What Is Anti-Racism?
“Anti-racism is a process of actively identifying and opposing racism. The goal of anti-racism is to challenge racism and actively change the policies, behaviors, and beliefs that perpetuate racist ideas and actions. Anti-racism is rooted in action. It is about taking steps to eliminate racism at the individual, institutional, and structural levels.” -Kendra Cherry
Loving Kindness: Anti-Racism Training
The prophet Isaiah charged God’s people to become “repairers of the breach, restorers of the streets to live in.” Antiracism consultant Chris Burton believes that we, as Christians, are called to the ministry of racial reconciliation. Throughout the season of Lent, Chris equipped participants in his Loving Kindness course to acknowledge personal privileges, work on changing personal racial biases, and confront acts and systems of racial discrimination.
While the concept of antiracism has been around for years, most of us are new to this practice and worldview. Shallowford is “a place of grace” where your questions and curiosity are welcome! We invite you to read through the course materials for a self-led journey to “Do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with our God” (Micah 6:8).
Chris Burton, Course Leader
Confession Is the Start
Read
- Article – “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack“
- Author – Peggy McIntosh
- Duration – 7 pages
Act
- Take a journal with you as you go about your week. Walk through your daily life this week with your privilege in mind. Write down when you notice your privilege and how it works for you.
On Mission Together
Read
- Bible – The Book of Esther in the Old Testament
- Duration –10 chapters, 30 minutes
Act
- Share and listen to a friend’s understanding of his or her identity.
Intersectionality
Read
- Article – “The Legacy of Robert Moses”
- Author – Sydney Sarachan
- Duration – 5 minutes
- Article – “The Intersectionality Wars”
- Author – Jane Coaston
- Duration – 10-15 minutes
Act
- Start intentionally thinking systemically and structurally. Think about your community (workplace, school, church, etc.) and how you fit in there. What POWER do you have in your community? What power does your community have in greater society?
Lament
Read
- Bible – The Book of Daniel in the Old Testament
- Duration – 12 chapters, 60-90 min.
- Journal entry – Early settler journal entry
- Article – Gentrification Has Unintended Consequences for Urban Poor
- Author – Marie-Elizabeth Ramas, M.D.
- Duration – 5 minutes
- Article – White Flight Never Ended
- Author – Alana Semuels
- Duration – 5 minutes
Act
- Read the Preface and skim over the Descriptive Vocabulary of Diary of Ten Years of an Early Settler In Western Australia.
- Consider how you have been “the other”? How have you othered others?
Reflections
Act
- Notice moments of rage and lament
- Pick a justice issue that you want to participate in