Lauren Sparks

The Sparks Notes

  • Home
  • About
  • Favorites
  • Policies
  • Contact

A Conversation on Race, Part II

June 26, 2020 by Lauren 10 Comments

“Racism is rooted inside the soul and psyche of America.” – Oprah

 

Last week I started a dialogue with Yvonne Chase and Calvonia Radford, both black sisters in Christ, both fellow bloggers, about racism in America today.  You can read Part I in this two-part series here.  For Christians, it is important to take an anti-racism stance to truly love our brothers and sisters as Jesus did.

 

We also need to understand that racism not only encompasses the cruel, violent acts we see on TV and social media.  Racism includes attitudes, microaggressions, lack of opportunities, insensitive language and so many other things that have plagued black Americans for as long as there have been black Americans.

 

The Bible tells us to “mourn with those who mourn” (Romans 12:15) and “bear one another’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2).  How can we possibly do that as the body of Christ if we don’t seek to understand that which sits heavy on the hearts of our black brothers and sisters.  So I continue the conversation today with Yvonne and Calvonia to help us all understand a little better.

 

Pastor and author Dr. Tony Evans (who has some racial unity resources on his website) said, “We cannot expect to solve the racial problem in our nation if we do not, and have not even begun to solve it in the church.”  What, in your opinion, can churches do?

 

Calvonia:  “The first thing the American “church” needs to do is repent.  The history of the church in this country is stained with the mistreatment of the indigenous people groups and people of color.  In 2 Chronicles 7:14, we find the recipe for revival.  The church will never see true revival until God’s people turn and repent as a corporate body for their past and present sin.  Churches are the most segregated institution.  Diverse and multicultural congregations often have less diverse leadership.  They should ask themselves if the cultures represented in the pews are reflected in the worship experience.”

 

Yvonne:  “The church has a history of not talking about hot topics.  They sweep police brutality and systemic racism under the rug and put a ‘forgive as God has forgiven you’ and a ‘Jesus is love’ band-aid on it.  This is one of my biggest pet peeves with the church.  The world talks about everything loudly while we’re quiet.  That needs to stop.  Churches can start by examining themselves and their leadership.  Check our hearts to make sure no strain of racism exists.  Have public conversations about systemic racism and police brutality.  Pastor Steven Furtick and Pastor John Gray were the first two pastors I saw have a conversation on the platform at church about this issue.  It was powerful.  We, the church, cannot fix what we don’t face.  We have the answers the world needs.  Our voices need to be the loudest.  We need to take the lead because the reality is this, there is no law written or law revised that can change the heart of Derek Chauvin and others who have such hate in their hearts towards black people.  The only thing that can change hearts is an encounter with Jesus Christ.”

 

Charles Blow, an American journalist, commentator and an op-ed columnist for The New York Times, says “this country is not responsive to black pain”.  Do you agree with this, and if so, do you have any stories from your own life or someone you know that would illustrate this?

 

Yvonne:  “I agree with Charles.  Why did it take the lynching of George Floyd for the country to care?  Police brutality against black people didn’t start on March 25, 2020.  It’s been happening for years.  Systemic racism is ingrained in the DNA of the USA.”

 

Calvonia:  “Yes, I agree.  A correct response to pain doesn’t deflect.  It seems when we cry out, ‘Black Lives Matter’, people who are not black or brown get defensive.  They get it twisted.  We are not implying that other people’s lives don’t matter.  Of course all lives matter.  However, from our purview, our lives have never mattered.  We have read the history.  150 some years ago, black people were considered mere property.  During Barak Obama’s presidency, his wife Michelle was referred to more than once as an animal – an ape in heels.  Proof that mindsets have not really changed.”

 

What would you say to someone who does not believe white privilege exists? 

 

Yvonne:  “Honestly, I wouldn’t waste my time trying to open their eyes.  There are protests happening all over the world.  I would use my energy to continue to fight the good fight.  That person obviously wants to remain in denial and has made up their mind.  Therefore, I will let them be.  They have chosen not to see beyond themselves and their white world.  Trying to reason with an unreasonable person is an exercise in futility.”

 

Calvonia:  “White privilege is a societal advantage.  It doesn’t mean that white people don’t struggle or that white people as a whole are given everything on a silver platter.  It means people of color have to work harder for everything we accomplish.  It’s hard for a white person to understand white privilege.  I was taught by my grandparents to study harder, dress better and be more articulate because I had two strikes against me.  I was black and I was a woman.  Those of us who have achieved educational milestones and climbed up the corporate ladder had to cross more hurdles than our white counterparts.  And we have to work harder to stay there.  Our society holds a secret for success and the template is white.  We are always fighting systemic discrimination.

 

What books/ podcasts/ movies or documentaries would you recommend to your white brothers and sisters who want to further their understanding of the black American’s experience?

 

Yvonne:  You may not know this, Lauren; but it is offensive to ask black people to help educate white people about our painful experience in America.  If you (not you personally) care, then make it your business to educate yourself.

 

Calvonia:  The most valuable resource is the human resource.  I dare not recommend any media without encouraging my white brothers and sisters to study their black and brown-skinned brothers and sisters.  If they currently have POC in their inner circle, I challenge them to build relationships beyond meeting for a cup of coffee.  If they do not know any black or brown people, I encourage them to pray and ask God to organically orchestrate such a connection.

 

Both women were gracious enough to give recommendations anyway:

Books:

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skoot

Mary McLeod Bethune by Emma Gelders Sterne

Unshakable Faith by John Perry

Articles and Websites:

The Invisible Knapsack by Peggy McIntosh

www.racialequitytools.org

Why are White People So Bad at Talking about Race?

Podcasts

Truth’s Table

Be the Bridge

Code Switch

Movies/ Documentaries

Twelve Years a Slave

The Help

Hidden Figures

Selma

When They See Us

Becoming

 

 

Your turn.  What can you do to further your understanding of the plight of black Americans? What can you do to fight for equality and racial reconciliation?  I challenge you to talk to a black friend or co-worker about this.  Support black owned businesses.  Choose a resource recommended above or another one you’ve heard good buzz about and dig in (next week on the blog I’ll share some that have been helpful to me the last few weeks).  Speak up when you hear someone using racist language or stereotypes.  Use your social media pages to denounce racism in all its forms.  Start there and see where God might lead you.  I’m praying for you in this.

 

I want to give one last thank you to Yvonne and Calvonia for their time, wisdom and vulnerability.  I am learning so much and will continue to visit their pages and carry on the conversation with them online.  Give them a visit and let them know how much you appreciate all they are doing.

 

Yvonne Chase:

Twitter – https://twitter.com/itsyvonnechase

 

Calvonia Radford:

Facebook –  https://www.facebook.com/realtalk859

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/calvoniaradford/

Twitter – https://twitter.com/beequipped

 

 

 

And now for this week’s featured post!

 

Sharon of limitless-horizon.com shared Skies Always Blue with us last week and it was just the soothing balm my frayed emotions needed.  Head over for a huge dose of hope today.

 

Thanks for sharing, ! Here’s a button for your blog

Grace and Truth_Rules

1. Share 1 or 2 of your most recent CHRISTIAN LIVING posts. (No DIY, crafts, recipes, or inappropriate articles.) All links are randomly sorted.

2. Comment on 1 or 2 other links. Grace & Truth linkup encourages community.

3. Every host features one entry from the previous week. To be featured, include this button or link back here on your post (mandatory to be featured, but not to participate).

Grace Truth_Button

Grace and Truth_Meet Hosts

We encourage you to follow our hosts on their blogs or social media.

MAREE DEE – Embracing the Unexpected
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

HEATHER HART & VALERIE RIESE – Candidly Christian
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

LAUREN SPARKS
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

LISA BURGESS – Lisa notes
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

Now Let’s Link Up!

 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Sharing is caring! If you liked this post, do me the huge honor of using the buttons below to share it to your favorite social media accounts. And if you want to get these essays emailed to you once a week, subscribe!  Lastly, my posts may contain affiliate links and I earn from qualifying purchases. If you buy anything from one of these links, I will receive a few pennies to help offset the cost of this website at no additional charge to you. Thank you in advance for your help.

 

To find some great places where I might be sharing this post, click here.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

White Picket Fences – A Book Review and Giveaway!

November 8, 2018 by Lauren 30 Comments

I picked up Amy Julia Becker’s book White Picket Fences:  turning toward love in a world divided by privilege to supplement the journey I’ve been taking to better understand white privilege and the role I play in it.  You can read my freshman attempts at analysis here and here.  Ms. Becker is also walking this path and asking similar questions.

 

The author comes from privilege and affluence that even I can’t understand, but we are similar in our love for books.  She stocked her shelves with classics for herself and her children.  The Secret Garden, Little Women, Anne of Green Gables and many more.  But she slowly realized that the characters they contained were very white.  She searched for classics that would color a rainbow on her shelves and was distraught to find slaves and servants and dangerously displaced Native Americans.  She didn’t want to teach her children this version of race, but our history is unfortunately overflowing with it.  She determined that we needed to “wrestle with a complex past to help us write a different story for the future.”

 

Ms. Becker doesn’t claim to have all the answers.  In fact, she confesses to a fear of not knowing how to truly feel compassion, saying,  “Im afraid that I will always be set apart from people who do not share my advantages.  I am afraid that I am helpless to do anything about very real inequity.”  In response she researched the racial violence that appears all over the news of late and found that “police interaction with black men has not increased in recent years.  People like me – people who live in predominantly white America – have simply become more aware of it.”  And people like me.

 

In the life of her daughter with Down Syndrome, Amy Julia sees a glimmer of understanding for those who’s identity falls outside the norm.  She writes of realizing that had she lived in Nazi Germany, her daughter would have been taken away and killed, just as the Jewish people who were singled out – her wealth or white skin powerless to stop it.  I remember having the same type of revelation about my daughter Shelby when on Ellis Island for the first time.  If my family had come through as imigrants in the early years of our country, my husband and I would have been offered two choices.  1.  Leave Shelby in a “hospital” there and start our new life without her or 2.  Turn around and make the long and dangerous voyage back to whatever bad situation we came from – whether or not (probably not) we had the money for fare.

This book declares that, “We deface the image of God every time we disdain or abuse another human being.”  It’s message?  Every human is valued by nature of being known and loved by almighty God.  “It will take thousands upon thousands…to bow our knees and take up a posture of humility, of listening to others instead of insisting on hearing our own voices, of admitting our own complicity in harm, of opening our hands and hearts to healing even when it hurts.”  This book is not a solution to inequity.  It’s just a beginning.  And I definitely recommend beginning by reading it.

 

Tyndale House Publishers kindly provided me with a complimentary copy of this book.  I am giving away my copy to one reader of this post!  All you have to do is subscribe over on the right side of this page to receive my posts every week (and I promise I almost never send you more than one message a week).  If you are already subscribed – thank you so much! – you can still be entered by leaving a comment!  One commenter/ subscriber will be selected at random and notified via email next Friday November 16.  You can also purchase your own copy of the book here from Amazon or anywhere good books are sold.  If you choose to purchase this or anything else through my link, I will receive a small commission to help offset the costs of my website at no extra cost to you.  Thank you in advance!

 

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
Next Page »

Let’s Connect

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

About Me

I love Jesus, my husband and caffeine. The order of these can change depending on how tired I am. When my two daughters, stepson, and 4 grandchildren get to be too much, I practice yoga. God graciously allows me to share our adventures, victories and flub-ups from my laptop. May He be glorified here.
Read More

Subscribe for Updates

Enter your information below to receive the latest updates from the blog!

Recent Posts

  • First Friday Prayers: The Month of Love
  • Just Got Through January – Almost
  • Joy Ride: My Word of the Year
  • I’m on Cruise Control
  • First Friday Prayers: A New Year

Find Devotionals By Me in These Books and Click on Image for Order Information!

A 25-Week Bible Study with Topics from Abide to Zeal
A 26 week journey to a better prayer life.
30 devotionals for faith that moves mountains

For Sharing

Lauren Sparks

Like Podcasts? I’m on This One

…and This One! click to listen.

Click below to get a free trial of my favorite technology monitoring platform

Need More Than Just Monitoring? Find Filters and Accountability Here

Search This Site

Categories

Archives

Copyright © 2023 Lauren Sparks | Design by Traci Michele | Development by MRM

Stop!  Don't Miss Out!

I have a brand new e-book.  This was Not On My Bingo Card:  Essays on Cancer and Related Surprises is available to you FREE by simply subscribing to my blog!  

Invalid email address
I promise not to spam you. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Thanks for subscribing!