My Sunday Best, Volume 67: Let's Talk About Racism

We live in Virginia, not far from Charlottesville. If you don't live under a rock, you've probably heard about what went down there yesterday. If you haven't heard, I found this to be a helpful summary.

Here's my honesty: I grew up with parents who worked really hard to raise us to be color-blind. Racism was thought to be a thing of the past. Once we hit the Civil Rights Movement in our history studies, it was as though everything was fixed, all minds enlightened, all persons equal. I read that Babysitter's Club book where Jessi's family moved to Connecticut and encountered racism and thought, "Wait, seriously? That doesn't happen anymore. This is ridiculous and unrealistic." In my mind, there was no racism in the world anymore.

It wasn't until I was an adult that I realized that wasn't actually the case.

Not one picture in focus this week, as usual...

And I don't think it's just that it's more prevalent these days - it's been there all along. But it's getting more coverage in the news now, and those of us who have had our enlightened heads hidden in the sand in our comfortable bubbles see that things are not okay, and ignoring it isn't the answer.

So we've started having conversations as a family, usually led by our history studies (we've been studying American history for the past two years, and will finish that history cycle this year). And it's hard. And it's uncomfortable. And it's embarrassing to talk about the fact that this is what many white people believed about people of color hundreds of years ago and this is what some people still believe. 

Some helpful resources (some affiliate links, full disclosure) to start conversations with your kids:

The Melody American Girl movie is surprisingly hard-hitting without being disturbing. It's free on Prime.

The Sound of Music will help you start conversations about Nazis and World War II (and help them realize just how evil the eugenics movement is). 

Here are some saints who fought racism. Study saints of color. Study great people of color from history. Click on the articles on facebook that might make you uncomfortable. Follow a few bloggers (Sarah and Shannon are both good ones) who are in your face about racism and social justice, and read what they have to say without getting defensive. Just read. Try to understand.

Condemn racism. Condemn hate. Condemn violence and rioting. Support freedom of peaceful assembly.

I don't know how to fix our broken world. But I can try to raise children who see the evil behind yesterday's events and who are brave enough to fight back. Add your suggestions in the comments, please?

Our parish is pretty conservative and the priest who says the 12:30 Mass is not one who preaches on politics, so I was pleasantly surprised when he preached against racism. And the opening hymn? 

O God of love, O King of peace,
Make wars throughout the world to cease;
Our violent ways help us contain;
Give peace, O God, give peace again.

Amen.

Your turn!

Post your outfit details & links or not, regale us all with your children's antics, reflect deeply on the readings, or just do a straight picture post - anything goes as long as you actually wore your outfit to church. The link-up is open until Friday, so you've got plenty of time to add your post!

Just a few ground rules before you link up:

1. Please include a photo of what you wore to church this week.

2. Please link back to this post in the body of your post, so your readers know where to find other posts (posts not mentioning "My Sunday Best" or not linking back to this post will be subject to removal).

3. Please visit some other posts in the link-up & leave a nice comment - this is all about affirming each other and building community, not just link dropping :)

4. Make sure the link you add is a link to your specific post or instagram picture (hashtag #mysundaybest and mention me in your caption, @rosiehill425 so I don't miss it!), not just your blog address.

5. Enjoy, and thanks for linking up!