Stats

  • body fat: 15%, Height: 6'2", weight: 190, lifts: Gym opens again next week = woot!, age: 26
  • Reading: All the sidebar
  • Finances: Current job: teacher, income quality: 51k/year, future prospect: Hopefully seminary in 5 years, debt issues: hopefully debt free in 4 years
  • Spiritual: Fallen off spiritually the last few weeks. Currently resetting my schedule with spiritual disciplines

Context

I work in a predominately black school, on a predominantly black team. Last week our team leader opened up the floor to discuss the recent Ahmaud Arbery shooting. The boundaries of the conversation were pretty vague. I'm still not really sure what we were supposed to be talking about. Some were speaking about how they felt about the shooting, others were discussing their experience as a black person in 2020 America, still others talked about how this would be perceived through the eyes of our students.

I remained silent throughout this whole conversation, and my silence was not well received by the group. Towards the end of the conversation, many people made covert accusations that if you're not speaking about this event then you are complicit in institutional racism. I was the only person who didn't speak, so you can see the new reputation I've gained. Essentially, if I enter into the conversation then I had better say exactly what they want to hear. If I'm silent, then I'm thinking exactly what they don't want to hear.

Advice/Resources?

The reason I didn't speak is that I genuinely do not have an informed, succinct stance on the issues of white privilege and systemic racism. Not that I don't have strong opinions. I do, and most of them agree with Ben Shapiro's line of thinking. However, I do not possess a nuanced approach when entering into these conversations that has a gospel impact.

Any advice on how to approach future conversations would be great. (I was also covertly threatened that if I don't speak in the future, I could lose my job.)

Also, if you know of any resources, that would welcomed as well!

Thanks