posted on August 31

30 Days of Antiracism

Dear Friends,

I am grateful for the leadership of our own Rev. Tammy Ingram, who serves as Convener for our Western North Carolina Conference Religion and Race team. Tammy is pastor of Bass Chapel & Raleigh's Crossroads churches here in the Northern Piedmont District.

I encourage you to read and share Tammy's message below, and join us in the 30 Days of Antiracism call to action. As Tammy says..."Enlist your tribe to work alongside you to do this hard but important work"!

Grateful for our Connection,

Bev Coppley, District Superintendent
Northern Piedmont District

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#30DaysAntiRacism

By Rev. Tammy Ingram, Convener, Religion and Race,
Western North Carolina Conference
Pastor, Bass Chapel & Raleigh's Crossroads in Greensboro

The year was 1973. My classmates and I were giddy with excitement. We’d been promoted and we were slated to go to a new school “across town.” The school bus came early, before 7:00am, but we didn’t mind. It was the transportation that would take us to a new environment ripe with new opportunities. When we finally arrived, we gave each other nervous glances, but we bravely stood up. We were ready to seize the day! As we lined up in the bus aisle, we noticed a crowd gathered along the school’s sidewalk. The group seemed to get agitated as we filed off the bus. As we headed towards the school’s entrance, we heard words that still ring in my mind. A nameless voice in the crowd shouted, “Go home, darkies. We don’t want you here.” The hatred that was displayed that morning certainly hurt my feelings. It also wounded my young spirit.

My story is not unique. In fact, this sad event opens painful wounds for many. While some may pretend all is well and stories like mine are relics from an ancient past, the truth of the matter is that hate and racism still exist and sometimes, these insidious monsters can seem like an injury that will never heal. As an African American woman, I can testify that I still hear the voices of bitterness and anger in our culture and in our communities. These voices can bring hopelessness to the surface.

But I also stand with my sisters and brothers across our connection to rebuke and silence the enemy of racism. I stand with you and loudly declare, “There is hope.”

The sin of racism can be dismantled, but the healing process must be deliberate. It must be bold. It must do more than scratch the surface. It must make us uncomfortable, and it must include all of us, especially those who have previously remained separate and silent. Our connection will be vitally important as we do this difficult and important work. We must struggle together. We must cry together. We must stand together.
Therefore, I ask you to click on the link and start the process of healing.

30 Days of Antiracism ?

When you click on the link, you’ll be graced with 30-day challenge to confront the sin of racism and work to eliminate it---1 day at a time. The challenge begins on September 1, 2023 and each day, you will be given a real challenge to dismantle racism in your own life. (You can click here to download a PDF of the calendar.) Some days the call will be hard. Some days the call will seem outrageous. Some days the call will push you into an uncomfortable zone. This is good. This friction can honestly begin the healing process. Ask God for courage and do it. Take photos of your work and post them with the hashtag, #30DaysAntiRacism. Enlist your tribe to work alongside you to do this hard but important work.

When I reflect on my 10-year-old self in 1973, I recall my hurt and bewilderment. Thanks be to God; however, I have been surrounded by love and support and I claim my healing each day, in Jesus’ name. Today, you can stand in your healing. Better yet, you can help someone find their own. With God’s help, let us: Stand! Stop Racism! Together!