How to talk about racism?

Are you struggling with what to do or how to talk about racism? The three-part adult forum series called “Walk Together: On the Journey to Racial Justice” ended with a TEDx Talk by Dr. Caprice Hollins, in which she provides the following suggestions:

What White People Can Do to Move Race Conversations Forward

• Deconstruct how you’ve been socialized and reconstruct a new way of being.
• Rather than seeing differences as negative or pretending not to notice them, recognize that it’s our differences that make America great.
• Become aware of your bias.
• Acknowledge your whiteness and the privileges it holds.
• Learn about the experiences of diverse groups and believe their stories.
• Learn to become comfortable with discomfort.
• Unpack institutional and systemic racism.
• Take action to advocate for change.

This list can serve as a long-range plan, or a road map for our individual journeys. Need a jumpstart? We suggest watching the movie Till, now out in theaters and based on the true story of Mamie Till-Mobley’s pursuit of justice for her son, Emmett, who was lynched in 1955. For those with Netflix, another option is the documentary called Descendant, which chronicles how descendants of enslaved Africans brought to Alabama in 1860 on the last slave ship seek justice and healing when the remains of the ship are discovered. For a full list of other movies, as well as books, podcasts and other resources curated by the DRT, visit the church website: http://northfieldumc.org/anti-racism-resources.