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

Four toddlers forming a circle of friendship

#WakingUpWhite Chapter 44: Listening

Still blogging with my friends as I read “Waking Up White” by Debby Irving, committing ourselves to read and think … 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

#WakingUpWhite Chapter 40: Bull in a China Shop

I’m reading chapters from Waking Up White, by Debbie Irving, and blogging my responses. Quotes are from the book, and … 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 black and white photo. A young man stands in the middle of a grove of slender trees, all with white trunks.

When Words Fail

I was in a conversation recently where this question came up: “How do we influence people to change their minds … 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

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

Multicolored connector plugs inserted into a control panel.

#WakingUpWhite Chapter 34: Becoming Multicultural

Once again, I’m reading & simultaneously commenting on Debby Irving’s book Waking Up White. This chapter is fire. Creating a … More

Pride and Prejudice, Staged

Last week we went to see a production of the new musical AUSTEN’S PRIDE, the story of Jane Austen‘s creation … 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

Carefully Taught, Thoroughly Educated

You’ve Got to Be Taught You’ve got to be taught To hate and fear, You’ve got to be taught From … 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

A Place We Cannot Enter

I’ve watched my friends express their shock, their hurt, their anger, their outrage, their fury, their fear, their hopelessness, their isolation, their understanding of their own oppression in a society that does not see them. Does not value them. Does not, from beginning to end, love them.

#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

#WakingUpWhite Chapter 31: Courageous Conversations

Learning to listen and speak across differences Before I start into this chapter, I wanted to update this series on … 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

What Is the Home That Shuts Its Doors to You?

ETA: I misnamed Ms. Ally Henny in this article & have corrected it. My apologies for misnaming her. I follow … More