sIn August of this year (2018) Dr. Irie L. Session, Co-Pastor of The Gathering, began reading the newly released book by author, Robin DiAngelo, “White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism.” Dr. Irie was captivated by the books contents and began immediately posting quotes from the book on her Facebook page. The responses and comments came quickly! Her Facebook friends were intrigued as well. Then came the idea, “what if we had a Facebook Reading Group?” And the rest is Facebook history. Fifty-six people signed up for the closed reading group. Fifty of those signed up were White and six were Black.The objective of the reading group was, through reading and discussion, address issues of racism, internalized racism, white privilege, and white fragility. The group stressed the importance of having civil, respectful, and informed conversations around the issues.
The group was made up of diverse persons-some religious, some not so much or not at all. Group members came from various racial and ethnic backgrounds. Some were LGBTQ, cisgender, and transgender.
The Purple Table Talks were curated following that reading group. It consisted of a conversation between seven members of the reading group-already identified and accepting of the invitation. Table Talk Conversation Partners explored the contents of the book, their thoughts, emotional responses, fears, affirmations, and new learnings. Following the conversation was be a time for audience/congregation Q & A.
The Table Talk on White Fragility was open to all Disciples of Christ congregations and pastors as well as those of other denominations, non-profits, and faith-based organizations. It was also open to persons of diverse racial backgrounds to attend and have informed conversations on challenges to racial healing and ways of negotiating those challenges in order to bring about a more just and equitable society. The inaugural Purple Table Talks was hosted by Midway Hills Christian Church – February 2019.
For information about hosting a Purple Table Talk contact [email protected].
The group was made up of diverse persons-some religious, some not so much or not at all. Group members came from various racial and ethnic backgrounds. Some were LGBTQ, cisgender, and transgender.
The Purple Table Talks were curated following that reading group. It consisted of a conversation between seven members of the reading group-already identified and accepting of the invitation. Table Talk Conversation Partners explored the contents of the book, their thoughts, emotional responses, fears, affirmations, and new learnings. Following the conversation was be a time for audience/congregation Q & A.
The Table Talk on White Fragility was open to all Disciples of Christ congregations and pastors as well as those of other denominations, non-profits, and faith-based organizations. It was also open to persons of diverse racial backgrounds to attend and have informed conversations on challenges to racial healing and ways of negotiating those challenges in order to bring about a more just and equitable society. The inaugural Purple Table Talks was hosted by Midway Hills Christian Church – February 2019.
For information about hosting a Purple Table Talk contact [email protected].
