Anti-Racism
An Ordinary Hero: Conversation with Joan Trumpauer Mulholland
Book Discussion
Sunday, July 13 and 20
11 AM – 12 PM
GSLC lounge (main floor, across from the worship space) & online via Zoom
Get Back to the Counter: 7 Lessons from Civil Rights Icon Joan Trumpauer Mulholland
Meeting ID: 892 4563 0771
Passcode: 187851
What can I do?
Loki Mulholland's accessible, 171-pagebook, Get Back to the Counter: 7 Lessons from Civil Rights Icon Joan Trumpauer Mulholland, offers some insight. Dig into this book, broken down into 7 actionable chapters—Adaptability, Consistency, Humility, Focus, Risk, Persistence, Empathy—then join the Anti-Racism Team for an hour of discussion.
Questions? Contact Corinne Baker.
Recap: Conversation with Joan
Joan was a White college student who put herself on the front lines of the 1960s' Civil Rights struggle. Still an activist, Joan and her son Loki Mulholland, discussed fighting racial injustice—then and now.
Key Events & Updates
GSLC Anti-Racism Meeting
3rd Sunday of the month
Sunday, July 20
12 - 1 PM
GSLC lounge (main level, across from worship space)
Or via Zoom (see below)
If you're interested in participating in or helping to plan GSLC's anti-racism ministry—join us! All are welcome.
Meeting ID: 892 4563 0771
Passcode: 187851
Questions? Contact Lori Strauss or Corinne Baker
Anti-Racism, Gospel & Education
GLSC's Anti-Racism Team is concerned about and following the dismantling of efforts to:
- Learn about and celebrate the diversity the triune God unfurled when they created humankind in their image.
- Continue progress made toward equity and inclusion for all people in our society and schools.
- Undermine and weaken the public school system.
Go to information for consideration through a gospel-focused lens and reflection on how it informs personal speaking and action.
Resources
We share the information and resources below as a part of our journey to learn and grapple with America's racial past and present. We seek to be an intentional part of building racial equity and justice that leads at last to the beloved community.
For Kids & Talking with Kids
Social Story for George Floyd (for pre-K/kindergarten students)
GSLC member, Dora Cottrol, created this video for her students and their parents that introduces the social story shared online after George Floyd was murdered in May 2020.
Talking About Race and Racism with Children
A collection of resources from Christine V. Hides’ website, Weaving Faith into Everyday Life, shared by our education coordinator, Denise Steene.
Racial Justice Resources: Justice for Black Lives
A variety of resources curated by the NEA EdJustice, a program of the National Education Association.
Alexandria Black History Museum
This local museum offers a variety of ongoing and periodic exhibitions, events and programming for kids, youth and adults with a focus on Alexandria’s local Black history. In particular, look for Storytime with Young Historians in upcoming events, regularly held on Saturday mornings.
Sesame Street Townhall on Racism
EmbraceRace: Raising a Brave Generation
Talking Kids & Race webinars + online resources & articles organized around four goals to meet the challenge of raising children in a world where race matters:
- Nurture resilience in children of color
- Nurture inclusive, empathetic children of all stripes
- Raise kids who think critically about racial inequity
- Support a movement of kid and adult racial justice advocates for all children
Resources for educators, parents/caregiver and people committed to equity curated by the National Museum of African American History & Culture
Read/Book, Articles
I'm Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown
My Grandmother's Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies by Resmaa Menakem
- Metro DC ELCA Synod resources: Scriptural and devotional suggestions, weekly reflections
- Discussion guide (courtesy of First Unitarian Church of Baltimore)
Dear Church: A Love Letter from a Black Preacher to the Whitest Denomination in the U.S. by Pastor Lenny Duncan
The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander
Racial injustices in the United States penal system
Multiethnic Conversations: An eight-week journey toward unity in your church by Mark DeYmaz and Oneya Fennell Okuwobi
Synod Council Letter: Racial reckoning. Lament. Recommitment
Oct. 7, 2020
Reflections/Faith Talks
- Worship resource: Nicene Creed woven with quotes from Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (pdf) by Amanda Webber for the DC ELCA Synod Racial Equity Team
- How Then, Do We Account? Sept. 2020
- Black Lives Matter Aug. 28, 2020
- A place to listen, learn. And sometimes, get it wrong. by Corinne Berkseth Baker, Sept. 29, 2019
- What’s in a name? GSLC Guiding Principle: Stand Against Injustice by Corinne Berkseth Baker, June 2, 2019
- Toward the Beloved Community by Corinne Berkseth Baker, Oct. 13, 2018
Learn About Juneteenth
- What is the significance of Juneteenth to the Black community? Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture (NMAAHC)
- Why Juneteenth Matters by Shennette Garrett-Scott
- The Historical Legacy of Juneteenth, Smithsonian NMAAHC
- Juneteenth: A Time of Reflection and Rejoicing, City of Alexandria
- What Is Juneteenth? by Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
The people behind the integration of Alexandria Public Schools by Jim McElhatton
- The homeless man who made Alexandria civil rights history
- A school cook’s forgotten civil rights stand
- The day two sisters proved T.C. Williams wrong
Article Discussions - 2018
- 50 years ago, a presidential commission called out America’s ‘white racism.’ It didn’t go over well. The Washington Post
- 50 years after the Kerner Commission, a new report cites some of the same concerns about race and poverty The Washington Post
- An open letter to Colin Kaepernick, from a Green Beret-turned-long snapper by Nate Boyer in Army Times
- From a seat to a knee: How Colin Kaepernick and Nate Boyer are trying to effect change ESPN.com
- Ex-Green Beret Nate Boyer writes open letter to Trump, Kaepernick, NFL and America ESPN.com
Crisis in Black Education - Black History Theme 2017
- Millions of black students attend public schools that are highly segregated by race and by income by Reed Jorda
- Black America’s Education Crisis...and what you can do about it by Marcia Wade Talbert | Introductory thoughts (pdf) by Corinne Berkseth Baker
- The Fight for Equity in Education by Allan Golston
Letter to My Son, adapted from Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates in The Atlantic
Collections
These organizations provide a variety of resources to learn about racial history and current issues through local and faith lenses.
African Descent Lutheran Association
ELCA Metro DC Synod racial equity resources
Alexandria Community Remembrance Project (ACRP)
Alexandria Black History Museum
Local Events & Businesses
Support Black- and minority-owned businesses:
Mondays at 6 PM, Westminster Presbyterian Church, DC
Fridays at 6 PM, Westminster Presbyterian Church, DC
About
Guided by GSLC's August 2015 resolution, Our Response to Racism and the Murders at the Emanuel AME Church, Charleston, SC, Good Shepherd’s Anti-Racism Team provides intentional forums to:
- Learn about the experiences, tragedies and triumphs of our African American siblings through history and to today.
- Explore and prayerfully reflect on racism, white privilege and unconscious bias.
- Stand with those who face discrimination.
- Act to end racism.
GSLC Anti-Racism Team annual reports (pdf)
Have questions or want to get involved?
Contact Corinne Berkseth Baker, Anti-Racism Team Chair
Banner Dedication
We Believe That Black Lives Matter
Do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8
We invite you to join us every day as we work to live into this declaration.
Dedication of
Jesus of the People by Janet McKenzie
In the mystery and wonder of God, we are each created unique and in the image of God. Jesus of the People is a reminder that envisioning God is like looking in a mirror and seeing all of God's children in our reflection.
Resolution
Good Shepherd adopted this statement and began an intentional anti-racism journey in 2015 in response to the murders of 9 African Americans in their church by a White man, confirmed in the ELCA, who stated he wanted to start a race war.
Do we not all have one Father? Did not one God create us? Why do we profane the covenant of our ancestors by being unfaithful to one another? Malachi 2:10
Sunday Worship 9:30 AM and 10:45 AM || Sunday School 10:45 AM
Braddock & Luray, 3 blocks from the Braddock Metro
100 W. Luray Ave., Alexandria, VA 22301
facebook.com/GSluth || instagram.com/goodShepLuth || @GSluth
703-548-8608 || Contact Pastor Kate || Contact the church office
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Affiliations: Evangelical Lutheran Church in America || ELCA Metro DC Synod
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