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Be The Bridge to Racial Unity
The journey toward racial unity is not an easy process.
Diving into the unknown can be daunting and it takes courage to move toward what is uncomfortable. Many of us look around and see that our communities are more divided than ever. Things feel stuck, and we want to do something. We have read the Bible and we have prayed for unity. But how do we, as the Body of Christ, actually become one?
This guide was the result of a need we saw: people were having discussions about race and diversity within their own circles, but not outside of them. Many have a desire to make a difference, but feel awkward, unprepared, afraid they will offend. Or they look around and realize they only know people who look and think like they do. But personal growth and understanding comes by hearing multiple perspectives. Empathy is built with time and trust.
The goal of this guide is to provide a resource that would allow for bridges to be built not only between culture, but between people. The work of racial reconciliation begins when two people from different backgrounds sit down to have the same conversation.
That's the bridge we build together.
Diving into the unknown can be daunting and it takes courage to move toward what is uncomfortable. Many of us look around and see that our communities are more divided than ever. Things feel stuck, and we want to do something. We have read the Bible and we have prayed for unity. But how do we, as the Body of Christ, actually become one?
This guide was the result of a need we saw: people were having discussions about race and diversity within their own circles, but not outside of them. Many have a desire to make a difference, but feel awkward, unprepared, afraid they will offend. Or they look around and realize they only know people who look and think like they do. But personal growth and understanding comes by hearing multiple perspectives. Empathy is built with time and trust.
The goal of this guide is to provide a resource that would allow for bridges to be built not only between culture, but between people. The work of racial reconciliation begins when two people from different backgrounds sit down to have the same conversation.
That's the bridge we build together.
52 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2017
3 people are currently reading
75 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 3, 2020
Sometimes reading non-fiction books feels like pulling teeth. Not with this book! Don’t get me wrong, parts of it were very hard to read, so challenging and painful, but only in good ways. It is full of stories and life experiences that make it easy to read while adding richness and depth to the message. And practical ideas and tips are interspersed throughout. If you have any interest in racial reconciliation or thriving in multi-ethnic environments, this book is a great resource.
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November 30, 2019In this 9-session course and in the book by the same name, guilt and shame are not cosmic fingers pointing at white people accusing them of being responsible for the sins of their ancestors.
And yet, before beginning this process, any time the idea of slavery, racism, or prigileve was brought up, I felt like that was what was happening... and my response was none too graceful. Looking back, I was ignorant.
And here's the thing. Ignorant can simply mean, "not knowing" what you don't know. (And notice it has the word "ignore" in it.) So I was guilty as charged... I didn't know what I didn't know and because it was unpleasant I was content to ignore it all.
And I had other things I was guilty of and needed to confess before the Father regarding this topic. Though I wasn't responsible for slavery, I felt a deep shame at the atrocities that had occurred at the hands of people who looked like me, even though they weren't my relatives.
After adopting Anna (a child of color) and starting my learning journey on my own, I found myself in a very long, dark season of deep shame and guilt. I think of the stages of grief and how almost everyone goes through those stages on the way to acceptance and healing. Same with this racial reconciliation process. This step (shame and guilt) have to be there or the foundation isn't solid.
With Latasha's words and her way of approaching the topic, I would have understod what I was going through at the time, but I didn't have her book back then, as its release date is 10-15-2019.
I urge you to buy a copy or ask your library to buy several. Read. Take notes. Sit in the discomfort. It is only after acknowledging, lamenting and then sitting with the guilt and shame that we can move toward reconciliation and justice.
And yet, before beginning this process, any time the idea of slavery, racism, or prigileve was brought up, I felt like that was what was happening... and my response was none too graceful. Looking back, I was ignorant.
And here's the thing. Ignorant can simply mean, "not knowing" what you don't know. (And notice it has the word "ignore" in it.) So I was guilty as charged... I didn't know what I didn't know and because it was unpleasant I was content to ignore it all.
And I had other things I was guilty of and needed to confess before the Father regarding this topic. Though I wasn't responsible for slavery, I felt a deep shame at the atrocities that had occurred at the hands of people who looked like me, even though they weren't my relatives.
After adopting Anna (a child of color) and starting my learning journey on my own, I found myself in a very long, dark season of deep shame and guilt. I think of the stages of grief and how almost everyone goes through those stages on the way to acceptance and healing. Same with this racial reconciliation process. This step (shame and guilt) have to be there or the foundation isn't solid.
With Latasha's words and her way of approaching the topic, I would have understod what I was going through at the time, but I didn't have her book back then, as its release date is 10-15-2019.
I urge you to buy a copy or ask your library to buy several. Read. Take notes. Sit in the discomfort. It is only after acknowledging, lamenting and then sitting with the guilt and shame that we can move toward reconciliation and justice.
December 29, 2019
I'm on my 3rd time through this book, 2nd time through a discussion group using this book. Such excellent material on racial reconciliation, with steps to forging a path forward, together, through damaging issues prevalent in our culture. Challenging as well, and has forced me to contend with myself and my background in areas such as complacency and white privilege.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews