Today I’m linking up with my Welcome Wednesday friends and Let’s Look with Erika and Shay.
The original Let’s Look link-up was going to be all about what’s in our carry on bag but Shay and Erika are going to be talking about how they can make sure they’re encouraging racial equality at home. So I thought I would get out of my comfort zone and share too.
Last week, as most of you know, I took a break from all things social media and blogging. I felt like I needed to listen and take a moment to listen to what I thought about everything instead of the constant messages being thrown in my face.
So with that break, I started listening to and finished “How to Be an Antiracist”. The book was very informative and helped me to open my eyes to my own pattern of thoughts and behaviors.
I don’t recommend reading this book if you can’t listen to or be open to political views on things. I didn’t agree with everything he said but it was good for me to just listen.
And if I’m being completely honest I didn’t like a lot of the things he was writing about right away and I told my husband I might not finish it because of that.
But thankfully my husband is a good scholar and he knows I can be too, so he urged me to finish the book and just hear what Ibram has to say. And I have to say, I’m thankful I did.
For me, one of the first ways to encourage racial equality at home is to not ignore it. Don’t act like it’s not there. Acknowledge it, talk about it, disagree and agree with it, but don’t shut it away in the closet like it’s not something to talk about.
When we shut it away that is how we continue the cycle of racism being built into our simplest thoughts.
The next thing we will and have done for years is to educate ourselves. I can’t even tell you how much my eyes were open after reading How to be an Antiracist. It’s so good to take a step back and put yourself in someone else’s shoes for just a minute.
As Caroline grows older I will be reading stories to her about our history in America and other stories like these listed below.
Little Leaders Bold Women in Black History
And above all I will pray that God may shape and mold our hearts to be His.
This is the next book I will be reading about this subject. I really believe in my heart that all good things start with kindness.
How are you teaching your family to have antiracism in their hearts and minds? I’d love to hear more ideas. I truly believe this is so important for us to teach our children and ourselves.
I hope you have a great Wednesday! And if you’re a blogger make sure you link up below!
WELCOME TO THE WEDNESDAY LINK PARTY! MEET YOUR HOSTS:
Jaclyn from Coffee, Pancakes, and Dreams
Brittany from Dreams and Coffee
Mary Leigh from Live Well Play Together
Tiffany from Lake Life State of Mind
Lindsay from Lindsay’s Sweet World
Keri from Cultivate an Intentional Life
Holley from Simply Holley Marie
I wish our libraries were open so I could get a huge stack of good books right now. Thanks for all the suggestions–great for my 1st grader.
These are great recommendations – thanks for sharing! I️ need to get back to the library soon – ours just opened up!
Thanks! I hope you guys enjoy when you can! Our library is open for pick-up. I need to sit down and actually check out books.
I did the same as you last week and did a ton of listening. I made myself uncomfortable in order to hear all sides and try to understand the many different views of our country. It was really hard at times but like you, I am so happy I did it because I learned so much. For someone who always likes to talk, sitting back and letting others speak their truths was beyond educating for me. Great post!
Thanks, Tiffany! I am so with you! I love to talk but listening is sooo important and probably more important! 🙂