Thank you for this. As a white male who somehow was involved w/ early Black Lives Matter actions in Chicago, and was carried by them into a far greater awareness of my own failures and needs as a Christian and a human, I left Evangelicalism completely as the 2016 election cycle heated up. Your words on that supersaturate moment are profound and - from where I exist - wholly appropriate. That election was a psychological blow to the solar plexus. White Evangelicalism, where I had always thought I had a stake, turned my world and my faith upside down.
"Most of the Black Christians I’ve encountered who are still in white evangelical churches, schools, and nonprofits are asking “How long can I stay?” not pondering how to bring even more Black people into a potentially traumatizing situation."
How did you get access to my dm's??? Haha
I think my ministers believe stuff is finally blowing over. Instead there's a contingent of folks I talk to and each week we have to re-decide to stay
I know a little of how hard it has been for you. In spite of the difficulties that you share so circumspectly, you show a calm and careful demeanor, and that serves you well in reaching a wide audience. But I think it's taken a toll on your peace, my friend, and I'm sorry for that.
May you find all gives you peace and joy and fruitful ministry & be surrounded by those who see you and appreciate all who you are. I will do whatever I can to support you in proving all things and holding fast to what is good.
I regret any time—the years-I spent in large evangelical church in the Bay Area. When Trump surfaced and they were all in and still talking about Jesus, I left in disgust. They really aren’t your friends. They think anyone who doesn’t think like them is “an evil liberal.” Republicanism, whiteness and power is their religion.
I truly appreciate your work here, it traces the history of what has been happening and shows the places where things (namely the way systems and groups provide the circuitry that keeps racism going) interfered with a movement towards growing together. It is more than frustrating that white supremacy has made such a concerted effort to destroy and erode an empowering movement in such an insidious way. I do not come from an evangelical background, i am also not black, so learning more about how this all went down from your perspective feels vitally important ...i have learned a lot from you that i can now bring into conversations........and conversations that highlight, not just include, perspective of the ones enduring the harms of racism are the only kinds i am willing to have.....thank you. i look forward to reading more of your work. I hope i have been well spoken.
As a white man with a black wife, both very active in our almost all white Church, we moved to a predominantly Black church in 2016 in part due to the attitudes I was feeling towards the atmosphere in our country. We have thrived at One Community Church in Plano since then and my wife is much more content.
David Volodsko for The Radicalist has posted about the “moral rot” of black elites in condemning the murder verdict of Karmelo Anthony. I think his is basically a justification for white supremacy using the old trope that the black community needs to police itself better. He does not grapple with structural issues such as violence against black men. We are experiencing a retrenchment of Jim Crow. The churches have to step up.
Thanks for this great writing--it interweaves the national trends and your own personal journey so well. It is sad that churches and Christian groups have not been able to take the real sacrificial steps to effect true unity. I do know of several bright spots which are exceptions--it might be interesting to highlight a few of those--not to downplay the overall negative trend, but to hold up some examples of how to make progress happen in multiethnic spaces and congregations. Thank you!
Thank you for this. As a white male who somehow was involved w/ early Black Lives Matter actions in Chicago, and was carried by them into a far greater awareness of my own failures and needs as a Christian and a human, I left Evangelicalism completely as the 2016 election cycle heated up. Your words on that supersaturate moment are profound and - from where I exist - wholly appropriate. That election was a psychological blow to the solar plexus. White Evangelicalism, where I had always thought I had a stake, turned my world and my faith upside down.
Absolutely! It was a 180 turn
"Most of the Black Christians I’ve encountered who are still in white evangelical churches, schools, and nonprofits are asking “How long can I stay?” not pondering how to bring even more Black people into a potentially traumatizing situation."
How did you get access to my dm's??? Haha
I think my ministers believe stuff is finally blowing over. Instead there's a contingent of folks I talk to and each week we have to re-decide to stay
I know a little of how hard it has been for you. In spite of the difficulties that you share so circumspectly, you show a calm and careful demeanor, and that serves you well in reaching a wide audience. But I think it's taken a toll on your peace, my friend, and I'm sorry for that.
May you find all gives you peace and joy and fruitful ministry & be surrounded by those who see you and appreciate all who you are. I will do whatever I can to support you in proving all things and holding fast to what is good.
I regret any time—the years-I spent in large evangelical church in the Bay Area. When Trump surfaced and they were all in and still talking about Jesus, I left in disgust. They really aren’t your friends. They think anyone who doesn’t think like them is “an evil liberal.” Republicanism, whiteness and power is their religion.
I truly appreciate your work here, it traces the history of what has been happening and shows the places where things (namely the way systems and groups provide the circuitry that keeps racism going) interfered with a movement towards growing together. It is more than frustrating that white supremacy has made such a concerted effort to destroy and erode an empowering movement in such an insidious way. I do not come from an evangelical background, i am also not black, so learning more about how this all went down from your perspective feels vitally important ...i have learned a lot from you that i can now bring into conversations........and conversations that highlight, not just include, perspective of the ones enduring the harms of racism are the only kinds i am willing to have.....thank you. i look forward to reading more of your work. I hope i have been well spoken.
As a white man with a black wife, both very active in our almost all white Church, we moved to a predominantly Black church in 2016 in part due to the attitudes I was feeling towards the atmosphere in our country. We have thrived at One Community Church in Plano since then and my wife is much more content.
David Volodsko for The Radicalist has posted about the “moral rot” of black elites in condemning the murder verdict of Karmelo Anthony. I think his is basically a justification for white supremacy using the old trope that the black community needs to police itself better. He does not grapple with structural issues such as violence against black men. We are experiencing a retrenchment of Jim Crow. The churches have to step up.
Thanks for this great writing--it interweaves the national trends and your own personal journey so well. It is sad that churches and Christian groups have not been able to take the real sacrificial steps to effect true unity. I do know of several bright spots which are exceptions--it might be interesting to highlight a few of those--not to downplay the overall negative trend, but to hold up some examples of how to make progress happen in multiethnic spaces and congregations. Thank you!