Anti-Racism Task Force

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  • Declaration for Racial Justice

​As members of Excelsior United Methodist Church and in keeping with our vision to stand for social justice, we commit to continuing our Social Justice Ministry by becoming a force for the healing of racial inequity in order to transform interpersonal and systemic racism. Our faith propels us to this work because of the Ministry of Jesus Christ.
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EUMC’s Social Justice Ministry Team will lead our effort to:

    Learn about white privilege and systemic racism.
    Reflect on our role in the racist systems in our Country, State and Nation.
    Act by creating a plan for racial justice action.
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All are invited to stand in solidarity with our Black, Brown and Indigenous Sisters and Brothers who have been mistreated, stripped of dignity and oppressed based on the color of their skin.

​Anti-Racism Resource List

You are invited to join others at EUMC in exploring ideas about Racial Justice in our Community, State and Nation. Our Social Justice Ministry Team has put together a resource list as a beginning for your information and journey in learning about racism.

We hope you will choose one to begin your participation in our Church’s challenge to LEARN, REFLECT, & ACT regarding racial justice. 
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RESOURCES

History of Racism

1. "Letter to My Son"  Click here to read An article in The Atlantic by Ta-Nehisi Coates adapted from his book, Between the World and Me. Find out more about the book here

2. Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America: A book by Ibrim X. Kendi. Find out more here

3. Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You: A version of Stamped from the Beginning for young adults, written by Jason Reynolds and Ibrim X. Kendi. Find out more here

Black History/Stories and Movements
 
1. The Warmth of Other Suns: A book by Isabel Wilkerson. Find out more on the publisher's website: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/190696/the-warmth-of-other-suns-by-isabel-wilkerson/.

2. A Good Time for the Truth: Race in Minnesota: A book by Sun Yung Shin. Find out more on goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27882384-a-good-time-for-the-truth.

3. I'm Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made of Whiteness: A book by Austin Channing Brown. Find out more on the publisher's website https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/555849/im-still-here-by-austin-channing-brown/.

4. The Fire Next Time: A book by James Baldwin. Find out more on the publisher's website: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/7753/the-fire-next-time-by-james-baldwin/9780679744726/teachers-guide/.

5. 20 Picture Books for 2020: Readings to Embrace Race, Provide Solace & Do Good: Listings on the embrace race website to help with the work of making the world a safer, more equitable place for all children https://www.embracerace.org/resources/20-picture-books-for-2020.

6. Teaching Your Child About Black History Month: An article on the TBS for parents website https://www.pbs.org/parents/thrive/teaching-your-child-about-black-history-month

7. Black Enough: Stories of Being Young and Black in America: A book by Ibi Zoboi. Find our more on the publisher's website https://www.harpercollins.com/products/black-enough-ibi-zoboitracey-baptistecoe-boothdhonielle-claytonbrandy-colbertjay-coleslamar-gilesleah-hendersonjustina-irelandvarian-johnsonkekla-magoontochi-onyebuchijason-reynoldsnic-stoneliara-tamanirene-watsonrita-williams-garcia?variant=32116658733090.

8. The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song: A Twin Cities Public Television show.
Episode 1: https://www.tpt.org/black-church-this-is-our-story-this-is-our-song/video/the-black-church-episode1/
Episode 2: https://www.tpt.org/black-church-this-is-our-story-this-is-our-song/video/the-black-church-episode2/.

9. The Tulsa Massacre, Remembered by Those Who Survived: New York Times review of 1993 PBS documentary  https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/07/arts/television/review-tulsa-massacre-remembered.html?searchResultPosition=1.
Watch the PBS documentary about the massacre, Goin' Back to T-Town https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/t-town/.​

Our Anti-Racism Team has put together a list of terms and their descriptions, to present as talking points in your discussions about Racism. Please click here to download the Terms List.

Confronting Whiteness - An Imperative for Loving Beyond Ourselves

Take the White Privilege Challenge. Click here

Learn about Deconstruction of White  Privilege with Dr. Robin DiAngelo, author of              
​White Fragility. Click here