Racial Justice

We believe that all people are made in the image of God and loved by God

We believe our society is broken and that people of color, especially African Americans, are not treated equally or given the same opportunities

We believe it is the imperative, the call of the faith community to seek JUSTICE, love all people, and walk humbly with God

News

Equity in Education Scholarship applications are open now through April 1.  This scholarship is for racially minoritized Washington County residents who are seeking a degree in education or a related field.  Last year’s scholarships are serving four women pursuing degrees in education. Learn more

We invite you to RSVP your attendance to the kick off Washington County Black Professional Network Event, scheduled to take place on February 23, 2023 from 5:30pm to 7:30pm at the Greenwood District located at 101 E. Baltimore St. Hagerstown, MD 21740. Please join us for light refreshments and for an opportunity to learn about our network. See how you can join and meet other black professionals in our community. We look forward to meeting you. Download a flyer.   RSVP for this event at https://forms.gle/7jN2JMJSqnzNDC4j8

Background and Goals

HARC formed a Racial Justice Team in May 2021 to seek equity, opportunities, and uplift the myriad of gifts of our Black brothers and sisters in Washington County, Maryland. This very active team developed goals and has been working toward them with great energy and enthusiasm.

The HARC board and this team are committed to long-term, challenging work, knowing it is what God has called us to do in this place and time. We believe it will not only serve African Americans, but will bless our entire community as we learn to embrace the gifts of all people and cultures in love and unity.

Goals include:
◆  Start a Washington County Black Professionals Network for the purpose of connection, support, safety, belonging, and economic prosperity.
◆  Advocate for an increase of educators in Washington County who are from underrepresented ethnic groups and support retention efforts.
◆  Help recruit/refer teachers of color to apply to Washington County Public Schools (WCPS)
◆  Provide resources and connections to better support BIPOC teachers.
◆  Partner with the WCPS Education Foundation to set up a scholarship fund for teaching degrees based on equity.
◆  Advocate for transportation for students in WCPS to special school programs.
◆  Educate People of faith and the community at large on systemic racial injustice.

Related Links

• Washington County Black Professionals Network
• Washington County Black-Owned Business Directory
• Equity in Education Scholarship

Articles

• Time will not heal: 5 ways to address the inheritance of Black poverty, starting now by Richard V. Reeves, The Brookings Institute
• 26 Black Americans You Don’t Know But Should by Michelle Darrisaw, Oprah Daily

Videos

• Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man (Inaugural Episode) by Emmanuel Acho (search YouTube for additional videos in this series)
• Top 5 Overlooked Black History Facts from WatchMoji

Educational Resources

• Be The Bridge – book, training, discussion guides, podcasts and more to guide Christians to move toward relationship and deeper understanding in the midst of a divisive culture.
• Beyond Diversity videos and resources from The Barna Group (contact HARC to participate in a modified and expanded study and discussion with these resources)
• White Privilege Curriculum from the United Church of Christ

Recommended Books

• America’s Original Sin:  Racism, White Privilege, and the Bridge to a New America by Jim Wallis
• Be the Bridge: Pursuing God’s Heart for Racial Reconciliation by Latasha Morrison
• Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
• Bibliophile: Diverse Spines  by Jamise Harper
• Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine
• How the Word is Passed by Clint Smith
• How to be an Antiracist by Ibram X Kendi
• Killers of the Dream by Lillian Smith
• Mirror to the Church:  Resurrecting Faith after Genocide in Rowanda by Emmanuel Katongole
• Reach: 40 Black Men Speak on Living, Leading, and Succeeding by Ben Jealous
• Serving with Eyes Wide Open:  Doing Short-Term Missions with Cultural Intelligence by David A. Livermore
• Tears We Cannot Stop: A Sermon to White America by Michael Eric Dyson
• The Color of Water:  A Black Man’s Tribute to His White Mother by James McBride
• The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin
• The Hidden Wound by Wendell Berry
• The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander
• The Souls of Black Folk by W.E.B. Du Bois
• The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together by Heather McGee
• Trouble I’ve Seen:  Changing The Way The Church Views Racism by Drew G.I. Hart
• White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin J. DiAngelo
• White Like Me:  Reflections on Race from a Privileged Son by Tim Wise

Other books we haven’t read, but Sojourners recommends found here.

Recommended Shows or Series

• High on the Hog:  How African American Cuisine Transformed America – Netflix: Black food is American food. Chef and writer Stephen Satterfield traces the delicious, moving through lines from Africa to Texas in this 4-episode docuseries

Recommended Movies

• 13th – Filmmaker Ava DuVernay explores the history of racial inequality in the United States, focusing on the fact that the nation’s prisons are disproportionately filled with African-Americans.
• Just Mercy – A powerful and thought-provoking true story, “Just Mercy” follows young lawyer Bryan Stevenson (Jordan) and his history-making battle for justice. (also a book)
• American Skin – A war veteran seeks justice when police kill his unarmed son during a routine traffic stop.

Members of HARC’s Racial Justice Team include:

Team Leader: Tania Anderson, HARC Board Member
Co-Leaders: Cindy Brown, Kathy Powderly
Rev. Les McIntosh, HARC Board Member
Richard Willson, HARC Board Member
Samuel Key
Sommer Gilliam
Jessica Scott
Ladetra Robinson