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cdubbs30 's review for:
Dear White Peacemakers: Dismantling Racism with Grit and Grace
by Osheta Moore
“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.