So You Want to Talk About Race? 

At least 55 people do at UCUCC because they signed up for our six-week online book discussion groups of Ijeoma Oluo’s book, So You Want to Talk About Race? And a couple other small groups are doing their own discussion circles.

Our skillful discussion and learning is important since racism is often hidden, subtle, and systemic. Overcoming racism will take more than our good intentions. We must learn to uncover it so that, instead, we can live out the truth of human equality. Seattleite Ijeoma (ee-JOH-ma) Oluo’s book is an excellent and accessible volume, especially for those who are in the beginning chapters of un-learning the subtle and powerful everyday unconscious patterns of white supremacy. Amidst the complexity of life and the often hidden nature of racism, this quote from Oluo seems elegantly simple and powerful:

It is about race if a person of color thinks it is about race. It is about race if it disproportionately or differently affects people of color. It is about race if it fits into a broader pattern of events that disproportionately or differently affect people of color.

It can be that simple. It is that wide.

And, therefore, so must be our commitment of faith to the Way of Jesus which turns over the tables of racism to make room for God’s Banquet where all have equal access to the Table of Grace and the Tree of Life.

Whether you are in one of the three pastor led book discussion groups or not, we encourage everyone to read or listen to this book, especially our white folk, in service of a loving and truthful conversation that gets us closer to the freedom God intends for us all.