A Statement From Left Hand Church
Left Hand Church stands in solidarity with those who have lost loved ones, with those who are seeking justice, and with those who are advocating for drastic and overdue change.
As Christians, it is our obligation to actively engage, address, disrupt, and dismantle structures and systems that perpetuate racism – the structures and systems upon which our country was built that are a by-product of the enslavement and dehumanization of Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC). The Truth of Jesus Christ, who came into this world in a non-white body, has no room for racism, no tolerance for bigotry, and no place for hatred.
God as revealed in our holy text, in both the Jewish scriptures and New Testament, disrupted established institutions for the sake of justice. Our starting point in the story of God is that all humans were created in love and for love. There is no hierarchy of value for a human life. When dehumanization occurs, especially in the form of violence, we must turn again to Christ, who taught us that what we do to the most vulnerable, we have also done unto him.
It is our commitment to move from complacency to action, recognizing that It is not enough to merely oppose racism; we must be actively anti-racist in both word and deed. We will insist on fairness for all people and remain loyal to those who have no voice. We will oppose authority when those in charge abuse their power and we will hold sacred the bodies of Black and brown people. We will ask for guidance from the Spirit as we critically examine ourselves, our institutions, our beliefs, and our practices which retain and perpetuate expressions of violence against non-white bodies.
We stand with the One who came and suffered in solidarity with the oppressed and marginalized and gave us the most important of all the commands: Love God, love our neighbors, and love ourselves.
Self Education Resources
Articles
Why White Privilege Isn’t Going Away: A Theological Reflection
by Mark Boswell
Can Racially Diverse Churches Exist?
by Cole Brown
When The Parents are White, The Child is Black, and The Churches are Segregated
by Leah Donnella
Colorblind Doesn’t Cut It. Be Brave and Talk to Your Kids About Race
by Patricia Murphy & Katherine Banwell
Developing an Awareness of White Privilege
by Diane S. Schmitz
What I Said When My White Friend Asked for My Black Opinion on White Privilege
by Lori Lakin Hutcherson
70+ Race Resources for White People
by Leslie Verner
White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack
by Peggy McIntosh
White People, Read This Before You Text Your Black Friends
by Tomi Obaro
Videos/Movies/Documentaries
We Need to Talk About An Injustice: TED Talk by Bryan Stevenson
Available here.
13th: From Slave to Criminal With One Amendment
Available on Netflix
Just Mercy
Available on Amazon Prime and YouTube
12 years a Slave
Available on Netflix
Dark Girls
Available on Netflix
Dispatches from Cleveland
Available on Amazon Prime
Freedom Riders
Available on Amazon Prime
LA92
Available on Netflix, Amazon Prime
Let it Fall: Los Angeles 1982-1992
Available on Netflix
Peggy McIntosh
Available on Amazon Prime
Selma
Available on Netlflix
The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution
Available on Amazon Prime
The Central Park Five
Available on Amazon Prime
The Death and Life of Martha P Johnson
Available on Netflix
The Force
Available on Netflix and Amazon Prime
The Hate U Give
Available on Hulu and Amazon Prime
True Justice: Bryan Stevenson’s Fight for Equality
Available on HBO Go
When They See Us
Available on Netflix
Whose Streets?
Available on Hulu and Amazon Prime
Breaking Racial Barriers: ARC Conference by Miles McPherson
Available here.
Books
Dream With Me: Race, Love, and the Struggle We Must Win
by John Perkins
We Need To Talk: Conversations That Matter
by Celeste Headlee
Love Undocumented: Risking Trust in a Fearful World
by Sarah Quezada
White Awake
by Daniel Hill
I’m Still Here
by Austin Channing Brown
Divided by Faith
by Michael O. Emerson
The Very Good Gospel
by Lisa Sharon Harper
The Myth of Equality
by Ken Wystma
One: Unity in a Divided World
by Deidra Riggs
Between the World and Me
by Ta-Nehisi Coates
Homegoing
by Yaa Gyasi
How to be an Antiracist
by Ibram X. Kendi
Check your Privilege
by Myisha Hill
Courageous Conversations About Race: A Field Guide for Achieving Equity in Schools
by Glenn Singleton
Me and White Supremacy
by Layla Saad
So you Want to Talk About Race
by Ijeoma Oluo
The New Jim Crow
by Michelle Alexander
Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria
by Beverly Daniel Tatum
What Does it Mean to Be White
by Robin DiAngelo
White Fragility
by Robin DiAngelo
Resources for Educating Children
31 Children’s books to support conversations on race, racism and resistance
Coretta Scott King Book Award Winners: books for children and young adults
Fare of the Free Child podcast
Integrated Schools podcast episode “Raising White Kids with Jennifer Harvey”
Parenting Forward podcast episode ‘Five Pandemic Parenting Lessons with Cindy Wang Brandt’
Podcasts
Uncivil by Gimlet Media
More Perfect by RadioLab
Bias: A Black & White Conversation Between Friends by Smartest Person in the Room
http://www.smartestpersonintheroom.com/bias1/
We Shall Overcome by Arc Stories
About Race with Reni Eddo-Lodge
Organizations to Support
Homeless Black Trans Women Fund
National Museum of African American History & Culture
Trans Women of Color Survival Fund
Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ)
Connect & Discuss
Left Hand Anti Racism Group
This space is for learning, reflecting, and seeking further knowledge about racism. It’s a brave place to process thoughts and feelings about race and the systems that oppress Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). The only requirements for this group are that you take an anti-racist stance in learning about race/privilege and are willing to face your discomfort, uncertainty, and self-reflection in the process. We’re all in this together!
Current Book Study
How To Be An Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
Our Anti Racism Group is currently engaged in a focused six-part book study, meeting via Zoom on 2nd and 4th Thursdays, September through November, reading How to be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi. For more information, please email julielefthand@gmail.com.
Join us Thursdays at 6pm at: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84046646293
Take Individual Action
- 103 Things White People Can Do For Racial Justice
- Participate In The ACLU Colorado Chapter’s Advocacy From Home Program
The ACLU of Colorado is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to fulfilling the promise of equal justice under the law for all Coloradans. They advocate for members of disenfranchised communities, including people of color, LGBTQ+ persons, women, immigrants, low-income people, homeless, prisoners, students and the elderly. - Support Black-owned Businesses In Boulder County