Dorena Williamson | The Grit and Grace Project

Here’s Why We Need Black History Month and Racial Reconciliation

“Mommy, is Jesus white?” This question was recently posed to a white mother in our congregation by her brown son. This family diligently provides books, activities, and holds ongoing discussions with the three brown kids in their home, yet this charming little five-year-old boy wrestled with the color of Jesus during the Christmas season. Your initial thoughts about this question and discussion say much about your comfortability with racial conversation. If your response is, “What difference does it make whether Jesus is white or not?” then I invite you to take a moment and consider why the race of such an important religious figure matters. How does each culture see Jesus? Years ago, on a visit to the Holy Land, I was […]

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The Color of Beauty: Rihanna’s New Makeup Line Fenty

Recently, I was in the Target aisle and I spotted makeup on sale. I eagerly picked one product up, recognizing the brand and seeing that the price was right for me. After a closer glance though, I reluctantly put the eye shadow packet back. Why? Because these particular eye shadow shades were not made for my chocolate skin. If I were seriously shopping for makeup, I knew another aisle held products better matched for my exact skin shade. As I often do when shopping for makeup, I thought of my daughters (aka my makeup consultants). When I was my youngest daughter’s age, Fashion Fair was the one cosmetic company with a plethora of shades for chocolate skin. Thankfully, times have changed. My