Three books Lisa is currently inviting St. John’s folks to read:
- James Baldwin’s The Fire Next Time, which is a poignant and shattering account of his experience as a black man in the United States in the twentieth century
- White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk about Racism by Robin Diangelo. This is a really helpful way to understand “whiteness” as the system of dominance and oppression, based on race, that is so deeply rooted in our nation’s history, culture and civic life, and that is inevitably internalized by all of us
- Reconciling All Things: A Christian Vision for Justice, Healing and Peace by Emmanuel Katongole and Chris Rice. Rev. Katongole is a Ugandan Catholic priest who was active in reconciliation efforts in Rwanda after the genocide. Chris Rice is a white pastor who has spent his efforts in the south doing racial reconciliation work alongside African American pastors.
- In addition to the above three books, the University of Minnesota has made these books free to read until August 31.
Two films we invite you to watch:
Other links:
- Robin DiAngelo, Deconstructing White Privilege (22 minute video)
- Phil Vischer, Race in America (18 minute video which describes how systemic racism continues to operate in the US)
- Jim Crow of the North Twin Cities PBS film which reveals the history and impact of racist real estate covenants in Minnesota.
