Today is Juneteenth, the anniversary of the day slavery was finally abolished in every state in the U.S., two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Sadly the process of justice in our country has been slow ever since. But through recent events, more and more people (white people) are waking up to the disparity of their neighbors and are looking for ways to make a difference.
As believers we know that freedom and justice come ultimately through Jesus Christ. But as Jesus’ church we are also called to “do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8).
So, we have compiled a list of resources to help you think, learn, and act. We are always learning about more resources, so feel free to let us know if there are others that you think should be on this list.
Resource List
“On May 25, 2020, George Floyd, an African American man, died at the hands of law enforcement officials just south of downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. Floyd was handcuffed and lying face down on a city street, while Derek Chauvin, a white Minneapolis police officer, kept his knee on the right side of Floyd’s neck for almost 9 minutes—with close to 3 minutes of that time taking place after Floyd became unresponsive. After years of recorded violence toward the black community, this incident sparked a nationwide movement of protests against the systemic racism that remains prevalent in our nation today.
We mourn the death of George Floyd and join his family and local community, and the greater African-American community throughout the country, crying out together in lament. Yet we remain confident that God sees, hears, knows, and is grieved as well. No one understands what it’s like to lose a loved one to injustice and hate more than God our Father, who willingly gave up his own Son. What we see is not just, and so we cry out today, “How long O Lord? How long will justice delay? How long will the color of someone’s skin put them in danger?” …
…And so we commit to pray and work for the good and welfare of our cities and nations, for all people. To speak up for the voiceless (Prov. 31:8–9). To do good works motivated by the gospel (Titus 2:11–13). To confront injustice (Isa. 1:17). We will lead our churches to work to restore foundations that lead to hope. This is what it means to apply the dignity of the imago Dei in a practical way. We plead, “Lord, may your kingdom come, and your will be done here as it is in heaven.”
-Excerpts from ‘A Call to Justice, Restoration, and Renewal’, published by Acts 29, June 3rd, 2020
EDUCATE
Understanding begins with awareness, reflection and prayer. When we diversify the voices we listen to and truly hear our BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) brothers and sisters crying out for justice, we begin to cultivate the empathetic heart of God and challenge our broken, limited perspectives. Before we can act effectively, we must listen. There are a multitude of perspectives within the BIPOC community challenging us to consider their lived experiences within the church and within their communities – you may not connect with each one but we encourage you to engage with compassion, thoughtfulness, and love as you open up your heart and mind.
Books:
Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Image of God by Richard Wayne Wills Sr.
Unreconciled: From Racial Reconciliation to Racial Justice in Christian Evangelicalism by Andrea Smith
Divided by Faith: Evangelical Religion and the Problem of Race in America by Michael O. Emerson and Christian Smith
Notes of a Native Son by James Baldwin
Letter from Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King, Jr.
Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson
A Stone of Hope by David L. Chappell
Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?: And Other Conversations about Race by Beverly Daniel Tatum
The Cross and the Lynching Tree by James H. Cone
Children’s Books:
5 Children’s Books on Racism and the Gospel
- ColorFull: Celebrating the Colors God Gave Us
- God Made Me and You
- The Gospel in Color: For Kids
- Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer: The Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement
Articles & Resources:
Mapping Prejudice – from the U of M
7 Books on the White/Black Racial Divide you Should Read
Recommended Resources on Race and Justice
Innocence Project, Justice for George Floyd (excerpt below)
- Studies have shown that Black and Latinx people are more likely to be stopped, searched, and suspected of a crime (even when no crime has occured).
- Black people make up just 13% of the U.S. population, but 40% of incarcerated people in the country. This is not because Black people commit more crimes, but, in large part, because of the way Black communities and other communities of color are policed and presumed guilty.
- Innocent Black people are seven times more likely to be wrongfully convicted of murder than white people, the National Registry of Exonerations reported.
- Minneapolis police officers have killed Black people at a rate 13 times higher than white people. The disparity in rates is one of the largest in the country.
Movies/Videos:
Making Room for Grief: Jay & Josefina Sanders discuss their experiences grieving the murder of George Floyd as Black Americans and believers in Jesus.
An evening with Bryan Stevenson & Tim Keller: Part I
An evening with Bryan Stevenson & Tim Keller: Part II
Upward: The Sin of Silence and God’s Heart for Justice with Danielle Coke
Inward: Taking Inventory and Assessing Implicit Bias with Danielle Coke
Outward: Starting Conversations and Making Real Change with Danielle Coke
Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man
American Trial: The Eric Garner Story, a film about the case of Eric Garner, who like Floyd was presumed guilty and was killed as a result of excessive force used by the police.
When They See Us about the Central Park Five, which tells the story of five black and brown teenagers who were racially profiled and coerced into false confessions in 1990.
Just Mercy, based on the book
Podcasts:
Protest, Pain & Hope (with Karen Attiah)
1619 with this critique from Politico
Code Switch by NPR
Why Christians should lament the killing of Ahmaud Arbery with Dr. Kevin Smith
ACT
Pray, Donate & Volunteer
Speak Up, in love, to your Friends & Family
Vote
George Floyd Memorial Fund
National black justice coalition
Twin Cities Donation & Drop-Off Sites
Loaves & Fishes: Antioch is currently partnering with Loaves & Fishes to help relieve the food insecurity in our neighborhood. Check out the Antioch Community Church calendar for upcoming dates and for volunteer information or connect with Pastor Darrius Hubbard.
Sanctuary Covenant Church: Peace and Prayer BBQ & Supply Pick-Up
South Minneapolis Mutual Aid Autonomous Zone Coordination is continuing their efforts amongst the community in taking care of residents in the south side of the city.
Community Emergency Services food distribution.
Hunger Solutions Minnesota works with both state and federal government to advance programs that tackle hunger on a large scale, according to their website. They work with food banks and shelves to distribute food on the smaller scale.
Support the Cities, a community service group on Facebook, is working to help neighborhoods and small businesses affected by the recent events. They also accept donations to the Emergency Food Fund.
We Love Lake Street is an organization that is donating 100% of its donations directly to small businesses and nonprofits in the Lake Street community to help them rebuild their storefronts and serve its neighborhoods.
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church is accepting donations to help rebuild the community after the recent damage caused in Minneapolis.
Midtown Global Market Mend is accepting donations to help repair damage at Midtown Global Market, which is home to 45 small businesses on Lake Street in Minneapolis.
Help Minnesota Transitions Charter Schools is accepting donations to help rebuild buildings that were damaged during the riots. The schools serve grades 7-12.
Bring Me the News is keeping a running list of fundraisers and crowdfunding pages for individual businesses.
A HUGE list of businesses who were affected by the destruction accepting help, plus city-clean up organizations.
Uplift Black Voices & Businesses in Minneapolis
“Let present privilege awaken us to present duty, and now, while life lasts, let us spend and be spent for our sweet Lord Jesus.” – Charles Spurgeon