Learning to be a better Ally

In 1969, black Americans weren't allowed to swim in
"white-only" swimming pools.

Mr. Rogers invited a black officer on his show and asked if he wanted to cool off by dipping his feet into an inflatable pool. Being his ally, Mr. Rogers joined him, breaking the color barrier live on television.
In worship on Sunday a wide array of emotions were shared as we celebrated Pentecost together.

Come, Holy Spirit, Come ... help us to end the racism around us.

We discussed the necessity of educating ourselves on the systems that keep racism alive in our country and taking a stand against it... for as long as it takes to see real changes.

A place to start is by educating ourselves. Below is a list of anti-racism resources, a couple mentioned on Sunday by Pastor Donna and others gathered and shared by Stephanie Chan.
Books & Online Posts
Books:
  • The New Jim Crow, Michelle Alexander
  • Jesus and the Disinherited by Howard Thurman
  • Rediscipling the White Church: From Cheap Diversity to True Reconciliation, David Swanson
  • Beyond Hashtag Activism: Comprehensive Justice in a Complicated Age, Mae Cannon
  • White Awake: An Honest Look at What it Means to Be White, Daniel Hill
  • How to be an antiracist, Ibram X Kendi
  • So you want to talk about Race: Ijeoma Oluo
  • White Fragility: Why it is so hard for White People to Talk about racism, Robin DeAngelo



Posts:

Bishop Carcaño names our historic cruelty, particularly toward African American men and boys, from historic legal slavery to modern day slavery, encompassing unjust policing practices, modern day lynching and economic injustice that traps people of color in poverty.

Urging people to use their right of peaceful protest to practice non-violence, she calls upon faith leaders who preach messages of love and unity on Sunday to no longer be silent about our sinful national corrupt state of affairs on Monday.