Race

Addressing the challenges facing racial inequality. Sharing personal experience as we seek understanding and answers to make a real-life change.

How to Teach Your Child Not to Hold Prejudices 2

How to Teach Your Child Not to Hold Prejudices

Why does it feel so uncomfortable to talk about race and racism in this country? Deep down in our gut, we know something just isn’t right and that makes us squirm. Humans strive for internal consistency, and when it’s not there we become uncomfortable. A part of our mind knows that we are all one family: the human race. The other part knows that we harbor some racism, stereotypes, prejudice, or discriminatory thoughts. Yes, we do. This makes us uncomfortable. When we become uncomfortable, we actively avoid situations and information likely to increase it. So, it’s normal to feel that way. I invite you to feel it now and keep reading anyway. There is something called multigenerational transmission process, which just means […]

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

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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a group of racially different women laughing and drinking tea together as an act of forming a unified world

Longing for a Unified World? Here’s Where to Start

As a child, I didn’t think much about race. I knew I looked different from most of the kids in my elementary school, but I made friends across the spectrum of faces and colors. I lived with an innocence that allowed me to be unburdened by the hue of my skin. I entered junior high with the same naive perspective. But three short years later, my innocence was replaced by a startling awareness that who I was and how I was received by my peers was influenced by my skin color and the texture of my hair. Race had become an entry requirement for social groups and defined my allegiances. My high school was predominately African American with a sprinkling of hispanic,

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3 ways to correctly ask someone about their ethnicity

3 Ways to Correctly Ask Someone About Their Ethnicity

“What are you?” my coworker asked. It was my first week on the job. I had been introduced to the office team a couple of days before as, “Torrie, our new office assistant. She will be working with Brad’s team.” Everyone welcomed me warmly and helped me get acclimated to my new work space. I didn’t need an explanation for her question. I knew what she was really asking. I’d heard this question my entire life. My pause gave way for her to ask the usual follow up question, “What are you? I mean like where are you from?” “Ohio,” I answered. “I grew up in Ohio and moved here to Los Angeles a few years ago when my husband got transferred.”

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A Biracial Woman's Perspective on How to Talk About Race - 185

Do Conversations about Race Have to Divide or Can They Unite? with Torrie Sorge – 185

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | Email | TuneIn | RSS | MoreIs there a correct way to talk about race? Biracial speaker and writer Torrie Sorge helps unpack that question. The world is now striving more than ever to recognize the unique qualities and contributions of different ethnic groups and push uncomfortable conversations about race into the open. For many, this can be an unfamiliar subject, and one that leaves many questions as we work to come to a place of deeper understanding and respect for those who have led very different lives than us. But we certainly can’t charge into these conversations blindly. Torrie joins Darlene Brock and Julie Bender to discuss how to talk

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i am not woke because i never fell asleep

I Am Not Woke, I Never Went to Sleep

I am not woke because I never went to sleep. My faith wouldn’t allow me. As a follower of Christ, it is His principles that I try to follow. That is my desire. Imperfectly, yes, failing often. Sometimes distracted and caught up in the challenges of life, but it is my most passionate goal. My Faith Showed Me the Needs of Others One thing God has never allowed me to stay blind to is the needs of others. At least, not for long. Our eyes need to be open to see those who are hurting. To care for, defend, and honor one another without reservation or qualification. My teen years first ignited my passion for civil rights before my faith became the

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We Need to Address Racism with Grace and Love—This is How

We Need to Address Racism with Grace and Love—This is How

On New Year’s Eve 2019, heading into 2020, I made a celebratory dinner for my family, lit candles to fill our home with my favorite aroma, took a mid-day nap so this mama could actually make it to the fireworks, and spent some time praying about what the year to come would hold. I prayed and asked the Lord for a year unlike a year I’ve ever experienced. Specifically, I asked him to blow my mind with growth, revelation, truth, love, and advancement. Seven months into the year, I find myself asking, “Wait, Lord, did I pray the wrong prayer? This was not the advancement I imagined.” Isn’t that how life works, though? We see things from an eye-to-eye level when God

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This Is How My Mother Changed Her Identity for Love

Why My Mother Hid Her Race for Love

My parents were married in the mid-1940s. My siblings and I are not certain of the exact date. In fact, we are learning there were many things we don’t know. My parents came from the South: Arkansas and Tennessee. They left soon after marrying for the freedom of the West. Mixed marriages were not accepted in the South, especially not in 1940. And this is where the story takes an interesting twist, because until very recently, I was not aware it was a mixed marriage. For my entire childhood and into my adult life, my mother held a secret close to her heart. She told her children that she was French Creole, a rich mix of French and Black ancestry, with a

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This Grit and Grace Life Podcast

How We Can Stand With the Black Community With Dr. Zoe Shaw – 136

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | Email | TuneIn | RSS | More Everything we do at This Grit and Grace Life is seeking to understand. It is our goal to humble ourselves and listen, to be able to view the world through others’ eyes, all eyes. We wanted to hear a voice from the black community and have a conversation allowing us to learn and understand what we may not. We feel we are in a land of emotional minefields; we want to know why and even more than that as women of faith, learn what we can do to become instruments of racial reconciliation. We are speaking to Dr. Zoe Shaw, a black woman, who

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6 Ways to Love the Addict in Your Life

How Do We Really Fight Racism? It Starts With the Heart

Last night I watched with horror as my city, Grand Rapids, was devoured by hatred and violence. What started out as a peaceful and powerful protest for George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and countless others who’ve lost their lives for no legitimate reason were being honored and celebrated, turned dark and evil when the sun went down. Protesters left and rioters moved in. Buildings and vehicles were burned. Glass was shattered. Livelihoods were crushed. Tear gas was used. Last night, I was so sad…sad for Grand Rapids, sad for those who worked so hard to put together a peaceful and purposeful protest that was quickly squashed by rioters and those who simply wanted to be destructive. Sad for my neighbors and friends. Sad

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What My Faith Says About Race

What My Faith Says About Race

I try extremely hard to take every one of my questions, doubts and confusion to the source of all my life answers- my faith. Often it’s not that there are simple answers to my questions like Google seems to offer. I can’t just type in, “God, what do you think about these crazy days we find ourselves in? And how do we fix it?” Then expect a quick spinning wheel while the search engine finds all the possible answers. Instead, the Bible is a book that is meant to be absorbed over years, as you develop your relationship with the Author. But the answers are there in the richness of the pages. They come through the principled truths woven throughout every page.

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