Hello Friends,
I am excited to be taking the 21 Day Racial Equity Challenge as part of my Lenten observance this year. The 21 Day Racial Equity Challenge is a self-paced journey through options of articles to read, videos to watch and suggestions of ways to reflect, connect, engage and act. Depending on the time you wish to devote you can opt for ‘bite size,’ moderate or challenging Racial Equity studies and reflection. It is my expectation that this journey will raise questions – some of them difficult – about equality, justice, and our interpretation of these ideals. The questions may not be new, but perhaps the clarity and urgency with which we reflect on them are.
On our Trinity Racial Reconciliation page you will findlinks to the website for the 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge and a similar website of resources from the Episcopal Church. Get started today, and even if you only have 15 minutes to spare, try to return to this site daily over the next 21 days (or throughout the 40 days of Lent) to engage, question, comment and connect.
I began my challenge by reading the article by Gina Crossley-Corcoran that is linked on the list of resources. The article is entitled ‘How to Explain White Privilege to a Broke White Person.’ I found the article very illuminating. This explanation of white privilege helps to peel away the layers of beliefs that have contributed to some of the challenges and divides of our present day. It crystalized (for me) a working definition of white privilege: a life where obstacles have been encountered, but race has not been one of the obstacles. Does this seem compatible with your working interpretation of ‘white privilege?’ Please share your thoughts on that – along with what you are reading, discussing and reflecting upon at the start of Lent – in the comments below.
Sharon
One Comment
Hello Sharon,
I was happy to to “meet” you on the Zoom Bible session this afternoon. I am new to Trinity. I moved to Medford Leas in October 2019, so with the Pandemic shut-down have not met that many people at Trinity in person.
I read the article you mentioned and I can understand how a poor-white woman would not feel that she was privileged. However, I’m just as certain that we are all, as white citizens, privileged in many ways. I know from readings and a few personal experiences of the discrimination that people of color experience. My fear is that the interests brought about by the Black Lives Matter movement and all the literature, movies and TV shows will be overshadowed by the income/wealth gap issue (which is just as much a problem) because it is easier for government to alleviate that gap than to address racism. Racism is so embedded in our history as a nation. But still we must try.
As far as reading goes, among other things, I read Ta Nehisi Coates “Between the World and Me” which taught me where the violence comes from, and I’m participating in the Trinity discussion of “White Rage.”
So, I’ll be happy to look in on your blog on occasion to read another perspective.
Be Well,
Jeanette