White Privilege: Let's Talk - A Resource for Transformational Dialogue

by Traci Blackmon, John Dorhauer, Da Vita D. McCallister

“It is time that this still largely white denomination wrestles with its investment in whiteness, and learns all it can about the manifestations and impact of White Privilege.”—The Rev. John C. Dorhauer, General Minister and President, United Church of Christ White Let's Talk is an adult curriculum from the United Church of Christ that's designed to invite church members to engage in safe, meaningful, substantive, and bold conversations on race. Divided into four focused parts, each one introduces a different aspect of the dynamic of white 1. The Spiritual Autobiography Told Through the Lens of Race; 2. Whiteness as the Five Loci of Insights on the Binary of Light/Dark and Black/White; 3. The Cash Value of Whiteness or Whiteness as a Tax-Exempt Status; 4. On Becoming an Ally Each part has material written by five authors who contribute a different view of the subject matter based on their unique personal The Rev. Traci D. Blackmon, The Rev. John C. Dorhauer, The Rev. Da Vita D. McCallister, The Rev. John Paddock, and The Rev. Dr. Stephen G. Ray, Jr. The materials include questions for discussion and reflection.

222 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 24, 2016

Reviews

[Heather Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

For Christian readers who are looking to become better allies, this book is an excellent resource full of a variety of voices to help non-BIPOC Christians evaluate their privilege and how it interferes in achieving equality for BIPOC. I appreciated the candid reflections from the white authors, knowing I too have made their same mistakes, as well as the solid advice from the black authors, who are working hard to not only educate their readership about what white privilege looks like, but offering concrete ways white people can become allies to BIPOC.

The reading of this text was made all the more special because I read it as a small group Zoom "gathering" of women from my church, all white, with an average age of 60+. We are all taking the time to ensure that we unpack the privilege we experience from our skin color and seek out ways we can model Christian behavior to be better allies and welcoming to BIPOC. I would highly recommend this text to use in churches! It is a powerful examination of white privilege and how it can impact church communities as well.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't have the time or desire to go into all the flaws of this curriculum but this statement from the last page perfectly illustrates what is wrong with the curriculum and the theories that under-gird it.

"More than simply having a presence, whiteness
works in ways that bring harm to Black people.
Most significantly, its operation does not involve
the consent of those privileged by its operation.
Rather, it seduces people into simply living by its
logic and thereby becoming existentially implicated
in its materialization. To those acquainted with the
Western tradition of theology, it should be clear I am
identifying whiteness with something like original
sin, at least in its operation."

"Whiteness" is being white. Having white skin through an accident of birth. They may pretty it up with language that suggests they believe otherwise, but that is indeed what they mean.

Much of the curriculum is interesting and contains valuable insights and points to reflect on, but the insistence on having all modern discussions of race ultimately frame "whiteness" as original sin and white people as innately racist and oppressive simply by existing is a horrible flaw of the critical race theory that informs this ideology. This thinking is toxic, racist, and is eating away at the progress made on racial equality and acceptance and it frankly destroys any good that this work could otherwise do. The fact that it is being used in multiple denominations is terrifying.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very Good. Very frank discussion of racism, but I wish it had a bigger picture look; as in: looking at racism & valid reasons to respond besides religious faith. That viewpoint is valid, but so are others. My experience has been that many churches perpetuate, knowingly or unknowingly, racism. At the end of this 6 week class we wrote our spiritual autobiographies. Good discussions with a wide group of people who brought many viewpoints to our discussions; I think it is valuable to talk & learn, but it has to go hand in hand with action.