First Moravian Church of Riverside
“In essentials, unity; in nonessentials, liberty; and in all things, love.”
Our Commitment to Racial Equality
Visit Here for more information from the Moravian Northern Province
Bridge Builders List: For Further Learning, Reading, and Discovery
Pastors Picks:
Pastor Nasel:
Podcast Pick: Straight Up with Trent Shelton
Pastor Rebecca:
Book Pick: The Color of Compromise, Jemar Tisby
Moravian Church Sermons and Series: My Life Mattes: One Black Man’s Perspective
It’s All About the Breath: A Meditation on Racial Justice
A New Way of Being: Resources for Advent
A New Way of Being: From Confession to Hope Wednesday Lenten Series
Non-fiction Books:
The Color of Compromise, Jemar Tisby - “The Color of Compromise takes readers on a historical journey: from America’s early colonial days through slavery and the Civil War, covering the tragedy of Jim Crow laws and the victories of the Civil Rights era, to today’s Black Lives Matter movement. Author Jemar Tisby reveals the obvious—and the far more subtle—ways the American church has compromised what the Bible teaches about human dignity and equality.
Between the World and Me – Ta-NeHisi Coates – a short read about the experience of a black man in America told through the lens of a letter to his young son. Coates reads the audiobook, which is powerful.
How To Be An Anti Racist – Ibram X Kendi – a basic primer on the many layers of racism told alongside Kendi’s own life story as a black man identifying racism in his own life.
Stamped From The Beginning – Ibram X Kendi – A brief history of racism in the United States and the way the structure of racism shapes the opportunities and experiences of black communities; this has a companion book, Stamped remix, that is designed for young adults and children to grasp the history of racism in America.
Me And White Supremacy – Layla F. Saad – designed with journaling reflections, this is a walk through the ways white supremacy impacts our lives, externally and internally. I suggest reading this with a buddy and keeping a thoughtful journal.
The New Jim Crow – Michelle Alexander – A thorough look at mass incarceration in America and the way it is disproportionately used to police black communities.
I’m Still Here – Austin Channing Brown – a deeply moving memoir of growing up as a black woman in the Evangelical tradition. Would be a good resource for church small groups to unpack together.
Dear White Christians – Jennifer Harvey – racial reconciliation and work form a Christian perspective, including the support and lack there of during the Civil Right movement and how we can grow better.
Raising White Kids - Jennifer Harvey – this is focused on helping white parents navigate tough questions about race, racism, and structural injustice in America.
Good White Racist? – Kerry Connelly – a book about examining our white privilege and confronting the implicit ways we are racist and how to unlearn them; from a Christian perspective.
Podcasts:
Straight Up with Trent Shelton
Straight Up with Trent Shelton is a weekly podcast featuring fire wisdom from the man himself. A former NFL wide receiver turned internationally successful motivational speaker with over 12 million followers on social media, Trent brings his powerful, honest perspective to bring you the truth you need to hear - even if it's hard to take. If you're looking for content that will touch your heart and change your life, Straight Up with Trent Shelton delivers it straight to your ears!
NPR episode on Whistleing Vivadi
Brene Brown and Ibram X, Kendi on How to be an Anti Racist
NPR episode on A Decade of Watching Black People Die
Seeing White Podcast
NPR Codeswitch
Documentaries, Films, Video Series:
Free Watch YouTube: Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man, Emmanuel Acho
Purchase on Amazon Film or watch on YouTube: Eyes on the Prize 6-part Documentary of the Civil Rights Era (honestly, watch all of the Eyes on the Prize documentary series...it filled in much of what was not taught in history in high school and college).
Purchase/watch on Netflix or YouTube: Black Power Mixtape
Purchase/watch on Netflix or YouTube: PBS: The Abolitionists
Purchase/watch on Netflix or You Tube: James Baldwin, “I Am Not Your Negro”
Watch Jennifer Harvey, author of Dear White Christians, at the Duke Divinity Black Student Union lecture series: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZk_RBuihp8&feature=youtu.be
New York Times 1619 Project
What is Systemic Racism? — an eight-part series that shows how racism shows up in our lives across institutions and society
8 Online Classes and Workshops That Help You to Examine Your Own Bias (wellandgood.com)
For More Resources Click Here