Matthew 25

Dismantling Structural Racism

21 Day Challenge

This challenge invites you to do something every day to raise your awareness of race, power, and privilege. You will be introduced to voices and perspectives different than your own through articles, videos, and podcasts.

Each day you will choose one way of engagement and reflect in a journal. From the countless resources available, we have pulled together a list of 50 options to choose from, with additional resources listed at the bottom of the page. At the end of the challenge, there will be opportunities to gather in small groups on Zoom to share our reflections.

Before you begin, please sign the pledge to the right.

There is so much information available, it is hard to know where to start. I have used a model originally designed by Eddie Moore’s 21 day challenge and Myers' Park Presbyterian Church along with resources found in the Facebook Group Be The Bridge to compile a list of resources that will hopefully be meaningful for youth and adults, for those who are well read on issues of race and for those who this is your first time. I am grateful to all who have sent me suggestions and will continue to add to the Other Resources section with new material.

READ

A Prayer in a Time of Anger, Unrest and Injustice, by PCUSA

Speak Up! Responding to Everyday Bigotry, by Southern Poverty Law Center

RACE - the power of an Illusion, by California Newsreel

Ahmaud Arbery Holds Us Accountable, by Jim Barger, Jr.

21 Racial Microaggressions You Hear On A Daily Basis, by Heben Nigatu

White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack, by Peggy McIntosh

Guide to Allyship, by Amelie Lamont

Dear White Parents of My Black Child’s Friends: I Need Your Help, by Maralee Bradley

What White Children Need To Know About Race, by Ali Michael and Eleanora Bartoli

Caught Up In God, by Willie James Jennings

Who gets to be afraid in America?, by Ibram X. Kendi

White Privilege, The Thoughtful Christian

What Is White Privilege, Really?, by Cory Collins

WATCH

VIDEOS

What is implicit bias? (2 min)

Am I biased? (3 min)

Race, Ethnicity, Nationality and jellybeans (3 min)

Stop Shooting Us, Please (3 min)

Before you call the cops (3 min)

Debunking Myths about Race (3 min)

Racism is Real (3 min)

Life of Privilege explained in $100 race (4 min)

A conversation about growing up black (5 min)

Intergroup Anxiety: Can you try too hard to be fair? (5 min)

Systemic Racism Explained (5 min)

50 states, 50 different ways of teaching America’s past (6 min)

The disturbing history of the suburbs (6 min)

Seeing White Fragility (6 min)

Implicit Association Test (10 min)

What does it mean to be racially literate? (10 min)

Do kids see race? (10 min)

How to deconstruct racism, one headline at a time (16 min)

How to overcome our biases? Walk boldly toward them (18 min)

Weaponizing white privilege (video)

Weaponizing white privilege (article)

MOVIES

The Power of an Illusion (PBS documentary)

13th, Netflix documentary (1 hr 40 min)

Selma (2 hr 2 min)

Hidden Figures (2 hr 6 min)

Just Mercy (2h 17min)

The Hate U Give (2 hr 52 min)

NOTICE

Once people start to learn about white privilege and America’s systems of oppression through history, they often ask, “Why didn’t I see this sooner?” It’s easy to overlook what we’re not looking for. Once you understand the phenomenon of selective noticing, take yourself on a noticing adventure.

Test your Awareness

Watch TV tonight, then ask yourself:

Who is and is not represented in ads?

What is the racial mix of the main characters in your favorite TV shows?

Think about the last five books you read.

What is the racial mix of the authors?

How were characters of color portrayed compared to characters who were white?

Think back to a typical week pre-pandemic.

What was the the racial composition of the people around you?

What percentage of the day were you able to be with people of you same racial identity?

Notice your neighborhood and surrounding community.

How is housing arranged?

Who lives near the downtown commerce area and who does not?

What is the density of a given neighborhood?

Can you correlate any of this to racial identity?

LISTEN

You cannot divorce race from immigration (6 min)

How does racism affect your health? (12 min)

If you see racism, say racism (22 min)

PODCASTS

Code Switch

Black Like Me

Turning the Lens: Seeing White

Pod Save the People

JUNETEENTH

Please take some time before Friday, June 19 to learn about this important day not only in African American history, but in American history.

Here are a few resources to get you started:

I wonder how your community is celebrating this day? I wonder how your family might honor its meaning?

MY JOURNAL

I am committed to journaling about what I read, watch, and hear. I encourage you to do the same with this tracking journal - check off the type of learning and take a minute to reflect.

If you are interested in following my journey, I have made it public here.