How to Fight Racism Private Reading/Discussion Group

I am starting a private group to read and discuss Jemar Tisby’s newest book, “How to Fight Racism.” The purpose of this group is to provide a safe place for people who are committed to fighting racial injustice with other like-minded individuals. This is not a group for people who have it all figured out. Many of you, like me, are often weighed down with a sense of, “What can I possibly do?” and, “What next?” This book will help us work through these questions to move toward concrete actions we can take together.

Here are a few logistics of the group:

1. This group is not affiliated with my church. All are welcome, regardless of your faith beliefs or background. While Jemar Tisby writes as a Christian, the book is not only for Christians. In Jemar’s words, he draws on universally applicable principles such as dignity, love, and justice. This is a group for those who can be sensitive to varying beliefs among group members.
2. I will facilitate questions every week, but I will not be producing much, if any, content for the group. The goal is discussion, not simply to absorb information.
3. The purpose of this group is not to discuss/debate whether systemic racism exists or to what extent it exists, but concrete actions to take to address systemic racism. If you’re looking for a group to address the former, this may not be the group for you.
4. The group will be a combination of a private Facebook group and 2-3 Zoom meetings. These groups/meetings are by invite only, and you must submit an application to me with the questions below.
5. The group will begin on January 18th and run for 10 weeks, with one chapter per week. This gives you enough time to order the book now and possibly get a head start on reading it! Questions will be posted in the Facebook group each Monday for you to discuss with one another. The Zoom meetings will take place 2 or 3 times throughout the 10 weeks.

If you’re interested, please send me a message by Messenger/Email with a short (2-3 sentences) answer to these questions. You can also apply to the group directly here.

1. Why do you want to join this group? What do you hope to get out of it?
2. Can you realistically commit to reading one chapter per week and participating in the Facebook or Zoom discussions?
3. Have you changed your mind in any way in the last few years about racial injustice? How so?
4. Do you think systemic racism is a real problem in our country? Why or why not?