Hey there,

It’s been quite a week. As Stephen Colbert said, who woulda thought that America’s current illness, coronavirus, would be pushed below the fold in the news because of its preexisting condition, racism? Like you, I’m sad, angry, confused, and overwhelmed. And I believe it’s okay to sit with that, to resist the temptation to resolve the discord. It’s not supposed to make sense because it doesn’t.

A man and woman hold hands at a protest in London’s Hyde Park. #

5 Quick Things ☕️

1. Let’s read books to help fight racism in our worldviews. I suggest starting with those written by BIPOC.

2. In the podcast, my local friend Alecia shares what’s most helpful and loving for white allies and friends, both now and for the long-haul.

3. Being nice is not going to end racism.

4. George Floyd left a gospel legacy in Houston.

5. James Corden’s dad gives tips on how to hold a Bible. This was lovely.

Quotable 💬

“To suppress free speech is a double wrong. It violates the rights of the hearer as well as those of the speaker.”

― Frederick Douglass

Time Machine ⏰

4 years ago, Osheta wrote about customer service shalom, and I still think about this every time I’m in a coffee shop.

Elsewhere 📍

Tsh Oxenreider @tsh

Fellow white people who care: the Getting Started page on @LatashaMorrison's @BAbridgebuilder is a good starting point for us (no need to ask individuals for resource ideas when people have already done this work for us): bethebridge.com/get-started/

June 4th 2020

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Have a good weekend,

xo, Tsh

p.s. This summer in Books & Crannies we’re reading Purple Hibiscus, by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie! If you’d like to join likeminded bookworms, we’d love to have you:

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This week I’ll share our reading timeline and plan. Looking forward to it!