When You Fall

I write and edit for a living, and I write for fun. I have a few novels in progress, with … More

Of Course I’m Racist

I don’t think I’ve ever been called a racist—not because I’m not, but because the people in my life are … More

A Non-Traditional Blessing

Text composed by Sister Ruth Fox, OSB, from the Sacred Heart Monastery in Richardton, North Dakota, in 1985.

#WakingUpWhite Chapter 29: Intent and Impact

The process of “waking up white” isn’t just to be aware of whiteness. It is to wake up, and then to leave it. To go to something that’s better and more life-affirming and full of health. And to not even be sure where the destination is, but with the calm assurance that it’s out there.

Moral Switzerlands

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

#WakingUpWhite Chapter 26: Surviving Versus Thriving

In this chapter Ms. Irving recalls a famous experiment conducted in 1968 by Ms. Jane Elliott on a class of … More

#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.”

#WakingUpWhite Chapter 24: Everyone Is Different; Everyone Belongs

We need to do the right things when we can, but it is critically important that we continually reevaluate whether we’re really doing the right things. We might not be able to wait until we have all the data before we try to make changes, but we absolutely must be willing to reexamine our efforts and even our understandings.

#WakingUpWhite Chapter 23: Diversity Training

More than having a map, a method, and motive, grasping what race and racialism in America will involve something deeper than just a way to work things out.

#WakingUpWhite Chapter 22: Why Do I Always End Up with White People?

Ever wonder why it is that even when good people want to fix things, nothing really gets fixed but a … More

The Charlottesville Declaration

From the founding of this nation until the present hour, the idolatry of whiteness has been a pro-death spirit within … More

#Waking Up White Chapter 21: Straddling Two Worlds

This chapter is unbelievably relevant, especially in light of the post I put up not six hours ago about my … More

News and Updates

So here’s what’s going down… Some of you might know that I’ve been thinking about and writing about issues of … More

#WakingUpWhite Chapter 20: My Robin Hood Syndrome

“You know, we’re trying to focus on programs that serve Boston’s inner-city youth. If you could develop a vision that … More

There Are No Racists

I’m involved in a group that’s digging into American white racism, and I gotta say, there are times when I … More

#WakingUpWhite Chapter 18: Color-blind

We talk about the things that are important to us, or we talk about the things that are completely unimportant … More

#WakingUpWhite Chapter 17: My Good People

“How it was possible that I was both a ‘good person’ and utterly clueless.” It’s possible because being “good” does … More

The Whisper of the Wind Without Words

My goodness, how deeply this spoke to me this morning: “My Lord God, I have no idea where I am … More

Enough

If you don’t know by know I’m a believer and follower of Jesus Christ, then I’ve done a damned poor … More

When the Past Tries to Reclaim the Present

Last night the hemlock tried to nail the house again. This time it failed. We live in an area that … More

#WakingUpWhite Chapter 14: ZAP!

The fact that the playing field is not level means that life experiences are not merely different, but unequal and … More

Words and Deeds

This is short today, and a freebie: it matters that we use words. It matters that we listen to what … More

#WakingUpWhite Chapter 12: Icebergs

“One of the breakthroughs I had … was understanding the degree to which I tend to align what I see … More

Green Books, Black Lives, and White History

I’m reading some interesting responses to “The Green Book,” which, if you have been in a cave in Thailand for … More

When Home Is Gone

I’m seeing something recently that is new to my vision, and that is the homeless. Yes, of course I mean … More