Resources for contemplation & action: June 14

Book to read: Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor by Layla F. Saad. Michelle Morr Krabill says, “I highly recommend this book. The information is broken up into small chunks that are easy to understand and apply.” 

Social media account to follow: Franchesca Ramsey on YouTube, @chescaleigh. Erin James-Brown says, “Around five years ago Franchesca’s videos started directly addressing race and racism. They’re short, educational, often funny, often important.” 

Podcast to subscribe to: “Pod Save the People” by DeRay Mckesson. So many G-people love this podcast it’s hard to choose just one reviewer. DeRay, a gay black activist, interviews guests on social justice, culture, and politics. He urges LGBTQ+ people to “come out of the quiet” around race and racism.

Movie or TV to watch: “Dear White People,” a Netflix original series. Remi Shores says, “Very funny and entertaining; also very informative and heart-wrenching. Presents multiple Black perspectives, including opposing ones – like, not all the Black characters think the same thing about everything.” 

Cause to donate to: New City Church’s Solidarity Fund. Katie Hays says, “Rev. Tyler Sit (who is gay, btw) is a friend, a church planter, and a human rights activist on the ground in George Floyd’s Minneapolis. This extremely local fund will be shared in Jesus’s name in a city that has been rocked by grief and has suffered serious economic consequences of injustice.”

Playlist or artist to listen to: Todrick Hall’s 2018 visual concept album Forbidden. We were recommended the single “Ordinary Day” from this album about a distant future in which black LGBT people rule a city and treat white/straight people the way black/queer people are treated in reality. Justin says, “His other works are potent, too. His Wizard of Oz album posits the munchkins as the ‘Black’ people in Oz.”

Question or topic for white people to discuss IRL with white friends and family members: Have you ever taken an implicit bias test? Would you do it if I do it, and we can talk about the results? Amy Walker reminded us that Project Implicit at Harvard University has developed an online test for uncovering deep-down racial prejudices many of us don’t know we have. It’s like a game, simple to play on a computer and many handheld devices, but with very serious results for self-knowledge and reflection.