Every February, we commemorate Black History Month, and — sadly — every year, it seems we are given more proof of just how pervasive and stubborn anti-Black racism continues to be, and therefore why remembering Black history and promoting the stories of Black people in North America and beyond is so important.
Over the past couple of years, I have taken a few posts to promote the work of Black theologians and talk about some of my own self-work when it comes to understanding race, marginalization, and privilege. If you’re at all interested in these topics, I encourage you to check out the dedicated page linking to this material here.
If you are someone who is just beginning your journey of racial reckoning and reconciliation, I know it can seem daunting, and it is often hard to know where to begin. And so, I’d like to offer two suggestions for you today:
- Dear White Peacemakers by Osheta Moore (2021); and
- How to Fight Racism by Jemar Tibsby (2021).
Both of these wonderful books are written by Black authors, both are grounded in the Christian Gospel, and both are generous and gracious in how they call White folk up into action. And so, they represent an excellent starting place.
If fiction is more your style, stay tuned, because next week, I’ll post some of my favorite fiction by Black authors.
Matthew Root 