I haven’t been writing much on the blog lately because I’ve been writing a paper for a conference and actually starting writing for my thesis. It’s nice to finally get into writing after months of narrowing down my topic, but it’s overwhelming and intimidating at the same time!
Speaking of writing, a new book came out that I’d highly recommend–The Myth of Equality. This isn’t exactly an unbiased review because it’s a project I helped with before I moved to Aberdeen, but I can say that the thoughts and information it contains have been significant in my journey over the last few years and I’m confident they could be for you and your friends, as well.
It’s clear that the topic of race and systemic injustice has come to the forefront in recent years, but if you grew up in the white suburbs like me it can be a hard thing to understand. We were taught to be colorblind, we were taught that issues of race were over with the civil rights movement…but now we can see it’s not. So if you can see there is an issue but you aren’t sure how to understand it, or if you hear the words white privilege or systemic injustice and don’t know what to make of them this is a great place to start. The topics covered include some aspects of our history that you probably didn’t learn in school, the call to biblical justice, and what to do with our privilege.
Here’s what a few other people are saying about it–
“Ken Wytsma is a white evangelical man from a conservative white evangelical world, and he is doing his homework on race. I’ve witnessed Ken’s journey toward deeper understanding of the construct of race, its impact on individuals and communities of color, and what redemption requires. I’ve witnessed the wrestling and the transformation as aha moments have moved him into deeper love, more solid commitment, and earnest work toward the healing of our world. Through The Myth of Equality, Wytsma offers a peek at his homework. But this is no cheat sheet. It’s a journal of discoveries shared with humility, grace, and unrelenting commitment to truth.” –Lisa Sharon Harper, chief church engagement officer, Sojourners, author of The Very Good Gospel
“We must know our past to understand our present. Racial injustice in America’s history has constructed massive systemic challenges we face today. To move forward well, we need a variety of voices―especially minority voices. The conversation is further strengthened by white voices willing to own the privilege this history affords rather than ignore or deny it. In the pages that follow, Wytsma, a respected Christian leader in the justice conversation, gives a strong introduction to our country’s brutal history with race, confronting the ‘myth of equality’ in America, joining a multiethnic chorus of voices grappling honestly and prophetically with how to best move forward.” –Joshua Ryan Butler, pastor at Imago Dei Community, Portland, OR, author of The Skeletons in God’s Closet and The Pursuing God
Emily Beth Hill 