10 Black Voices We are Listening To
“The opposite of racist isn't 'not racist.' It is 'anti-racist.' What's the difference? One endorses either the idea of a racial hierarchy as a racist, or racial equality as an anti-racist. One either believes problems are rooted in groups of people, as a racist, or locates the roots of problems in power and policies, as an anti-racist. One either allows racial inequities to persevere, as a racist, or confronts racial inequities, as an anti-racist. There is no in-between safe space of 'not racist.”
― Ibram X. Kendi, How to Be an Antiracist
The conundrum I face as a middle-aged, privileged white man speaking into this moment of racial reckoning is two-fold:
Firstly, my voice is shaped by experience (I have never been personally subjected to an injustice due to race) and my experience is distanced from the realities of the aggrieved (I live in the comfort of a safe, prosperous middle-class suburban neighborhood).
But secondly, saying nothing is saying something. And doing nothing is furthering the racism that has entrenched itself in systems, communities and our hearts.
There is the option of active listening; listening is something.
I am listening to Ibram X. Kendi’s book How to Be an Antiracist, and on a recent call with a consulting firm, I made a commitment to ensure that the Clapham Group continues our engagement on these issues in new ways. How could we do otherwise? We are, after all, named for the 18th c. abolitionist community which did something about the injustice of slavery.
So, active listening should lead to active doing.
We have been assessing this as a team. To know and confess that we are all implicated is not enough, but it is a starting place. We decided that the best way we can speak into this collective moment and equip the readers of this blog is to share some of the some of the voices that we have been listening to (and in some cases worked with). We encourage you to sit with the content here, and consider following these voices and their organizations on social media to continue investing in the fight against racial injustice.
Bryan Stevenson
Author, Attorney, Founder and Executive Director
You can find him at Equal Justice Initiative.
From Stevenson’s interview with the BBC last week:
“I’m always hopeful, because the only way we make change in the world is when we believe in things we have not seen. Hopefulness has to be the approach we take. So I am hopeful, because hopelessness is the enemy of justice. Once you become hopeless, you become a prisoner of the conditions that have created so much conflict.”
He has also recently brought his voice to bear on the recent protests in the New Yorker: "Bryan Stevenson on the Frustration Behind the George Floyd Protests."
Sho Baraka
Creative Consultant, Social Thought Leader, Artist, Founder
You can find his collaborative work at the AND Campaign.
He posted this week about his own experience living in a black community, and encouraged people of all races to think critically about how we get involved in the longterm fight toward racial justice:
Bishop TD Jakes
Pastor and Cultural Leader
You can find TD Jakes at The Potter’s House and TD Jakes’ Foundation.
"We won't call wrong wrong. We just look away, because we're more loyal to our team, then we're loyal to truth. This is not a black and white issue; it's a right and wrong issue; it's a red, white, and blue issue about what we want to be about as Americans. It's not a black community problem. That's why you see white, brown, and black all standing out in the streets together. It's about decency. And I pray it rings out of every pulpit and rings out of every stage and every platform, until all of those who have the power to make the right decisions have the decency to do so."
Listen to his full reflections on George Floyd's death, the protests, and practical next steps for Christians here:
David Bailey
Public Theologian, Culture Maker, Producer, Founder & Executive Director of Arrabon
You can also find him at Urban Doxology Project and 11am: Hope for America’s Most Segregated Hour.
His conversation with Nicole Unice, a white female pastor in Richmond, VA, about the Church's response to the death of Ahmaud Arbery was featured in Relevant Magazine.
And Bailey discussed worship, lament, and justice in an interview last week:
Trillia Newbell
Author, Commentator, Director of Community Outreach for the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission for the Southern Baptist Convention
You can find her writing at World Radio.
Trillia has posted many thoughtful things on Twitter over the past several days. She is also an active voice in how to engage young people on issues of races (see links above).
John Perkins
Author, Founder, Speaker
You can find his lifelong work at John M. Perkins Foundation for Reconciliation and Development.
We were honored to host civil rights activist, Dr. John Perkins, at an event this past year known as the Great Objects Gathering, which we helped convene. Dr. John Perkins and the worship group, Urban Doxology, preached a Gospel powerful enough to burn through the racial divide in this nation and strong enough to unite whites and blacks together in Christ. This is our great hope as followers of Christ!
Tony Evans
Founder and Senior Pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship
You can find him at Urban Alternative.
He shared this message on the recent tragedy and our cultural pandemic:
Bob Woodson
Author, Founder, and Former Campaign Advisor to President George W. Bush
You can find him at The Woodson Center.
Bob has been a friend and colleague for decades, and we worked closely on policy as well as revitalization efforts in Chester, PA. I value his friendship and opinion, and as this interview with Bob shows, his voice is informed and experienced, even if it may be contrarian.
Propaganda, aka Jason Petty
Poet, Political Activist, Podcast Founder & Co-cost
You can find him and his wife at The Red Couch Podcast.
A few days ago Propaganda published this spoken word poem speaking to the long history of racial violence against Blacks in the United States. “Again” was picked up and shared by Buzzfeed News:
Dr. Cornel West
Professor, Philosopher, Author, Activist
You can find him at http://www.cornelwest.com/.
Dr. Cornel West and Dr. Robert George, the “ideological odd couple,” provide a poignant example of what it looks like to respectfully and honestly disagree with someone, while honoring their dignity and humanity. Leftist West and conservative George are friends who teach together and travel the country to demonstrate their commitment to free speech. In this video, they discuss the importance of civil discourse in this era of polarization:
Kirk Franklin
Grammy Award Winning Recording Artist
You can find Kirk regularly posting his reflections and encouragement on his Instagram.
Last week Kirk released this anthem speaking directly to current events and our need for a Strong God. We've got this one on repeat!
As we start to come out of the pressure cooker of the COVID-19 quarantine, we are being reminded that there is another virus that can’t be cured as easily. Let us take a moment to lament collectively, and then ask how we can, in words Kirk Franklin used in the video we circulated last week, “fight the virus of evil with the vaccine of love.”
A final thought… As a Christian, I am reminded that God expressed love not just as an emotion, but as embodied action. May those of us who claim to follow Him do the same.
- Mark Rodgers, Principal