Recognizing that some people of faith want to learn more about racism, white privilege and systemic injustice, some Presbyterians and others have compiled lists of resources – suggestions for reading, viewing and discussion.
While not comprehensive, these lists provide ideas for congregations and individuals wanting suggestions of where to start. We will add new pieces as they are posted around the web.
- Anti-racism materials from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
- A 2016 revision, approved by the General Assembly in Portland, of the Churchwide Antiracism Policy, known as “Facing Racism: A Vision of the Intercultural Community.”
- A series of six hour-long study guides for the antiracism policy.
- Adult small group study materials and other resources on racism from The Thoughtful Christian.com, including Racism 101 and Race in a Post-Obama America: The Church Responds.
- Race & Reconciliation: The Confessions of 1967 and Belhar (part of the Being Reformed series).
Co-moderators Jan Edmiston and Denise Anderson
In their blogs, the co-moderators of the 2016 General Assembly have periodically recommended books involving race that they have found helpful. Here are some books they have mentioned:
- Debby Irving, Waking Up White
- Kelly Brown Douglas, Stand Your Ground: Black Bodies and the Justice of God
- Colson Whitehead, The Underground Railroad
Blogger Laura M. Cheifetz
Cheifetz, a PC(USA) teaching elder and vice president of church and public relations for the Presbyterian Publishing Corp., has written a series of blog posts providing resources – drawing from “blogs, news sources, books, articles, training organizations, people everyone should read or listen to. I will post academic books, books written to be understandable to the average reader, sources that aren’t Christian, and people/resources that may be controversial. That’s because I respect our capacity to handle it.”
Racial Justice Resources from Laura Cheifetz:
- Chapter 1: Disclaimers, Baby Steps, Intersectionality, and Critical Race Theory;
- Chapter 2: For Church Study, Feminist Work, & Theology;
- Chapter 3: News Sources & Organizations; Whiteness & White Supremacy;
- Chapter 4: History & Poetry;
- Chapter 5: Culture & Womanism.
Other sources:
- 16 Books about race that every white person should read – Huffington Post
- Young adult novels dealing with race – NPR Code Switch
- Ta-Nahesi Coates’s reading list – New York Public Library
- Talking to Kids about Racism and Justice – Oakland Public Library
- Black Lives Matter reading list – Left Bank Books
- 12 Essential Books about Race in America – Huffington Post
- #BlackLivesMatter Reads for Teens – Hennepin Public Library
- The Black Lives Matter Reading List: Books to Change the World – MPR News
- Black Lives Matter Fall 2016 syllabus – Frank Leon Roberts, New York University.
- Summer reading syllabus on Black Lives Matter – Quartz
