These are the slides used for my presentation on race at the 2015 Progressive Youth Ministry conference held in Chicago, March 2015.

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to what end
The church must not only be a
safe place to talk about race, it
must also be a place where the
complex beauty of the created
is yearned for and made real.

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marie averas

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then

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today

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culture

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violence

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Pretending that a problem
doesn’t exist doesn’t mean
that the problem doesn’t exist.
what problem?

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We must not only confront
and examine racism and
social injustice, but we must
embrace the idea that we
each get there differently.
now what?

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Jesus was like...

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Jesus was like . . .

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Jesus was like . . .

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Jesus was like . . .

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Jesus was like . . .

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As with most difficult conversations, our initial
reaction is to find ways not to have them well.
la, la, la, i can’t hear you

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we dismiss

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Even A-Rod
has a mother.
we demonize

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We are patronizing and
condescending towards
newly realized justice seekers
-- often in order to hold onto
power and status.
we demean

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“It is appalling that the most
segregated hour of Christian
America is eleven o'clock on
Sunday morning.”
we derail

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awkward conversations
Privilege allows us choose to avoid having
conversations about race.
Awkward conversations about race only
get less awkward by having them.
We miss out on the possibilities that may
be on the other side of the tensions.

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microagressions
“Racial microaggressions are brief and commonplace
daily verbal, behavioral, or environmental indignities,
whether intentional or unintentional, that communicate
hostile, derogatory, or negative racial slights and insults
towards people of color.”
- Racial Microaggressions in Everyday Life

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microagressions
Pup. E. Chow
I really like animals.
I especially love dogs.

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“No, where are you from?”
microagression

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“But I don’t see you as Asian.”
microagression

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microagressions
“Don’t be so sensitive.”

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“Why do you always sit together?”
microagressions

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“He’s a
different kind of
Black.”
microagressions

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microagressions
“It’s hard being white.”

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sitting in the front row

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“Do you know martial arts?”
“If they can say it . . .”
“But you never show up.”
“Out comes the race card.”
“We need at least one.”
“You’re not a good Asian.”
more . . .

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take the leap

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it’s just us

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But I Don’t See You as Asian:
Curating Conversations About Race
Bruce Reyes-Chow
@breyeschow
the end