These are the slides I used for a recent talk on race and race conversations. Includes some info from a new project that I am working on, "In Defense of Kindness" This was held April 30 - May 1, 2017 in Wisconsin Dells.

1. In Defense of
Kindness:
The Power of
Treating Humans
Like Humans
Bruce Reyes-Chow
@breyeschow
#4pm2017
4PM Conference
“One in Christ”

2. ANNIE, EVELYN, ABBY

3. THIS EVENING
Introductions
Race, Racism, and
Racial Justice
In Defense of
Kindness
Time for Questions
and Response
Bruce Reyes-Chow
@breyeschow
#4pm2017

4. CONTEXT
Our cultural context,
social location, and
passions in life are
important to know,
own, and share.
Bruce Reyes-Chow
@breyeschow
#4pm2017
Bruce Reyes-Chow
@breyeschow
#4pm2017

5. PAPER SON

6. PRESBYTERIAN

7. THE EIGHTIES

8. SOCIAL CHANGE

9. SOCCER DAD

10. RACE

11. 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.
THE CHURCH
Bruce Reyes-Chow
@breyeschow
#4pm2017

12. Multiculturalism will
always and only be
window dressing
unless the culture is
intentionally,
excruciatingly, and
consistently diverse.
MULTI-CULTI
Bruce Reyes-Chow
@breyeschow
#4pm2017

13. The examination of
racism cannot be
done in the absence of
also examining the
realities of
sexism,
homophobia,
transphobia,
ableism,
xenophobia,
classism,
etc.
INTERSECTIONALITY
Bruce Reyes-Chow
@breyeschow
#4pm2017

14. Work around race
that is whole and just
is aspirational,
big picture,
and systematic.
It is also concrete,
specific, and personal.
— and it’s exhausting.
THE JOURNEY
Bruce Reyes-Chow
@breyeschow
#4pm2017

15. LET’S TALK ABOUT RACE

16. Pointing out the
divide is not being
divisive.
AVOIDANCE
Bruce Reyes-Chow
@breyeschow
#4pm2017

17. We assume relationships
will break if we have
hard conversations.
We fear that we may not
be heard, believed, or
understood.
The more we talk, the
more likely that we
might change in our
beliefs and/or behavior.
RISK & FEAR
Bruce Reyes-Chow
@breyeschow
#4pm2017

18. Privilege allows us
choose to avoid
talking about race.
Conversations about
race only easier by
having more of them.
We miss out on the
possibilities that may
be on the other side of
the tensions when we
don’t talk about race.
PRIVILEGE
Bruce Reyes-Chow
@breyeschow
#4pm2017

19. Relationships are
strengthened through
moving through conflict.
Our understanding and
experience of the world
is expanded.
We gain a broader
understanding of God’s
hopes and intentions for
us and the world.
POSSIBILITIES
Bruce Reyes-Chow
@breyeschow
#4pm2017

20. RACE DIVERSIONS

21. One person's being
“politically correct” or
“too sensitive” is
another person's
remembering that
words have power and
can impact others more
than one knows.
Microagressions
White Supremacy
WE DISMISS
Bruce Reyes-Chow
@breyeschow
#4pm2017

22. “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
MICROAGGRESSIONS
Bruce Reyes-Chow
@breyeschow
#4pm2017

23. Pup E. Chow
I really like animals.
I especially love dogs.
MICROAGGRESSIONS
Bruce Reyes-Chow
@breyeschow
#4pm2017

24. Idealizing whiteness to
the point where we
subconsciously and/or
consciously strive to
achieve this ideal:
appearance, status,
economics, power, and
perception
— reinforcing the notion
that whiteness is ideal.
WHITE SUPREMACY
Bruce Reyes-Chow
@breyeschow
#4pm2017

25. VIDEO
White Supremacy - Peter Kim
https://youtu.be/v9MLZXoQRr0

26. We use our “intentions”
as a way to deny or
minimize our impact.
WE DENY
Bruce Reyes-Chow
@breyeschow
#4pm2017

27. We compartmentalize,
justify, and support
racist institutions and
practices.
WE COMPARTMENTALIZE
Bruce Reyes-Chow
@breyeschow
#4pm2017

28. When we strip anyone
of their humanity, we
do damage to the body
as a whole.
WE DEHUMANIZE
Bruce Reyes-Chow
@breyeschow
#4pm2017

29. We fetishize and
observe as spectacle
instances of racism
allowing us to distance
ourselves from the
repercussions of
racism.
WE FETISHIZE
Bruce Reyes-Chow
@breyeschow
#4pm2017

30. We romanticize youth
culture in a way that
leads to abdicating our
role in raising up and
nurturing the next
generation of racial
justice seekers.
WE ROMANTICIZE
Bruce Reyes-Chow
@breyeschow
#4pm2017

31. We are patronizing and
condescending towards
newly realized justice
seekers -- often in order
to hold onto power,
status, and wealth.
WE PATRONIZE
Bruce Reyes-Chow
@breyeschow
#4pm2017

32. We believe that we are
“beyond color” or that
this is a state of being to
achieve.
Love is not colorblind.
Love sees color and
holds with care the
history, complexity, joy,
struggle, and beauty that
lies within.
WE STOP
Bruce Reyes-Chow
@breyeschow
#4pm2017

33. In an effort to show
solidarity we shift focus
away from those
impacted and re-center
the focus on us.
WE DECENTER
Bruce Reyes-Chow
@breyeschow
#4pm2017

34. “...the most segregated
hour of Christian
America is eleven
o'clock on Sunday
morning.” ‘60
“...a riot is the language
of the unheard. The
Other America” ‘68
“...many among you are
more concerned about
making a living than
making a life. ‘56
WE DILUTE
Bruce Reyes-Chow
@breyeschow
#4pm2017

35. IN DEFENSE KINDNESS

36. POSSIBLE SUBTITLES for IN
DEFENSE OF KINDNESS:
It take more to be kind
that just not being an ass.
Why being a decent
human being should not
be the exception.
The art of treating
humans like humans.
IDOK PROJECT
Bruce Reyes-Chow
@breyeschow
#4pm2017

37. KINDNESS
To be kind is to know
that each person is a
complete and complex
human being and then
treating them as if one
believes this to be true.
KINDNESS IS
Bruce Reyes-Chow
@breyeschow
#4pm2017

38. Do not repay anyone evil for evil,
but take thought for what is noble in
the sight of all.
If it is possible, so far as it depends
on you, live peaceably with all.
Beloved, never avenge yourselves,
but leave room for the wrath of God;
for it is written, “Vengeance is mine,
I will repay, says the Lord.” No, “if
your enemies are hungry, feed them;
if they are thirsty, give them
something to drink; for by doing this
you will heap burning coals on their
heads.”
Do not be overcome by evil, but
overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:17-21
Bruce Reyes-Chow
@breyeschow
#4pm2017

39. DO NOT MISTAKE KINDNESS
FOR WEAKNESS.
Being nice.
Getting along.
Avoiding conflict.
Seeking Pity.
Maintaining “Civility”
KINDNESS IS NOT
Bruce Reyes-Chow
@breyeschow
#4pm2017

40. PROPHETIC KINDNESS
Calls people to account
for their words, actions,
and apathy that
reinforce systems of
racial injustice and
white supremacy
— while honoring the
humanity of the other.
PROPHETIC
Bruce Reyes-Chow
@breyeschow
#4pm2017

41. PRIESTLEY KINDNESS
Remembers and retells
the history and ritual of
a people in order to
remind people of where
we have been and where
we may be headed.
— while honoring the
humanity of the other.
PRIESTLY
Bruce Reyes-Chow
@breyeschow
#4pm2017

42. PASTORAL KINDNESS
Creates, curates, and
nurtures meaningful
space for people to
engage the difficult
situations of life, faith,
and society.
— while honoring the
humanity of the other.
PASTORAL
Bruce Reyes-Chow
@breyeschow
#4pm2017

43. POETIC KINDNESS
Inspires, provokes, and
unleashes the hearts,
souls, and imaginations
of a people so people
can see what may be.
— while honoring the
humanity of the other.
POETIC
Bruce Reyes-Chow
@breyeschow
#4pm2017

44. IN DEFENSE KINDNESS

45. REMEMBER THE PERSON
In our fight against
racism, we must
remember that each and
every person is a child of
God.
KINDNESS LIVED
Bruce Reyes-Chow
@breyeschow
#4pm2017

46. BE INTERSECTIONAL
In our fight against
racial injustice, we must
not reinforce the
oppression of others:
gender, economics,
physical ability,
sexuality, geography,
mental health, family
systems, etc.
KINDNESS LIVED
Bruce Reyes-Chow
@breyeschow
#4pm2017

47. BE HEALING
Combat the violent
rhetoric (sexual,
physical, emotional,
verbal) with words,
actions, movements that
are about healing.
KINDNESS LIVED
Bruce Reyes-Chow
@breyeschow
#4pm2017

48. WALK AWAY
Sometimes the best way
to be kind to yourself
and others is to walk
away for moment, a
chapter, or even a
lifetime.
KINDNESS LIVED
Bruce Reyes-Chow
@breyeschow
#4pm2017

49. VIDEO
A Generation Asks WTF?
https://youtu.be/bIU8-hlvKXA

50. questions, comments, musings...

51. Thanks for being here.
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