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4.71 AVERAGE
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
I absolutely loved this book. I have been following Osheta Moore on social media for a while now and I love how she approaches the hard stuff such as racism and injustice. She truly lets her love of Jesus shine through. I am Latina so maybe this book wasn't marketed to me but I am better after reading it. We all have more to learn. I highly recommend this book!
challenging
informative
medium-paced
“Dear White Peacemakers” is an invitation to peacemaking for White people, in particular people of Christian faith, from a Black pastor. Moore weaves different genres through the book -- letters, personal narratives, biblical perspective, spirituals, last words, breath prayers, Scripture -- in order to share her heart for anti-racism peacemaking.
Don’t let the word “peace” in the title mislead you. Moore is vulnerable about how difficult it is to be Black in America, and her vulnerability invites the reader’s own vulnerability. She challenges White readers’ assumptions, encourages our reflection on the impact of racism, and roots all her words in Scripture. She isn’t talking about peacekeeping, but peacemaking; she invites White readers into difficult conversations about racism not to “be divisive” but “to grow in intimacy” as a Beloved community. As Moore writes, “This is our work together, White Peacemaker: to reclaim humanity for both of us and create a counterculture that actively exposes and resists the violence of white supremacy culture.”
If you are new to reading about anti-racism, this book would be a good introduction, along the lines of “So you want to talk about racism?” by Ijeoma Oluo. It has a faith-based framework for anti-racism work, like “Be the Bridge” by Latasha Morrison. And it is honest about the experience of being Black in America; in that way, it reminded me of “The Skin We’re In” by Desmond Cole (which focuses on the Canadian context).
So many parts of this book stay with me, but if I were to choose one thing, it’s this: “Trusting God for our daily bread here can mean that each day we’re open to whatever invitation to dismantle racism God places before us.” I’m grateful to Osheta Moore for teaching me that engagin in the work of anti-racism needs to be a daily practice.
Don’t let the word “peace” in the title mislead you. Moore is vulnerable about how difficult it is to be Black in America, and her vulnerability invites the reader’s own vulnerability. She challenges White readers’ assumptions, encourages our reflection on the impact of racism, and roots all her words in Scripture. She isn’t talking about peacekeeping, but peacemaking; she invites White readers into difficult conversations about racism not to “be divisive” but “to grow in intimacy” as a Beloved community. As Moore writes, “This is our work together, White Peacemaker: to reclaim humanity for both of us and create a counterculture that actively exposes and resists the violence of white supremacy culture.”
If you are new to reading about anti-racism, this book would be a good introduction, along the lines of “So you want to talk about racism?” by Ijeoma Oluo. It has a faith-based framework for anti-racism work, like “Be the Bridge” by Latasha Morrison. And it is honest about the experience of being Black in America; in that way, it reminded me of “The Skin We’re In” by Desmond Cole (which focuses on the Canadian context).
So many parts of this book stay with me, but if I were to choose one thing, it’s this: “Trusting God for our daily bread here can mean that each day we’re open to whatever invitation to dismantle racism God places before us.” I’m grateful to Osheta Moore for teaching me that engagin in the work of anti-racism needs to be a daily practice.
If you are a Christian who has been on your antiracist journey for a while and are feeling defeated, pick up this book. This will give you a breath of fresh air to say it's ok, the work is hard, but you are beloved, and we can do this. It doesn't give anyone a free pass, but Moore's compassion shines through in her anecdotes and prayers for the future. We can't fight for equality if we are running on an empty mental/spiritual tank, and this book can give you a perspective to keep doing what needs to be done.
"White Peacemakers, your love is not fragile. Allow the love of God to ground you in your Belovedness and allow that love to inform how you receive guidance from the people of color in your life."
This is the heart of the book's message, I think. Osheta calls us to live from a place of such deep love that it colors everything, even the way we dismantle racism. The encouragement and hope is brimming in every paragraph.
That's not to say that White Peacemakers aren't held accountable for the harm they do intentionally or unintentionally. But the accountability is served with love. "Lean into the correction and know that while your mistake will have consequences, no matter what is required for repair, a few things remain; your inherent worth, your Belovedness, and your capacity to grow and do better next time."
For instance, listen to how she approaches the prickly topic of historical wrongs and our responsibility to know them: "...accepting blame is not a prerequisite for seeking righteousness.... Jesus the sinless, perfect one saw great injustice and said, "I'll go first. I'll do what I can to make it right."
Since our history keeps repeating itself and systemic racism doesn't dismantle itself, this kind of attitude seems not only Christlike but also extremely practical! We can get so much more done when we stop shifting blame to earlier generations or to people with more power and start making peace right here, right now. This book is the perfect guide for individuals and groups who are ready to embrace the power of Belovedness to abolish White supremacy and racism.
Thanks to Herald Press and NetGalley for the ARC!
This is the heart of the book's message, I think. Osheta calls us to live from a place of such deep love that it colors everything, even the way we dismantle racism. The encouragement and hope is brimming in every paragraph.
That's not to say that White Peacemakers aren't held accountable for the harm they do intentionally or unintentionally. But the accountability is served with love. "Lean into the correction and know that while your mistake will have consequences, no matter what is required for repair, a few things remain; your inherent worth, your Belovedness, and your capacity to grow and do better next time."
For instance, listen to how she approaches the prickly topic of historical wrongs and our responsibility to know them: "...accepting blame is not a prerequisite for seeking righteousness.... Jesus the sinless, perfect one saw great injustice and said, "I'll go first. I'll do what I can to make it right."
Since our history keeps repeating itself and systemic racism doesn't dismantle itself, this kind of attitude seems not only Christlike but also extremely practical! We can get so much more done when we stop shifting blame to earlier generations or to people with more power and start making peace right here, right now. This book is the perfect guide for individuals and groups who are ready to embrace the power of Belovedness to abolish White supremacy and racism.
Thanks to Herald Press and NetGalley for the ARC!
I was lucky enough to read an advanced copy of this book and I can't recommend it enough! I've read my fair share of social justice books and have a degree in human rights, so sometimes I find material in the genre a bit redundant. Dear White Peacemaker is like nothing I've read before in the best way! Osheta delivers such a powerful message wrapped in such grace and kindness that I found myself tearing up from the tenderness I was receiving in her words, even with such a difficult topic. I have books that I keep in mind for people at different stages in their anti-racism journeys, but this book rare in that it applies to people at whatever stage they might be in their walk toward freedom and shalom work. I feel like Osheta's message and delivery are a balm to the weary soul and call to action all at once, and hope that I can convince as may people I can to read and implement her teaching. Thank you, Osheta, and well done, Eishet Chayil.
“We should remember that the work of dismantling racism is not only recognizing, repenting of, and repairing the damage done after four hundred years of oppression of Black and Brown people. Yes to all the above, and this work is a deeply interpersonal one that requires grace, nuance, kindness, and empathy. This is the work of healing a fractured relationship. … Let us agree to be boldly, lovingly honest. Let us be fully human, fully empathic, and fully committed to our collective shalom.”
I highlighted so many quotes from Dear White Peacemakers, but this one really embodies the book for me. Grit and grace are the heart of this book. Osheta does not shy away from describing her experiences with the horrors of racism and white supremacy, but she is generous with White people (I’m capitalizing as Osheta does throughout her book) who are ready to learn—it struck me at first as a radical approach, but Osheta is not being “nice,” but rather showing sacrificial love, grace, and honesty even for those who have hurt her deeply. The stories she tells throughout the book are deeply moving; you can see how much work she has done to get to this place in her faith and her antiracism journey.
Osheta doesn’t offer the usual list of things for White antiracists to do, but instead shows readers a way of approaching antiracism that centers what she calls the Beloved Community and healing the pain that white supremacy and systemic racism continues to inflict on Black Americans. Often, she calls White Peacemakers to sit with Black suffering rather than ignoring it or thinking we know how to fix it.
I’m still absorbing everything that I read in this book. It is powerful, painfully honest yet also incredibly generous. It’s a timely book for all White people, but especially those who consider themselves Christians. I will be thinking about Dear White Peacemakers for a long time to come.
*Note: I received a free copy of this book from the author. All opinions are my own.
I highlighted so many quotes from Dear White Peacemakers, but this one really embodies the book for me. Grit and grace are the heart of this book. Osheta does not shy away from describing her experiences with the horrors of racism and white supremacy, but she is generous with White people (I’m capitalizing as Osheta does throughout her book) who are ready to learn—it struck me at first as a radical approach, but Osheta is not being “nice,” but rather showing sacrificial love, grace, and honesty even for those who have hurt her deeply. The stories she tells throughout the book are deeply moving; you can see how much work she has done to get to this place in her faith and her antiracism journey.
Osheta doesn’t offer the usual list of things for White antiracists to do, but instead shows readers a way of approaching antiracism that centers what she calls the Beloved Community and healing the pain that white supremacy and systemic racism continues to inflict on Black Americans. Often, she calls White Peacemakers to sit with Black suffering rather than ignoring it or thinking we know how to fix it.
I’m still absorbing everything that I read in this book. It is powerful, painfully honest yet also incredibly generous. It’s a timely book for all White people, but especially those who consider themselves Christians. I will be thinking about Dear White Peacemakers for a long time to come.
*Note: I received a free copy of this book from the author. All opinions are my own.
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