How To Fight Racism
How To Fight Racism
How To Fight Racism, Young Reader’s Edition
Our toolboxes need all the quality tools we can get that equip us to effectively combat racism. Jemar Tisby has provided two wonderful resources, one for adults and one for youth, in his books How To Fight Racism and How To Fight Racism, Young Reader’s Edition. These honest books, which we given to me by the publisher, help equip readers to recognize patterns, establish a map for action, and become better rooted in why God calls us to seek justice, love kindness, and walk humbly.
Both editions revolve around the ARC of racial justice; awareness, relationship, and connection. The author weaves together real life examples with actionable responses so that readers walk away with not just a resource that they can return to for boosters, but effective ways to work towards racial justice. Awareness encompasses how we can understand race in the image of God, how to explore one’s racial identity, and well as how to effectively study the history of race. Relationship discusses how to do reconciliation correctly, how to make friends, and how to build diverse communities. Connection focuses on how to work for racial justice, how to fight systemic racism, and how to orient one’s life to racial justice. The young reader’s edition breaks these down more explicitly through shorter, more targeted chapters on these topics. Each edition delves deeply into the topics, leaving the reader with much to chew on and pray over. I am re-reading these books because they are so meaty. I need more time to pick up what I missed and re-process what I did glean on the first reading.
I continue to hear from children and youth how frustrated they are with how our society perpetuates racial injustice. They want to act. I am hearing this echoed by their families. These books will be excellent family summer book club choices. My plan is to provide each family with a copy of the adult and young reader editions. Once a week, each family receives a table tent (simple bifold you print on your regular printer) with a conversation question. One section of the ARC of racial justice is read each month for three months (e.g. July for awareness, August for relationship, and September for community), so the conversation questions come from those chapters. Once a month, provide people with a way to process what they have read in community. Some options include a Facebook group with posts for the conversation questions, coming together for an outdoor movie and popcorn event to discuss that month’s theme, and a more traditional book club environment where people come around a table (virtual or physical) and chat about themes. The young reader’s edition contains thoughtful questions to consider, and they work with any age.
These books are essential reading for all, in particular those who are ready for a well reasoned road map that provides them with clear, actionable plans for how to compassionately and wisely go forth in the pursuit of racial justice. Readers will come away with how to be better aware, how to be in effective relationships, and how to build strong communities. We can only better serve those God places in our lives when we are committed to being intentionally justice-oriented. Both editions of How To Fight Racism help equip readers in these efforts. Dr. Tisby has written two resources that are not be missed.
