Educate yourself: resources to learn about race

As our world reels from the gravity of racial injustice, we can feel the need to participate in marches and engage with difficult conversations in order to promote racial equality in our community. In the end, we must also begin with a posture of prayer and learner's attitude before God as we seek his direction amidst all this.

We've gathered resources here to help you in listening and learning as we educate ourselves and share this knowledge with friends, family and co-workers. The goal with these resources below is not to agree with everything in every resource, but to begin listening and learning. We will be adding resources over time to make this list even better. 

Check out Pastor Matt's list of resources below to kickstart your racial reconciliation education. You'll find books for adults and children as well as the top blogs and podcasts to inspire what's next for us as disciples of Jesus.

Books: 

United: Captured by God's Vision for Diversity by Trilla J. Newbell

Divided by Faith: Evangelical Religion and the Problem of Race in America by Michael O. Emerson

Bloodlines: Race, Cross, and the Christian by John Piper

The Invention of Racism in Classical Antiquity by Benjamin Isaac

A Former Jew: Paul and the Dialectics of Race by Love L. Sechrest  

The Souls of Black Folk by W. E. B. Du Bois

Removing the Stain of Racism from the Southern Baptist Convention: Diverse African American and White Perspectives by Kevin Jones

More Than Equals: Racial Healing for the Sake of the Gospel by Spencer Perkins and Chris Rice

Reconciling All Things: A Christian Vision for Justice, Peace and Healing by Emmanuel Katongole

A Beginner’s Guide to Crossing Cultures: Making Friends in a Multicultural World by Patty Lane

From Every People and Nation: A Biblical Theology of Race by J. Daniel Hays

Oneness Embraced Dr. Tony Evans by Tony Evans.

Books for children

ColorFull: Celebrating the Colors God Gave Us by Dorena Williamson (Grade: PreK–2; Age: 4–8) 

God’s Very Good Idea by Trillia Newbell (Grade: 1–2; Age: 4–8)

God Made Me and You by Shai Linne (Grade: 3–7; Age: 8–12) 

The Gospel in Color: For Kids by Curtis Woods and Jarvis Williams (Grade: 5–9; Age: 10+)

Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer: The Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement by Carole Boston Weatherford (Grade: 7–10; Age: 12–16).

Sermons, Podcasts and Talks

Transcultural Gospel by Brandon Washington

Hope, Race and Power by Tim Keller

The Gospel of Reconciliation Testimony by Dr. John Perkins

#Love Will Overcome by Dr. Tony Evans

Preaching and Leading for Reconciliation by Thabiti Anyabwile

Unarmed and Dangerous: A Conversation on Race and Justice with Dr. Bryan Loritts & Jerome Gay

Don’t Lose Heart: Why It’s Worth It to Fight for Racial Harmony Even When We Don’t See Progress by Eric Mason. 

Blogs

George Floyd and Me by Shai Linne

The Color of Compromise by Daniel K Williams 

The "Bi-Racial" Jesus by Dr. Bryan Loritts

Can We Please Stop Saying, "White Privilege” by Dr. Bryan Loritts 

Black in a White Man Territory: Proceed with Caution by Tryce Prince.