who decide which TV shows we see: 93 percent white

- People who decide which books we read: 90 percent white

- People who decide which news is covered: 85 percent white

- People who decide which music is produced: 95 percent white

- People who directed the one hundred top-grossing films of all time, worldwide: 95 percent white

- Teachers: 82 percent white

- Full-time college professors: 84 percent white

- Owners of men's professional football teams: 97 percent white

These numbers are not describing minor organizations. Nor are these institutions special-interest groups. The groups listed above are the most powerful in the country. These numbers are not a matter of ‘good people’ versus ‘bad people.’ They represent power and control by a racial group that is in the position to disseminate and protect its own self-image, worldview, and interests across the entire society. One of the most potent ways white supremacy is disseminated is through media representations, which have a profound impact on how we see the world. Those who write and direct films are our cultural narrators; the stories they tell shape our worldviews” (DiAngelo, 2018, p. 31).

White Supremacy

A definition of white supremacy from Elizabeth Martinez’s article “What is White Supremacy?” is that it “is an historically based, institutionally perpetuated system of exploitation and oppression of continents, nations, and peoples of color by white peoples and nations of the European continent, for the purpose of maintaining and defending a system of wealth, power, and privilege.”

On pages 13-14 of Whiteness 101, the writers explain, “Written records reveal that social scientists made specific assumptions about various people groups based on skin color, region of origin, and culture as far back as Hippocrates. However the word race didn’t appear until the 16th century, and the concept of dividing humanity into a social hierarchy based on physical characteristics wasn’t solidified until the 17th and 18th centuries. This racial classification system was developed by European countries as they expanded their dominion through worldwide colonization. Europeans needed a rationale to validate the subjugation, dehumanization, and enslavement of the non-European people groups they sought to conquer...Blumenbach supported the degenerative hypothesis, which purported that Adam and Eve were white, and that over time some people groups degenerated from whiteness into other races. For the next 200 years, ‘white’ scientists and anthropologists worked diligently to create scientific ‘proofs’ that would provide further justification for the social stratification of the different ‘races.’ Not surprisingly, the ‘evidence’ always affirmed the supremacy of the white race. [SPOILER ALERT: Modern scientists have completely disproved the reality of race.] Our country was founded within this context, firmly upon the principle of white supremacy, most obviously expressed in 1) the violent taking of Native lands, while offering Native peoples the choice of assimilation, removal, or death, and 2) the legalized ownership, enslavement, rape, torture, and forced labor of Africans.”

I attended a lecture in April where Austin Channing Brown spoke and pointed out that even the way we talk about white supremacy upholds white supremacy. She explained that whiteness is not supreme; therefore, a more accurate way of speaking about this topic is to say “the idea of white supremacy.” I know that for white people who are new to discussions about race, reading that white people must divest from whiteness seems confusing, alarming, or even like I am now being the racist for sounding as if I am disparaging white people. From my personal experience, I can say that once I understood what whiteness is, why whiteness was created, and how whiteness is still used today, I knew I had to divest from whiteness because whiteness as a social construct that affords those with less melanin certain privileges and power is antithetical to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If I find myself trying to cling to whiteness, or to being from the white race, then I am making an idol out of being seen as white and the benefits associated with whiteness. One additional point to illuminate is that white people must divest from whiteness, but we cannot tell people of color to divest from their racial or ethnic identity because the sentiments behind celebrating whiteness versus celebrating blackness or another racial or ethnic identity are not the same. In the Truth’s Table episode “BlacKkKlansmen (Movie Discussion),” Dr. Christina Edmondson explained that crying out white power “is an expression of dominance” while crying out Black power “is an expression of dignity.” The past informs our present, and since our society was founded on the idea of white supremacy, we still have work to do to eradicate every ounce of idolatry that prizes whiteness in individuals and institutions.

Action Steps

- If you are white, read Whiteness 101 in its entirety. On page 19, the writers state, “Whiteness 101 was created by Be the Bridge as a launching point for racial understanding. We must keep in mind that educating ourselves about the intersection of race and faith will be a continual, lifelong process. As our founder, Tasha Morrison, likes to say, ‘It’s a marathon, not a sprint!’ Join the BTB movement as we labor toward racial justice, healing, and reconciliation in the church and in our country. Here are some suggested next steps: 

1. Request to join the Be the Bridge To Racial Unity Facebook community, where bridge builders from around the country process life and race through the lens of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

2. Diversify your world. Visit or join a church where the leadership and the majority of the congregation are POCs. Get your news from a different source. Shop at different stores. Follow POCs on Twitter. Move to a more diverse part of town. 

3. Start a monthly book club to discuss some of the suggested titles from this document with other white bridge builders. 

4. If you read through Whiteness 101 by yourself, consider going through it again, this time with a group of white friends. 

5. Consider joining or launching a local Bridge To Racial Unity Discussion Group. Click on the link to purchase our Bridge To Racial Unity Discussion Guide 2.0 and Leader’s Guide. Assess your readiness by reading the ‘Questions To Ask Yourself Before Starting a BTB Group.’”

- Complete additional research on the topic of whiteness. There is more to the history and implications of whiteness than could possibly be covered in a single blog post. Read Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi. Listen to the Seeing White podcast series on Scene on Radio. Read “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack” by Peggy McIntosh. Read The Making of Asian America: A History by Erika Lee. I will include additional resources at the end of this post.

- Normalize conversations about race and white supremacy, as L. Glenise Pike explains in her video “The Importance of Normalizing Conversations About Race + White Supremacy.” In your own home, with your family and friends, and in your spheres of influence, speak up and have back and forth conversations.

- Financially support people of color. Use Patreon, PayPal, Venmo, or Cash App to send money to the people of color that you learn from to show your appreciation. Hire people of color and pay them well for their expertise and time at the next event you organize. Financially contribute to the work of the organizations that are run by people of color that you follow. Be a regular patron at businesses owned by people of color, without centering yourself if you are white. Allocate income to pay for therapy for people of color.

- Vote, show up against racism, and engage in meaningful ways to dismantle systems of oppression, including the work of reparations. [I wrote a post titled "Reparations before Reconciliation" on August 4th that contains additional information on reparations.] Do all of this under the leadership of people of color.

What to Expect in Future Posts

At this time, I plan to address systemic racism as seen in wealth, employment, education, the justice system, housing, surveillance, foster care, healthcare, the environment, media, military, politics, and the Christian church in future posts. I will give action steps for myself and readers and provide additional resources.

As I look at the Equal Justice Initiative calendar and read it to my kids, I see that every single day conveys at least one injustice, usually based on race. These are past and present injustices, spanning hundreds of years, demonstrating that racism in this country is not simply an individual problem. Rather, racism is a systemic problem, infecting institutions and structures. Further, this problem centers around justice, therefore it's a problem God is concerned about, which means I must be concerned. In my opinion, systemic racism is not solely a political issue but also a spiritual issue. I am called to love my neighbor, and one way I can do this is by joining the fight to dismantle systems of oppression so that all people can flourish.


(Resources are linked below.)

“The Ultimate White Privilege Statistics & Data Post”

The Witness: A Black Christian Collective

Where Change Started

Black Lives Matter

Brownicity

White Allies in Training

Videos to View

“What is: Privilege” (Kat Blaque)

The Next Question Video Web Series (Hosted and produced by Austin Channing Brown, Jenny Booth Potter, and Chi Chi Okwu)

“Is Racism Over Yet?” with Laci Green

“Social Justice Equity” lecture by Tim Wise

Race - The Power of an Illusion 

13th

Podcasts (for your listening pleasure and discomfort)

Truth’s Table

Sincerely, Lettie

Pass the Mic

Seminary Dropout: “193 - Austin Channing Brown, on Her New Book I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness, Why White People Have So Many Cats, and What Makes Insecure Such an Amazing Show”

Music (that may make you uncomfortable)

“Cynical” by Propaganda feat. Aaron Marsh and Sho Baraka

“A Time Like This” by Micah Bournes

“Too Much?” by Micah Bournes
“Facts” by Lecrae

Recommended Reading

Articles

"How Racism Relies on Arbitrary Hierarchies: From 15th-Century West Africa to Suburban Long Island" by Ibram X. Kendi (added June 5, 2020)
“Sandra Oh, Hollywood, Christianity, and the Never Ending Centering of White Dude Narratives” by Erna Kim Hackett

“If You Love Me, Do Your Homework” by Tamara C. Johnson

“What Does It Mean to be White?” by Robin DiAngelo

“Citizenship Once Meant Whiteness. Here’s How That Changed” by Ariela Gross and Alejandro de la Fuente
“Stop Talking About Racial Reconciliation and Start Talking About White Supremacy” by Erna Kim Hackett
“How White People Ruined Church for Me” by Andre Henry

"America Has Been Addicted to Whiteness for 400 Years" by Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove (added October 13, 2020)

Books

Be the Bridge: Pursuing God’s Heart for Racial Reconciliation by Latasha Morrison

I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown

Raise Your Voice: Why We Stay Silent and How to Speak Up by Kathy Khang

The Color of Compromise: The Truth about the American Church’s Complicity in Racism by Jemar Tisby

There There by Tommy Orange

Becoming Antiracist by L. Glenise Pike

Beyond Colorblind: Redeeming Our Ethnic Journey by Sarah Shin

How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi

The Myth of Equality: Uncovering the Roots of Injustice and Privilege by Ken Wytsma

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