Jesus & Race

Guided by our vision and values, we are committed to listening, learning, and responding to issues of systemic racism in our lives, city, nation, and world. We stand neither on the political right or the left of this issue but solidly with Jesus and his Kingdom message that tears down every dividing wall of hostility in order to make earth more accurately reflect heaven.

RESOURCE LIST ON RACE, JUSTICE AND RECONCILIATION

fROM UPC’S ANTI-RACISM TASK FORCE

HISTORY OF CIVIL RIGHTS

Eyes on the Prize: America's Civil Rights Years, 1954-1965

by Juan Williams and Julian Bond – companion volume to the PBS series by the same name.

Voices of Freedom, Hampton and Fayer – An oral history of the civil rights movement from the 1950s through the 1980s. This book is also a companion to the PBS series, but is hundreds of interviews of individuals done for the series.

Walking with the Wind: A Memoir of the Movement

by John Lewis and Michael D'Orso – the autobiography of Congressman John Lewis.

Why We Can’t Wait, Martin Luther King, Jr. Including Letters from the Birmingham Jail.

The King Years: Historic Moments in the Civil Rights Movement, by Taylor Branch

Parting the Waters, Pillars of Fire and At Canaan’s Edge, by Taylor Branch, a trilogy about MLK and the civil rights movement during his time.

The Children – David Halberstam, the stories of 9 young people who studied nonviolence at Vanderbilt, and went on to lead the lunch counter sit-ins and the freedom rides. A personal favorite.

Risking Everything: A Freedom Summer Reader – Edmonds – an anthology of writing by people who participated in the Freedom Rides in an effort to desegregate buses and bus station waiting rooms.

Slavery By Another Name, Blackmon – the time between the Emancipation Proclamation and WWII.

The Warmth of Other Suns, Wilkerson -- the story of the migration of Black people from the south to the north during the first two-thirds of the 20th century

An animation of the slave trade that is interactive and which first appeared in "Slate.” http://www.slate.com/articles/life/the_history_of_american_slavery/2015/06/animated_interactive_of_the_history_of_the_atlantic_slave_trade.html

HOUSING

The Color of Law, Rothstein -- redlining and government policies in segregated housing.

Unequal Neighborhoods Fresno – a study by the Health Policy Institute at CSUF. Includes a timeline of segregation in Fresno. https://www.fresnostate.edu/chhs/cvhpi/programs/unequalneighborhoodsfresno.html

The Atlantic -- Fresno’s Mason-Dixon Line -- an article about housing segregation in Fresno. https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/08/fresnos-segregation/567299/

POLICING/CRIMINAL JUSTICE/MASS INCARCERATION

Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption, by Bryan Stevenson

The New Jim Crow, Michele Alexander

Locking Up Our Own, James Forman Jr.

From the War On Poverty to The War On Crime – Hinton

FAITH ORIENTED BOOKS

Becoming Brave – Brenda Salter McNeil

Be the Bridge: Pursuing God’s Heart for Racial Reconciliation. Latasha Morrison

PODCASTS, MOVIES AND DOCUMENTARIES

Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man, Emmanuel Acho – podcast. Emmanuel Acho interviews a wide variety of people on aspects of race relations in a “safe space”. Highly recommended for those just beginning their journey seeking a deeper understanding.

PBS – The American Experience – civil rights collection.

PBS – Black History and Culture Collections

Selma—movie about the walk across the Edmund Pettus Bridge

The Mom Psychologist podcast -https://m.youtube.com/c/TheMomPsychologist/videos?disable_polymer=true&itct=CBIQ8JMBGAEiEwjtiP2I6cvqAhX55MQKHSb1Cg8%3D

John Lewis “Get In the Way” Documentary on PBS

https://www.pbs.org/video/john-lewis-get-way/

John Lewis “Good Trouble” Movie 2020

https://www.johnlewisgoodtrouble.com

“Eyes On the Prize” 14-part documentary on the Civil Rights movement. Excellent and comprehensive history of the Civil Rights era. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ud82QzXO7xw

“Slavery by Another Name” on the post-Civil War persistence of enslavement using the legal system, incarceration, and prison labor to destroy Black lives, families and communities.

“I Am Not Your Negro” dir. By Raoul Peck

Featuring James Baldwin’s unfinished manuscript “Remember This House”

“13th” dir. by Ava DuVernay

“Malcolm X” dir. by Spike Lee

“Do the Right Thing” dir. by Spike Lee

The Black Doctors Podcast

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-black-doctors-podcast/id1514975823 Apple Link

https://theblackdoctorspodcast.com/ Android Link

Covid Disparities

https://www.bing.com/news/search?q=COVID+19+Faces+Of+Disparity&qpvt=covid+19+faces+of+disparity&FORM=EWRE Android Link

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/infectious-diseases-society-of-america/id519582740?i=1000485350646 Apple Link

1619 project

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/1619/id1476928106 Apple Link

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/23/podcasts/the-daily/1619-project.html Android Link

https://www.pbs.org/weta/reconstruction/

RECENT ARTICLES ABOUT FRESNO/THE CENTRAL VALLEY

https://calmatters.org/california-divide/2020/06/west-fresno-racism-black-communities/

https://www.kvpr.org/post/real-life-green-book-reveals-best-and-worst-valley-history

RESOURCES FOR CHILDREN AND PARENTS

Resources for parents on tolerance and racism

Books

For Kids by themselves

· Beer, Sophie. Kindness Makes Us Strong. 2019. Dial Books. ISBN: 978-1984816399

Kindness is a friendly hello. A roaring cheer. A quick boost. Kindness is what makes us strong! This joyful board book shows various children as they extend kindness in all kinds of situations: on the playground, at lunchtime, on a bike path, and on a neighborhood street. This sweet preschool read-aloud shows the way kindness helps build friendship and community. Cost is $9.99

· Byers, Grace. I Am Enough. 2018. Balzer + Bray. ISBN: 978-0062667120

This gorgeous, lyrical ode to loving who you are, respecting others, and being kind to one another comes from Empire actor and activist Grace Byers and talented newcomer artist Keturah A. Bobo. Cost is $12.99 to $14.51

· Cherry, Matthew A. Hair Love. 2019. Kokila. ISBN: 978-0525553366

Zuri's hair has a mind of its own. It kinks, coils, and curls every which way. Zuri knows it's beautiful. When Daddy steps in to style it for an extra special occasion, he has a lot to learn. But he LOVES his Zuri, and he'll do anything to make her – and her hair -- happy. Cost is $10.96 to $14.32.

· Latham, Irene and Charles Waters. Can I Touch Your Hair?: Poems of Race, Mistakes, and Friendship. 2018. Carolrhoda Books. ISBN: 978-1512-4044-25. Grades: 3-6. Two poets, one light and one dark, explore race and childhood in this must-have collection tailored to provoke thought and conversation

· Perry, LaTashia M. Hair Like Mine. 2015. G Publishing. ISBN: 978-0986237973

Hair Like Mine is the first book in the Kids Like Mine Series. It is a fun and easy read following a little girl who doesn't like that her naturally curly hair looks different from the other kids around her. On her quest to find someone with hair like hers, she soon realizes we are all unique and special in our own way. Cost is $4.99 to $18.95

· Provencher, Devon. The Gospel (Big Theology for Little Hearts). 2020. Crossway. ISBN: 978-1433565250 Each book in the Big Theology for Little Hearts series introduces a big idea from the Bible with concise definitions and engaging illustrations to help young minds gain a foundational understanding of God's word. Cost is $9.71

For Parents to read on their own

· Higgbotham, Anastasia. Not My Idea: A Book about Whiteness. 2018. Dottir

Press. ISBN: 978-1-9483-4000-7 From the author, “In a 1993 interview, Toni Morrison said about racism in America: “White people have a very, very serious problem, and they should start thinking about what they can do about it.” She added, “Take me out of it.” Those words landed in me as a direct command. I made this book for my own white sons with help from their teachers and mine. It’s dedicated to the Brooklyn Free School, where my family was first called up to engage with whiteness in order to dismantle white supremacy.”

· Kendi, Ibram X. How to be an Antiracist. 2019. One World (Random House). ISBN: 978-052-5509-288. This book is for adults who want to learn and be challenged by the task of becoming antiracist.

· Saad, Layla F. me and white supremacy. 2018. ISBN: 978-1728209807 How did you feel the first time you saw the title of this book? Were you surprised? Confused? Intrigued? Uncomfortable? Maybe all of the above? I want to begin by reassuring you that all of these feelings and more are completely normal. This is a simple and straightforward book, but it is not and easy one. WELCOME TO THE WORK! Layla Saad

· Turner, Matthew Paul, When God Made You. 2017. Convergent Books.

From early on, children are looking to discover their place in the world and longing to understand how their personalities, traits, and talents fit in. The assurance that they are deeply loved and a unique creation in our big universe is certain to help them spread their wings and fly. Through playful, charming rhyme and vivid, fantastical illustrations, When God Made You inspires young readers to learn about their own special gifts and how they fit into God’s divine plan as they grow, explore, and begin to create for themselves. Cost is $6.99

For Kids with their Parents (read together)

· Memory, Jelani. A Kids Book about Racism. 2019. ISBN: 978-1-951253-06-6 This book is a good book to discuss racism with children of any age. Should not be read alone by child as questions will naturally arise. Cost is $10 to $12.

· Harrison, Vashti. Dream Big, Little One. 2018. LB Kids. ISBN: 978-0316475099 Featuring 18 trailblazing black women in American history, Dream Big, Little One is the irresistible board book adaptation of Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History. Among these women, you'll find heroes, role models, and everyday women who did extraordinary things - bold women whose actions and beliefs contributed to making the world better for generations of girls and women to come. Whether they were putting pen to paper, soaring through the air or speaking up for the rights of others, the women profiled in these pages were all taking a stand against a world that didn't always accept them. Cost is $9.22

· Harris, C.M. What If We Were All the Same! 2019. Purple Diamond Press. ISBN: 978-1733152471 What If We Were All The Same! embraces all of our beautiful differences. Aimed to help children understand there are many great reasons for being friends with those who are different than they are. Whether they have red hair or brown hair, green eyes or blue eyes, long legs or short legs, light skin or dark skin, glasses, uses a wheelchair or anything else, it's absolutely OKAY! Our differences are what makes us unique and if we truly think about it, would you want to be the exact same as someone else?

What If We Were All The Same! is fun-filled with rhymes and colorful illustrations, brings attention to tough topics children can relate to.

· Williamson, Ms. Dorena. Colorful: Celebrating the Colors God Gave Us.2018. B&H Kids. ISBN: 978-1462777648 Imani and Kayla are the best of friends who are learning to celebrate their different skin colors. As they look around them at the amazing colors in nature, they can see that their skin is another example of God's creativity! This joyful story takes a new approach to discussing race: instead of being colorblind, we can choose to celebrate each color God gave us and be colorFULL instead. Cost is $6 to $11.

· Williamson, Ms. Dorena. Gracefull: Growing a Heart That Cares For Our Neighbors. 2019. B&H Kids. ISBN: 978-1462792849 Hope and Anna love seeing each other at church. When a Sunday grace offering is collected to help lift up Anna’s homeless family, Hope begins to ask questions and has a unique opportunity to learn what grace looks like, both for her and for Anna’s immigrant family. This touching story teaches children that God showers grace that is meant to be shared—allowing us all to be GraceFULL!

· Williamson, Ms. Dorena. ThoughtFull: Discovering the Unique Gifts in Each of Us. 2018. B&H Kids. ISBN: 978-1462794744

This encouraging story shows how life changes when we learn to value those who are differently abled and to champion the power of thoughtfulness. Author Dorena Williamson explores the need to be "thoughtFULL"—full of thoughtfulness and awareness, particularly with those who have special needs. In this delightful story, it's awards day at school, and Ahanu (a boy with Down Syndrome) earns the award for being thoughtful. Later, when his friend Joshua sees others making fun of Ahanu, it's Joshua's turn to be thoughtful by supporting his differently abled friend. While doing so, Joshua learns important lessons about friendship, disabilities, and the value we each have as God's children. Cost is $7.99 to $11.69.

· Kennedy, Pamela. All the Colors That I See. 2018. B&H Kids. ISBN: 978-1462794751 In this delightful board book, preschoolers can learn their colors and learn where they came from—God! They'll be encouraged to touch, tap, or pat colors on each page, and a sneaky chameleon will follow them along the way. Cost is $6.99 to $7.99

· Kennedy, Pamela. God’s Big, Big Church. 2018. B&H Kids. ISBN: 978-1462796540 Many preschoolers might think church is all about seeing friends and eating goldfish, but this sweet board book helps them understand that church is so much more. They'll be reminded of important parts of worship such as praying, reading the Bible, and singing songs, and they'll visit scenes from churches around the globe (Romania, Tokyo, India, Ecuador, U.S.A, and Africa) to learn that Christians far, far away are praying, reading the Bible, and singing too! Cost is $7.99 to $8.99.

Virtual Tours

· African-American Museum of Fresno CA https://www.aahcmsjv.com/event-program?pgid=jwk6qqek-06a4c05e-8817-11e9-9ac2-063f49e9a7e4

· “A Physical Place I Could Feel Rooted In”: A virtual tour of a slave dwelling https://withgoodreasonradio.org/2018/02/23/a-physical-place-i-could-feel-rooted-in-take-the-virtual-tour/

· Slave Voyages https://www.slavevoyages.org/voyage/ship#slave-

Smithsonian Explore and Learn https://www.si.edu/learn-explore

· Virtual Learning Journey: Slavery and Freedom https://www.gpb.org/education/virtual/owens-thomas-house

ACTIVITIES TO LEARN AND GROW

We have tried to pick activities that can be done with families or alone and can be done in a socially distanced manner. It might be fun to have a small group do them, and share together on Zoom.

1. Commit to read six books by authors who are people of color this year.

2. Pick someone to study this year by reading biographies or autobiographies. Suggested people are John Lewis, Malcolm X, Harriet Tubman, Martin Luther King, Jr., Hidden Figures [Black women in the space program], Shirley Chisolm, Paul Robeson, Frederick Douglas, W.E.B. DuBois, Barack or Michelle Obama.

3. Pick the year you were born, or another year that is important to you, and research what happened in civil rights that decade.

4. Research the history of your house. Many homes in Fresno had limitations prohibiting people of various races or religions from buying, selling or renting. These were called restrictive covenants. A Task Force member grew up in Old Fig Garden, and the house had the following covenant – “….neither said premises, nor any part thereof, shall be used in any manner whatsoever or occupied by any Negro, Chinese, Japanese, Hindu, Malayan, or any person not of the Caucasian race, or descendant of above named person…” Her parents sued to get rid of this covenant. If you bought it before about 1980, look to see if there was a restrictive covenant in your purchase documents.

5. If you are a Facebook person, like or follow organizations or people who are involved in racial issues.

6. Get a copy of the Green Book and locate the businesses in the Central Valley that would serve black people. What are the towns in the Central Valley that were sundowner towns [and find out what a sundowner town is].

7. Interview a person over the age of 70 about their recollections of race and/or race relations when they were young. This is especially interesting if you can interview a Vietnam veteran.

8. Take the driving tour of Fresno neighborhoods [http://everyneighborhood.org/drivetour] There is a cost for this tour.

9. Support one local nonprofit that works with people of color, especially in West Fresno or farmworker outreach.

10. Watch one of the movies or documentaries on our list with your family and discuss.

11. Go to the Smithsonian website and research topics of interest. There are interviews with lots of people who participated in historic events, as well as documentaries and other fascinating information.

12. Take Harvard’s implicit bias test, and discuss the results with your family/small group. Https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/user/agg/blindspot/indexrk.htm

13. Smithsonian African-American museum – Look at some of the materials on this website. https://nmaahc.si.edu/learn/talking-about-race/resources?page=2

14. Fresno has an African-American historical and cultural museum. It is currently closed for COVID, but you can join it, sponsor activities when they resume, or participate in activities. Https://www.aahcmsjv.com/

15. In the 1970’s the Fresno county historical society got a grant to record interviews with older black and Hispanic residents of Fresno County. These are oral interviews with transcripts. Here is the link.

https://www.valleyhistory.org/ethnic-oral-history-collection

16. Use your imagination to add to the list!! Invite other family members or members of UPC to virtually join you on your adventure.

SUPPORT BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES IN FRESNO AND CLOVIS

1. Weekend Dreams

2. Chef Paul's

3. Planet Vegan

4. Chicken King

5. The Soul Chefs

6. Fresno Gumbo House

7. Cookies N' Things

8. Kocky's Bar & Grill

9. Take 3 Burgers

10. Tower Blendz

11. Fasika Ethiopian/Kenyan Restaurant

12. Taste of Bliss

13. Triumph African Restaurant

14. Hot Dog on a Stick (both franchises)

15. Yellow Mug Coffee

16. Smokey's Grill and Bake Shop

17. Doll's Kitchen

18. Barb's Soul Food

19. Enthrall You Bites – Desserts

20. Self Made Beard Co.

21. Sweet Pastiche

22. B.O.K. Natural

23. Revelry Boutique

24. Smobbin 559

25. Cook’n Up Excellence Collective

26. Holy Ghost Home Girls

27. Just My Essentials, Clovis

28. Bran’s Sweet Treats

29. Bless My Yard

30. Phil’s Corner Grill, Clovis

31. Grandma’s Old Fashioned Butter Bunches

32. Valley Foot and Ankle Specialty Providers