Two women, one white, one Black, are having a conversation with each other. They're seated facing each other at a table next to a large window overlooking an urban setting.

#WakingUpWhite Chapter 45: Normalizing Race Talk

Blogging with friends as I read “Waking Up White” by Debby Irving, committed to read and think and write about … More

Mural of man expressing anger. Blue hair and shirt.

With Malice Aforethought

“The McMichaels did not intend to kill Mr. Arbery that day. All they intended to do was to stop him, … More

Getting an Upgrade

Well, it’s official. I’m now an editor for the online magazine Our Human Family, which has the motto “Conversations on … More

#WakingUpWhite Chapter 43: From Tolerance to Engagement

I’m blogging, along with several other writers, as I read the book by Debby Irving “Waking Up White.” We’ve committed … More

#WakingUpWhite Chapter 42: Solidarity and Accountability

I’m blogging, along with several others, as I read the book by Debby Irving “Waking Up White.” We’ve committed to … More

A child stands at the bottom of stone steps, considering how to overcome a seemingly impossible challenge.

#WakingUpWhite Chapter 41: From Bystander to Ally

Still reading chapters from Waking Up White, by Debbie Irving, and blogging my responses as I read. Quotes are from … More

#WakingUpWhite Chapter 39: Equality Starts with Equity

I’m going through Debbie Irving’s book Waking Up White, along with several friends, blogging about each chapter as I read … More

A man is checking a map to see where he goes next

#WakingUpWhite Chapter 38: The Rugged Individual

I’m blogging my way through Waking Up White, by Debbie Irving. Along with a few other writers, we’re reading and … More

The Quarantine of Emotions

If you haven’t been paying attention, there’s a play running right now in New York City that’s controversial and provoking. … More

Boxes and cups and bottles all stacked on shelves

#WakingUpWhite Chapter 37: Boxes and Labels

This is another post in the series Waking Up White, exploring the book by Debby Irving of the same name. … More

People standing and walking down the corridor of a brightly lighted shiny conference hallway

#WakingUpWhite Chapter 36: The Dominant White Culture

Continuing the series of examining whiteness while working through Waking Up White, by Debbie Irving. I’m utterly intrigued by the … More

#WakingUpWhite Chapter 35: If Only You’d Be More Like Me

I’m reading & simultaneously commenting on Debby Irving’s book Waking Up White. Jesus. I mean that in reverence not as … More

White Jesus, Bible Jesus: Pick One

Yes, this is deliberately provocative for a blog title, chosen to shake up people settled in their ways like the … More

My Dear White People

This is a love letter. Really. And it comes from someone who has committed every sin that’s listed here—and many … More

The Purpose-Driven Lie

“The purpose of racism is to control the behavior of white people, not Black people. For Blacks, guns and tanks … More

#WakingUpWhite Chapter 33: Perception and Fear

Once again, a reminder that this series (“Waking Up White”) is from the book by Debby Irving. I read the … More

I Am MLK Jr

A film from the Paramount Network. I was 13 when Dr. King was murdered. I could not comprehend what I … More

Walking in and out of Justice

Sometimes we can choose our inconveniences. I was watching a video late last night, far past midnight, and stopped about … More

#WakingUpWhite Chapter 32: Getting Over Myself

The liberation of letting go of my self-image. Choosing to engage in the effort to dismantle racism promises to bring … More

When We Don’t Want to Know

Ignorance is sometimes a lack of opportunity. We don’t have access to resources, including people and their lived experiences, to … More

Sliding Away from Relevancy

If you haven’t been tracking the news, there’s been a dust-up in the American Evangelical world. An influential publishing outfit … More

Moral Switzerlands

This is a prescient verse from 3000 years or so ago: “And if it seem evil unto you to serve … More

The Voices Are Coming from Inside the House

Before this day in 1957, Hazel Massery (white) had never met Elizabeth Eckford (Black). After this day, they did not … More

#WakingUpWhite Chapter 28: I Am the Elephant

This chapter explores the meaning behind not only identifying as white (which is simple enough when we check off the … More

Juneteenth, Reparations, and What Do I Do About It?

Today is June 19th, a day when we remember that our American experiment with freedom included over 200 years of … More

#WakingUpWhite Chapter 27: Living into Expectations

This was a fascinating chapter for me, in that I hadn’t really dived into this before: what is it that … More

Six people participate in a close group hug.

#WakingUpWhite Chapter 25: Belonging

This chapter is about the tendency of white folks to feel like they belong everywhere. Ms. Irving focuses on the school environment, because she was a volunteer or participant at so many levels, including being on committees to help bring about and embrace “diversity.”