The killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis has led to a reawakening in our country about the injustices and prevalence of racism. This post is to give you links to a few articles I have found helpful in understanding some of the protests going on not just in our country (US) but literally around the world. (Note: A few of these have been listed in previous blog posts.)
BLACK LIVES MATTER
At the core of the protests is “Black Lives Matter.” It’s not just a phrase, but an organized group with clearly stated goals. Some of these may make you uncomfortable, but the first step in understanding is to become aware of who they are and what they’re demanding. This is a good place to start; spend a little time on their website:
Black Lives Matter
WHY IT’S PROBLEMATIC TO SAY, “ALL LIVES MATTER”
This is a good summary of Black Lives Matter and why it’s a problem to say, “All Lives Matter.” Of course all lives matter — but it’s Black lives that are in danger right now.
Why It’s Problematic to Say, “All Lives Matter”
HOW DID WE GET HERE?
This article is one author’s view of how we got to this point and the widespread, ongoing racism in our country. It’s a long article but worth the read. It will challenge you, especially if you’re Christian. The author, Alice Greczyn, grew up in an evangelical home, homeschooled by her parents for much of her education. Now an atheist, she details her journey on her website, and in this article explains how early Christianity was intertwined with the slave trade in the US.
Christianity’s Role in American Racism: An Uncomfortable Look at the Present and the Past
DEFUNDING THE POLICE
One of the demands of Black Lives Matter is the defunding of the police. What does that mean? The first article is a shorter overview; the second is a podcast episode, with a full transcription if you’d rather read than listen.
Defunding the Police
Would Defunding the Police Make Us Safer?
WHAT WHITE PEOPLE CAN DO AFTER THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD
This article, published in one of our local papers (Doylestown Intelligencer), is one of many such articles with suggestions of what we can do to begin to recognize and heal from the scourge of racism. I would encourage you to search for more such articles; this will give a start:
What White People Can Do After the Death of George Floyd
RAISING A (WHITE) ANTI-RACIST KID
Here’s a link to a Google document with a ton of links especially for those of us fighting racism in our society. It begins with some great suggestions on raising anti-racist kids, and has other links including “75 Things White People Can Do for Social Justice,” “The Racial Healing Handbook,” and “How to Be an Anti-Racist.” Worth checking out and doing some serious thinking and taking action.
Raising a (White) Anti-Racist Kid — and More
THE RON SIDER BLOG
I’ve written about Ron Sider previously. I knew him personally many years ago, and just recently came across his blog. He also was part of the evangelical Christian culture for many years. His latest blog article (as of this date) is an excellent read on understanding where we are today. I highly recommend you read at least this article on his blog:
