​Racial Justice Resources

In 2020, parishioners at St. Charles created a Racial Justice Team to support the Black Lives Matter movement. As part of our efforts to support racial justice in our neighborhood, we developed a resource guide to become more informed about a cause that we deeply care about.

On this page you will find book recommendations from acclaimed authors for children and adults. You will also find a selection of videos and articles that provide Catholic insight towards supporting racial justice. Our hope is that our community knows - here at St. Charles, everyone is welcome.

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Articles

• “‘I was elated’: Oregon’s Black Catholics share their thoughts on the appointment of first African American cardinal,” [Full Text] - Catholic Sentinel, November 12, 2020.
• “At Mass for racial justice, Archbishop Gregory urged Catholics to recognize reflections of Christ in others,” [Full Text] - Jo Kroeker DeVoe, Catholic News Service, September 11, 2020.
• “Archbishop Condemns Racism, Supports Police,” [Full Text] – Catholic Sentinel, September 14, 2020. 
• “A Catholic Case for Reparations,” [Full Text] - Daily Theology, July 21, 2020.
• “Pope Francis on the Death of George Floyd and the Sin of Racism,” General Audience [Full Text] - June 3, 2020. Click here to follow Pope Francis on Twitter.
• “Vatican official: Racism is 'spiritual' virus that must be wiped out,” Junno Arocho Esteves [Full Text] - Catholic News Service, June 1, 2020.
• “The assumptions of white privilege and what we can do about it,” [Full Text] - National Catholic Reporter, June 1, 2020.
• “How Can I Explain the Color of My Skin—and Racism—to Young White Students?” [Full Text] - Alvin Amadi - America Magazine, June 2020.
• “Statement of Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago, on the murder of George Floyd and its aftermath,” [Full Text] - May 31, 2020.

Videos

• Bishop John Stowe - “The Church After 2020” (August 2020)
• Emmanuel Acho - “Race vs Religion - Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man” (July 2020)
• Georgetown University Panel - "Racism in Our Streets and Structures: A Test of Faith, A Crisis for Our Nation” (June 2020)
• Rev. Bryan Massingale - “How the Church can combat racism and white privilege” (June 2020)
• Ibram Kendi and Robin DiAngelo - “Recognizing White Privilege” - CBS This Morning (June 2020)
• Ibram Kendi - “How to talk to kids about racism and raise them to be antiracist” - CBS This Morning (June 2020)

Recommended Books for Adults

• Racial Justice and the Catholic Church by Rev. Bryan Massingale examines the presence of racism in America from its early history through the Civil Rights Movement and the election of Barack Obama.
• The History of Black Catholics in the United States by Cyprian Davis is a comprehensive book about the history of Black Catholics in the U.S.A.
• Authentically Black and Truly Catholic: The Rise of Black Catholicism in the Great Migration by Matthew J. Cressler tells the story of conversion and revolution among Black Catholics in twentieth-century Chicago.
• The Color of Compromise by Jemar Tisby takes readers on a historical journey: from America’s early colonial days through slavery and the Civil War, covering the tragedy of Jim Crow laws and the victories of the Civil Rights era, to today’s Black Lives Matter movement.
• How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi describes where and what went wrong with most commonly held views on racism, racist policies and racial discrimination.
  
• Thea Bowman: Faithful and Free by Father Maurice J. Nutt captures Thea Bowman: a religious sister who deeply loved God and the people to whom she ministered through teaching, preaching, and singing, and who embraced the blessing of her ancestry and a passion for justice and equality for all God’s children.
  
• Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man by Emmanuel Acho explains the vital core of such fraught concepts as white privilege, cultural appropriation, and “reverse racism.”

Family Resources

• Inspired by the USCCB's statement "Open Wide Our Hearts: The Enduring Call to Love, A Pastoral Letter Against Racism," Everyone Belongs empowers young readers to reflect on the reality of racism in our society, to see it through the lens of history and faith, and act towards respect, understanding, and friendship.
• A Kids Book About Racism by Jelani Memory (Portland Author) provides a clear description of what racism is, how it makes people feel when they experience it, and how to spot it when it happens.
• The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has assembled faith-based resources arranged by grade level and topic.
• Embrace Race, a non-profit founded in 2016, published a list of 20 Picture Books for 2020: Readings to Embrace Race, Provide Solace & Do Good.
• NPR - “Talking Race with Young Children,” includes links to articles, podcasts, and videos.

Prayers for Racial Justice

• USCCB: Combatting Racism Prayers and Parish Resources
• Social Justice Resource Center - Prayers Against Racism
• Black Lives Matter - Prayer Resources from Pax Christi USA
• Black Catholic Saints and Martyrs - The National Black Catholic Congress