![]() ![]() It took me some time to identify the reasons for my surprise. ![]() Sitting there, thinking quickly and quietly as the question progressed toward me, I realized that one of the things I found surprising was seeing a Christian identify their faith as the reason for fighting against racism. Part of it, I knew, was the comfort and ease that he had in talking about his faith in the workplace, but it was more than that. ![]() “And I believe our world should reflect that.”Īs the question worked its way around the circle I sat, stunned, trying to figure out why that had taken me so off guard. “I’m here because I believe we are all equal in the eyes of the Lord,” he said, looking around the meeting room. What I didn’t expect was the first response, from an older white man in a sweater and suit jacket. Surely some of the people attending the Racial Equity Institute’s two-day course about systemic racism were there reluctantly, only participating as part of their job. Uncovering systemic oppression is difficult, unpleasant, emotionally taxing work. I looked around the circle of my coworkers, more than a little wary of the answers, steeling myself for a fight. “Why,” the facilitator asked, “are you here today? What makes you want to do this work?” Today’s post includes descriptions of racist violence and racial trauma. ![]() Editor’s note: This is part of Luke Babb’s “ Reckoning” series. ![]()
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