Racial Healing
Breonna Taylor, d. March 13, 2020; George Floyd, d. May 25, 2020; Ahmaud Arbery, d. February 23, 2020
As a presbytery seeking to see Christ in all people, we are committed to the call to care for the marginalized, especially when it comes to dismantling systemic racism and eradicating poverty. Below you will find resources on ways to do three things that I believe to be critical: 1) Educate, 2) Engage, and 3) Act.
As always, saturate this world in prayer. We are in a time when we can go deeper, we can look beyond the surface, do the work that is needed, and continually ask God to transform us and heal our land.
Rev. Aisha Brooks-Lytle, Executive Presbyter
Updated May 26, 2021
EDUCATE:
Denominational and Presbytery Resources for Dismantling Racism:
Juneteenth Resources
Presbyterian Historical Society - Juneteenth (June 13, 2017): Link
The National Museum of African American History and Culture - The Historical Legacy of Juneteenth: Link
The Atlantic - Black Joy—Not Corporate Acknowledgment—Is the Heart of Juneteenth (June 19, 2020): Link
Lent of Liberation: Confronting the Legacy of American Slavery by Cheri L. Mills: Link (PCUSA Store) (also listed in Books below)
Presbytery of Greater Atlanta and Cherokee Presbytery - A Joint Statement and Prayer Concerning Anti-Asian Gun Violence (March 17, 2021): Link
Resources for Dismantling Asian American Pacific Islander Racism:
Reflection article featuring Rev. Byeong Han of Korean Central Presbyterian Church
Reflection article from Presbyterian Outlook with words from The Rev. Byeong-Ho Choi, Pastor of Bethany Presbyterian Church in Marietta, Georgia and Moderator of the National Caucus of Korean Presbyterian Churches
CNN Op Ed article by Rev. Laura Mariko Cheifetz
Self-Development of People (SDOP) Facebook Webinar on Asian American Discrimination in COVID
Presbytery of Greater Atlanta - Town Hall: Dismantling Racism, Session II (October 3, 2020): Link (video, YouTube)
Presbytery of Greater Atlanta - Town Hall: Resources for Dismantling Racism, Session I (July 1, 2020): Link (video, YouTube) | Link (slides)
A Common Statement on Racism, Advocacy for Black Women and Girls, and the 224th General Assembly (2020): Link
Presbyterian Church (USA) - Facing Racism: Link
Joint Savannah Presbytery and Presbytery of Greater Atlanta statement calling for justice in the case of Ahmaud Arbery, Brunswick, GA (06/03/2020): Link
Presbyterian Mission Agency -
Presbytery of Greater Atlanta - Matthew 25 Bible Study Slide Presentation - Developed by Aisha Brooks-Lytle and Joy Fisher: Link
“THIS IS MY CALL, TWO STRIKES AND ALL” (February 18, 2021): Link
The Smile on a Dog: Retrieving a Faith That Matters (2021): Link
Presbytery of Greater Atlanta - Task Force on Racism (1995-c. 2008) - "Mission Statement on Combatting Racism" (1997): Link
First Presbyterian Church (Atlanta, GA) - A Pastoral Letter: Pentecost 2020 (Sunday, May 31, 2020): Link
Kevin Hicks (Pastor, Conyers Presbyterian Church):
My Resources for Learning & Unlearning by Katie Day (Pastor, Pleasant Hill Presbyterian Church): Link
Resources from Trinity Presbyterian Church (Decatur, GA): Link
Absolom Jones Center for Racial Healing (Atlanta, GA) - Catherine Meeks, Executive Director: Link (website) | Link (YouTube Channel)
Anti-Racism Resources (Dropbox; Sarah Sophie Flicker & Alyssa Klein; May 2020): Link
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church - “My God, why have you forsaken me?” A Time of Lament: Link
Yale University is offering free courses through their Open Yale Courses program, including:
African American History: From Emancipation to the Present: Link
The Civil War and Reconstruction Era, 1845-1877: Link
The Gift Collaborative -The Gift of Black Theological Education & Black Church Collaborative: Link
Articles/Blogs/Etc:
Op-Ed: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Don’t understand the protests? What you’re seeing is people pushed to the edge: Link
Sixty Second Preacher: Thoughts on Ministry, White Privilege, and Sixty Second Sermon videos from Ryan Landino: Link
What is Owed (June 30, 2020; New York Times): Link
Books:
Anxious to Talk About It: Helping White Christians Talk Faithfully about Racism by Carolyn B. Helsel: Link
The Color of Compromise: The Truth About the American Church’s Complicity in Racism by Jemar Tisby: Link
How to Fight Racism: Courageous Christianity and the Journey Toward Racial Justice by Jemar Tisby: Link | Website | Trailer
I Bring the Voice of My People: A Womanist Vision for Racial Reconciliation by Chanequa Walker-Barnes: Link
I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown: Link
Lent of Liberation: Confronting the Legacy of American Slavery by Cheri L. Mills: Link (PCUSA Store)
Let Justice Roll Down by John M. Perkins: Link
More Courageous Conversations About Race by Glenn E. Singleton: Link
One Body, One Spirit: Principles of Successful Multiracial Churches by George Yancey: Link
Passionate for Justice: Ida B. Wells As Prophet for Our Time by Catherine Meeks and Nibs Stroupe: Link
So You Want To Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oiuo: Link
Stand Your Ground: Black Bodies and the Justice of God by Kelly Brown Douglas: Link
The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates: Link
White Awake: An Honest Look at What It Means to Be White by Daniel Hill: Link
White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo: Link
White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide by Carol Anderson (see Videos): Link
Top 10 Books On Anti-Racism (Esquire Magazine): Link
Books For Children:
Miriam Moore-Keish’s Anti-Racism Book Recommendations for kids (Reposted with permission from Facebook, June 3, 2020)
Ages 0-115:
Anti-Racist Baby by Ibram X. Kendi
Ages 0-5:
A is for Activist by Innosanto Nagara
Ages 3-8:
The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson
Ages 5-8:
The Story of Ruby Bridges by Robert Coles
My Brother Martin by Christine Farris King
Let the Children March by Monica Clark
Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña
Ages 8+:
Little Man, Little Man by James Baldwin
Ages 10+:
The Crossover by Kwame Alexander
Ways to Make Sunshine by Renee Watson
A Good Kind of Trouble by Lisa Moore Ramée
Ages 12+:
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
Black Enough by Ibi Zoboi
Film/Video:
13th (2016, Netflix)
The Color of Fear (Vimeo): Link
The Inheritance Swiss Reconciliation with Amish and Mennonites (500-year reconciliation between Amish and the Swiss Reformed Church, YouTube): Link
Seven Last Words of the Unarmed By Joel Thompson (YouTube): Link
TheoEd: Link
Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man by Emmanuel Acho: Link
White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Nation's Divide (one-hour YouTube lecture on White Rage by Carol Anderson, see Books): Link
NEXT Church - Race and the Church: A Group Watch Video Series and Live Discussion: Link
ENGAGE & ACT
Starting February 2021 -
Anti-Racism in the Local Church - pastors gather via Zoom once per month to discern a plan to begin/continue to fight racism in their own local church using Jemar Tisby's How to Fight Racism (see Books above) and related resources as guidance. Meeting options include second Mondays at 2pm OR second Thursdays at noon. Contact Jane Hubbard or Joy Fisher.
12 Ways to Be an Activist Without Going To A Protest: Link
1619 Project Resources - First Presbyterian Church (Atlanta): Link
21-Day Racial Equity Habit Building Challenge by Eddie Moore Jr.: Link
Be the Bridge: Link
Emory Presbyterian: Protests for Racial Justice Illustrations: Link
NAACP Legal Defense Fund: Link
National Bail Fund Network (state-by-state directory): Link
Race and the Church: A Group Watch Video Series and Live Discussion (NEXT Church): Link