I am white and I’ve been learning bit by bit about the imbalances and cruelty that are built into our culture and government. But that is an inadequate statement. It’s deeper than that. It’s not culture, it’s not government, it is ALL of us. We allow hierarchies, superiorities, fears, suspicions, differences to build absurd ideas about each other that are not true. We create scenarios of fear that pit us against each other. Whites believe they are entitled and superior. Blacks are forced to work under, around, or through the oppression. To get ahead they must over achieve and be meticulously respectful to build a life.
Black deaths, like George Floyd’s show just how depraved we become. Police serve the white population by imprisoning those we fear, like black people and communities. “Law and Order” are warped words that continue cruelty against blacks, and others that don’t fit within white supremacy’s ideals.
I’ve lived most of my life in the privileged white side. I still live in it. But now I have a window. I have a black son-in-law who has a big, amazing family. My eyes are open, not just to black deaths, but black lives. I get to see first hand, that black families love, struggle, play, grow, learn, and mourn like all families. But they have to work harder, stay invisible to law “enforcement”, be wary of their surroundings, put up with micro aggressions, put up with aggression in order to live here in America.
I can see first hand what we are all missing by living in fear, cruelty and hierarchical BS. I see the missed potential. Oh my, we have cut off our right arm in the name of supremacy and privilege!
My hope is that I clearly speak what I am learning. Black Lives Matter! What will it take for us to learn to value and nurture our humanity in America and around this Earth?
I have to speak out as best I can. I have two grand children who need a better, more humane world. We have to speak, we have to listen, we have to change. As long as it takes.
The death of George Floyd was pivotal in awakening me to pursue antiracism work. As white pastor in a reformed denomination, I was determined that something had to change. But if something was going to change, it had to start with prayer -for apart from the Lord we can do nothing (John 15:5). In October 2020, the Dismantling Racism Prayer Gatherings were started with the support of the Reformed Church in America.
Through this ministry, a sacred zoom space was created for people of all colors to come together to intercede for dismantling racism. It became a place where stories were heard and honored, and the awareness of the work of antiracism increased.
And thank you, Jemar - you have been a mentor/teacher for me.
My entire family participated in a black lives matter march across the Unity Bridge in Holland, MI on June 7, 2020. All three of our adult children, two from Chicago and one from California participated. So also did my late wife Jeannette who was undergoing chemotherapy treatment at the time for Stage IV pancreatic cancer. My 91 year old Republican father also joined in at the urging of his grandchildren...
In part the murder of George Floyd and the nonchalance with which of happened drove me to you and other black voices to learn from you what life in America is like for you. I have looked into and reached out to care for and serve vulnerable black communities over my lifetime but I have come to realize it was fun the viewpoint of a white Christian woman. Only in my later years have I come to understand that is upside-down and outside-in. So I am listening and learning and trying to act differently. I am an outsider and will never be an insider but I hope my ministry will be one that is informed from and formed by insiders. I am thankful to have found your voice.
George Floyd's murder is a pivotal marker in my "racial justice testimony" propelling me to actively fight racism & the violent taking of many Black humans' lives. Through Little Lights Antiracism Training (Little Lights Urban Ministries, https://littlelights.org/anti-racism-training/), I learned about Dr. Jemar Tisby's open letter to Grove City College with leadership in racial justice advocacy. For the 4th anniversary of George Floyd's murder, I joined a church's social justice ministry & visited the Nat'l Museum of African American History & Culture as well as Black Lives Matter Plaza. I appreciate Dr. Tisby's reminder that our racial justice work is not finished until Rev 7:9, https://biblehub.com/revelation/7-9.htm
I began reading about anti-racism, learning and trying to figure out what else I can do. I speak up more when I see any sign of inequality. I ask people to explain what they say. I let people know that I disagree with them and why. As a follower of Jesus, I love your writing from that perspective. I speak against "Christian" Nationalism. every chance I am given. Thank you for helping to teach and explain.
I am white and I’ve been learning bit by bit about the imbalances and cruelty that are built into our culture and government. But that is an inadequate statement. It’s deeper than that. It’s not culture, it’s not government, it is ALL of us. We allow hierarchies, superiorities, fears, suspicions, differences to build absurd ideas about each other that are not true. We create scenarios of fear that pit us against each other. Whites believe they are entitled and superior. Blacks are forced to work under, around, or through the oppression. To get ahead they must over achieve and be meticulously respectful to build a life.
Black deaths, like George Floyd’s show just how depraved we become. Police serve the white population by imprisoning those we fear, like black people and communities. “Law and Order” are warped words that continue cruelty against blacks, and others that don’t fit within white supremacy’s ideals.
I’ve lived most of my life in the privileged white side. I still live in it. But now I have a window. I have a black son-in-law who has a big, amazing family. My eyes are open, not just to black deaths, but black lives. I get to see first hand, that black families love, struggle, play, grow, learn, and mourn like all families. But they have to work harder, stay invisible to law “enforcement”, be wary of their surroundings, put up with micro aggressions, put up with aggression in order to live here in America.
I can see first hand what we are all missing by living in fear, cruelty and hierarchical BS. I see the missed potential. Oh my, we have cut off our right arm in the name of supremacy and privilege!
My hope is that I clearly speak what I am learning. Black Lives Matter! What will it take for us to learn to value and nurture our humanity in America and around this Earth?
I have to speak out as best I can. I have two grand children who need a better, more humane world. We have to speak, we have to listen, we have to change. As long as it takes.
We can use our white privilege to work toward the equality many others fear. Teaching others as we learn is a great way. Keep up the good work!
The death of George Floyd was pivotal in awakening me to pursue antiracism work. As white pastor in a reformed denomination, I was determined that something had to change. But if something was going to change, it had to start with prayer -for apart from the Lord we can do nothing (John 15:5). In October 2020, the Dismantling Racism Prayer Gatherings were started with the support of the Reformed Church in America.
Through this ministry, a sacred zoom space was created for people of all colors to come together to intercede for dismantling racism. It became a place where stories were heard and honored, and the awareness of the work of antiracism increased.
And thank you, Jemar - you have been a mentor/teacher for me.
Thank you for all you do!
I looked you up https://www.rca.org/about/dismantling-racism/ and will spend some time on your website. You can look up my Presbyterian group at tinyurl.com/act-justly. May we link to your site? It is up to white people to do the work! Twila
My entire family participated in a black lives matter march across the Unity Bridge in Holland, MI on June 7, 2020. All three of our adult children, two from Chicago and one from California participated. So also did my late wife Jeannette who was undergoing chemotherapy treatment at the time for Stage IV pancreatic cancer. My 91 year old Republican father also joined in at the urging of his grandchildren...
In part the murder of George Floyd and the nonchalance with which of happened drove me to you and other black voices to learn from you what life in America is like for you. I have looked into and reached out to care for and serve vulnerable black communities over my lifetime but I have come to realize it was fun the viewpoint of a white Christian woman. Only in my later years have I come to understand that is upside-down and outside-in. So I am listening and learning and trying to act differently. I am an outsider and will never be an insider but I hope my ministry will be one that is informed from and formed by insiders. I am thankful to have found your voice.
George Floyd's murder is a pivotal marker in my "racial justice testimony" propelling me to actively fight racism & the violent taking of many Black humans' lives. Through Little Lights Antiracism Training (Little Lights Urban Ministries, https://littlelights.org/anti-racism-training/), I learned about Dr. Jemar Tisby's open letter to Grove City College with leadership in racial justice advocacy. For the 4th anniversary of George Floyd's murder, I joined a church's social justice ministry & visited the Nat'l Museum of African American History & Culture as well as Black Lives Matter Plaza. I appreciate Dr. Tisby's reminder that our racial justice work is not finished until Rev 7:9, https://biblehub.com/revelation/7-9.htm
I began reading about anti-racism, learning and trying to figure out what else I can do. I speak up more when I see any sign of inequality. I ask people to explain what they say. I let people know that I disagree with them and why. As a follower of Jesus, I love your writing from that perspective. I speak against "Christian" Nationalism. every chance I am given. Thank you for helping to teach and explain.