A CONVERSATION ON RACE AND THE CHRISTIAN ETHIC RACE MATTERS A CONVERSATION ON RACE AND THE CHRISTIAN ETHIC

GROUND RULES I’M ANIMATED AND PASSIONATE… DO NOT BE SURPRISED IF I RUN OR YELL OR ACT SOMETHING OUT PLEASE DON’T FALL ASLEEP … IF YOU DO… NO SNORING ALLOW THIS TO BE A SAFE SPACE. IF YOU HEAR THINGS YOU DON’T AGREE PLEASE REFRAIN FROM DISCOURAGING OTHERS WITH NEGATIVE COMMENTS. THE GOAL IS TO STRIVE TO MOVE US CLOSER TO CENTER WITH THE THINGS WE FACE AROUND US

INTRODUCTION Disciple (2011) Husband (2013) Father (2006) Outreach Pastor – The Path (ATL) Educator Coach Sociologist Studied Sociology at Ga State University

GOALS AND AIMS DEEPER DESIRE TO INVESTIGATE WHAT YOU HOLD AS TRUE PROMPT PERSPECTIVE ADJUSTMENT PROVIDE FRAMEWORK FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION PROVIDE RESOURCES AND PRACTICALS TO NAVIGATE DISCUSSION

DEFINITIONS RACE – SOCIALLY CONSTRUCTED, TRADITIONAL DIVISION OF HUMANITY; people usually share common descent CULTURE – BELIEFS, BEHAVIORS, OBJECTS AND OTHER CHARACTERISTICS COMMON to members of a particular group or society RACISM - [SYSTEMIC POWER + PREJUDICE] variety of practices, beliefs, social relation and phenomena that work to reproduce racial hierarchy and social structure that yield superiority, power and privilege for some and discrimination/oppression for others

PREJUDICE - [PRECONCEIVED PERCEPTION] NEGATIVE OUTLOOK toward a person or group based on perceived status or characteristics – often held independently of facts about person or group BIGOTRY - [OBSTINATE PREJUDICE] the action of a person who is devoted to his/her own opinions and prejudices; especially one who regard or treats members of a group (such as racial or ethnic group) with hatred and intolerance DEFINITIONS

TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE WE LIVE IN A POST-RACIAL COLORBLIND SOCIETY RACISM CAN ONLY BE PERPETRATED BY THE MAJORITY RACE IS A SOCIAL CONSTRUCT WITH A DYNAMIC DEFINITION RATHER THAN STATIC

THE LIE IS… WE LIVE IN A POST-RACIAL / COLORBLIND SOCIETY … COLORBLIND IDEOLOGY is a false premise that strips individuals of the characteristics that contribute to their experiences

JESUS…IS THAT YOU?

LISTENING IS A THING ONE OF THE GREATEST TOOLS IN BUILDING TOWARD RECONCILIATION IS A SET OF EARS TO HEAR

CROSSING THE LINE “ONE OF THE MAJOR PROBLEMS IN OUR WORLD RIGHT NOW IS THAT OFTEN WHEN PEOPLE WHO ARE CONSIDERED WHITE AND THOSE WHO ARE CONSIDERED PEOPLE OF COLOR DO TALK TO ONE ANOTHER, NOT ONLY DO THEY HAVE OPPOSITE PERSPECTIVES, THEY ALSO USE DIFFERENT MEANINGS FOR THE SAME LANGUAGE AND THAT LEADS TO TALKING PAST ONE ANOTHER” MICHAEL BURNS CROSSING THE LINE

CHRISTIAN ETHIC IN COLOSSIANS 12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

CAN WE TALK? FOR A MINUTE SIT DOWN. BE HUMBLE. THROW GUILT OUT THE WINDOW IF YOU ARE HETEROSEXUAL, CHRISTIAN, WHITE MALE AND WEALTHY – you navigate differently ACCEPT AND VALIDATE THE EXPERIENCES OF OTHERS RECOGNIZE RACE CONVERSATION IS ESSENTIAL TO PROLIFERATING THE GOSPEL

GOD’S COMPLETE PICTURE AFTER THIS I LOOKED AND THERE BEFORE ME WAS A GREAT MULTITUDE THAT NO ONE COULD COUNT, FROM EVERY NATION, EVERY TRIBE, PEOPLE AND LANGUAGE, STANDING BEFORE THE THRONE AND BEFORE THE LAMB. THEY WERE WEARING WHITE ROBES AND WERE HOLDING PALM BRANCHES IN THEIR HANDS REVELATION 7:9

RESOURCES TO ENGAGE Oneness Embraced by Dr. Tony Evans Crossing the Line by Michael Burns www.Blacktaxandwhitebenefits.com RESOURCES TO ENGAGE