There is no beauty without justice | Black lives matter

Beauty is more than an aesthetic, it is a way of moving through the world. To live beautifully is to live a life that contributes to human flourishing—in our relationships and in our communities. When communities are hurting, beauty cannot be realized. When communities are oppressed, God's 'Shalom' (peace, wholeness) on earth cannot be fulfilled. God's longing for a beautiful world for all moves us towards justice and restoration (Amos 5:24).⁣⁣

We stand in solidarity with the Black community. You are made in the image of God, Imago Dei (Genesis 1:27). We lament with you and stand against racism and systemic injustice. We pray for peace, love, and hope. We are committed to building a beautiful world, together. 

---

Resources

Christian Books

• Disunity in Christ: Uncovering the Hidden Forces that Keep Us Apart by Christena Cleveland
  
• A Black Theology of Liberation by James H. Cone
• The Life of God in the Soul of the Church: The Root and Fruit of Spiritual Fellowship by Thabiti Anyabwile
• The Very Good Gospel: How Everything Wrong Can Be Made Right by Lisa Sharon Harper
• Roadmap to Reconciliation: Moving Communities into Unity, Wholeness and Justice by Brenda Salter McNeil

• The Color of Compromise: The Truth about the American Church’s Complicity in Racism by Jemar Tisby

 

Books

• How To Be An Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
• Stamped: Racism, Antiracism and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi
• The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander
• White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo

 

Select Bible Passages to Study

• Amos 5:14-24
• Luke 4:14-29
• Luke 10:25-37
• Matthew 25:31-43
• Psalm 146:1-10

 

Watch

• Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson
• 13th by Ava DuVernay, on Netflix
• Race - The Power of an Illusion on PBS
• If Beale Street Could Talk by Barry Jenkins, on Hulu
• The Hate U Give by George Tillman Jr
• Moonlight by Barry Jenkins
• Dear White People by Justin Simien, on Netflix
• How Studying Privilege Systems Can Strengthen Compassion - Peggy McIntosh at TEDxTimberlaneSchools
• The Danger of a Single Story - Chimamanda Adichie Ted Talk
• Biblical Justice - The Bible Project

 

Listen

• 1619 (New York Times)
• About Race
• Code Switch (NPR)

 

Black Artists, Creatives, and Musicians to learn from and support

• Prince Gyasi: @princejyesi
• Kvvαdwo Οβeng: @kvvadwo
• Adaobi: @disorderlyfashion
• Micaiah Carter: @micaiahcarter
• Fred Hammond
• Israel & New Breed
• William Matthews
• William McDowell
• Eric Lige
• Tye Tribbett
• Kirk Franklin
• Morgan Harper Nichols

 

Organizations and Causes to follow

• Antiracism Center
• Equal Justice Initiative
• Campaign Zero
• Color Of Change
• Black Table Arts
• Colorlines
• NAACP
• AND Campaign

 

Action Steps

• Sign petitions
• Places to donate
• Text or call