Understanding Boston: Background and History Reading List

Understanding Boston: Background and History Reading List

by Rudy Mitchell, Senior Researcher

There are many different aspects of Boston and, therefore, different perspectives and resources are needed to understand the city. Boston has a long and rich history; a fascinating geographical and topographical development; strong educational, technical, and medical components; a history of activism, politics, protest, and organizing; a current and past mix of vibrant social and cultural groups; and a collection of distinctive neighborhoods.

One of the best ways to understand Boston is to walk around the city and its neighborhoods and engage in conversations with residents who have lived here for some time.

Felton, Robert Todd. Walking Boston: 34 Tours Through Beantown's Cobblestone Streets, Historic Districts, Ivory Towers and Bustling Waterfront, 2nd edition. Birmingham, Ala.: Wilderness Press, 2013.

Although this guide does not cover all neighborhoods, it has walks in quite a number of Boston’s neighborhoods.

Sloane, Robert, editor. WalkBoston: Walking Tours of Boston's Unique Neighborhoods. Boston: Appalachian Mountain Club, 2003.

Although this book is now aging, the active organization has a website – www.walkboston.org – with maps of the walks and other resources.

Books and other sources can also be helpful in broadening one’s perspective.

Top Five Books

Lukas, J. Anthony. Common Ground: A Turbulent Decade in the Lives of Three American Families. New York: Vintage Books, 1985.

O’Connell, Shaun, editor. Boston Voices and Visions. Boston: University of Massachusetts Press, 2010.

O'Connor, Thomas. The Hub: Boston Past and Present. Boston: Northeastern Univ. Press, 2001. Vrabel, Jim. A People’s History of the New Boston. Boston: University of Massachusetts Press, 2014.

Whitehill, Walter Muir, and Lawrence Kennedy. Boston: A Topographical History. 3rd edition. Cambridge: Harvard; Belknap Press, 2000.

RELATED: Top 5 Books for Understanding Boston

General and History

Allison, Robert J. A Short History of Boston. Beverly, Mass.: Commonwealth Editions, 2004.

Berenson, Barbara. Boston and the Civil War: Hub of the Second Revolution. Charleston, S.C.: The History Press, 2014.

Bostonian Society and Old South Association (now merged to become Revolutionary Spaces) The website - https://www.revolutionaryspaces.org/ - has videos related to Boston history and information on the Old State House and Old South Church. The organization holds important archival collections on Boston history.

Carr, Jacqueline Barbara. After the Siege: A Social History of Boston, 1775-1800. Boston: Northeastern University Press, 2005.

Howland, Llewellyn, III. A Book for Boston. Boston: David R. Godine, Publisher, 1980. Essays, stories and poems by various authors in honor of the city’s 350th anniversary.

Kay, Jane Holtz. Lost Boston. Expanded edition. Amherst, Mass.: University of Massachusetts Press, 2006.

In addition to 350 rare photos, this book contributes to understanding the history, development, and built environment of Boston through its narrative text.

Kirker, Harold, and James Kirker. Bulfinch’s Boston, 1787-1817. New York: Oxford University Press, 1964.

Klein, Christopher. Discovering the Boston Harbor Islands: A Guide to the City’s Hidden Shores. Boston: Union Park Press, 2011.

See also Snow, Edward Rowe. The Islands of Boston Harbor. Centennial edition. Updated by Jeremy D'Entremont. Boston: Commonwealth Editions, 2008.

Labaree, Benjamin Woods. The Boston Tea Party. Boston: Northeastern University Press, 1979 (Originally Oxford Univ. Press, 1964). For a shorter account, see Robert J. Allison’s The Boston Tea Party. Beverly, Mass.: Commonwealth Editions, 2007.

O’Connell, Shaun, editor. Boston Voices and Visions. Boston: University of Massachusetts Press, 2010.

O’Connor, Thomas. The Athens of America: Boston 1825-1845. Boston: University of Massachusetts Press, 2006.

Archer, Richard. As If An Enemy’s Country: The British Occupation of Boston and the Origins of Revolution. New York: Oxford University Press, 2010.

O’Connor, Thomas H. Civil War Boston: Home Front and Battlefield. Boston: Northeastern University Press, 1997.

O'Connor, Thomas. The Hub: Boston Past and Present. Boston: Northeastern Univ. Press, 2001. Philbrick, Nathaniel. Bunker Hill: A City, A Siege, A Revolution. New York: The Penguin Group, 2013.

Rogers, Alan, and Lisa Rogers. Boston: City on a Hill: An Illustrated History. Sun Valley, Calif.: American Historical Press, 2007.

Rutman, Darrett B. Winthrop’s Boston: A Portrait of a Puritan Town, 1630-1649. Chapel Hill, N.C.: University of North Carolina Press, 1965. Published for the Institute of Early American History and Culture.

Vrabel, Jim. A People’s History of the New Boston. Boston: University of Massachusetts Press, 2014.

A history of activism in Boston during the 1960s and 1970s. Vrabel reveals how grassroots leaders and the common people were involved in protests and community organizing which contributed significantly to the renewal of Boston.

Vrabel, Jim. When in Boston: A Time Line and Almanac. Boston: Northeastern University Press, 2004.

Very short descriptions of events year by year throughout Boston’s history.

Winsor, Justin, editor. The Memorial History of Boston. 4 volumes. Boston: Ticknor and Company, 1881.

This is the standard multi-volume history covering the years up to 1881.

Wright, Conrad Edick, and Katherine P. Viens, editors. Entrepreneurs: The Boston Business Community, 1700-1850. Boston: Massachusetts Historical Society, Northeastern University Press, 1997.

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Top 5 Books for Understanding Boston

Top 5 Books for Understanding Boston

BY RUDY MITCHELL, Senior Researcher, Applied Research and Consulting

No one book or even a handful of books can fully cover the many facets of the city of Boston over its nearly 400 year history. Many books cover highly specific topics, present photographic highlights, or serve an academic readership. However, the following five books give distinctive insights, diverse perspectives, and general overviews. I recommend these five because they provide a variety of viewpoints, are general in nature, and can best serve most readers in understanding Boston.

A PEOPLE’S HISTORY OF THE NEW BOSTON

BY JIM VRABEL

Although many books about Boston focus on the city’s mayors, urban planners, and prominent leaders, Vrabel focuses on community activists, the poor, and working class men and women whose protests and community organizing played an unsung role in shaping the “New Boston” over the last fifty years. This important book, based on many interviews and extensive research, covers a range of issues from housing and urban renewal to education and jobs, as well as protests against a proposed Southwest Expressway and airport expansion.

COMMON GROUND: A TURBULENT DECADE IN THE LIVES OF THREE AMERICAN FAMILIES

BY J. ANTHONY LUKAS

The Pulitzer Prize winning Common Ground probes the roots of issues related to race, class, educational disparity, and income inequality which are still critical to understand and address. This brilliant work of historical nonfiction reads like an epic novel. In the foreground are three families: the black Twymons, the Irish McGoffs, and the Yankee Divers. The larger picture is not limited to Boston during the decade of court-ordered school integration through busing of students, although the book brings that era to life in intimate detail. Lukas paints a complex picture rich with details and explorations into the historical roots of the issues. Great works like this often draw on the details of one specific place and time to understand the larger, enduring concerns of American society and its cities.

THE HUB: BOSTON PAST AND PRESENT

BY THOMAS O’CONNOR

The Hub is the best general, one volume history of Boston. O’Connor draws on a long career of research and writing about Boston to distill his insights on Boston’s resistance and adaptations to political, social, religious, and economic changes over the centuries. While creatively adapting to major changes, the city and its neighborhoods have maintained their distinctive and historical qualities without becoming frozen in time. However, O’Connor defines the current challenge facing the city as retaining “its own distinctive identity as a city whose moral standards, civic virtues, and intellectual accomplishments once inspired a nation (xiii).”

BOSTON VOICES AND VISIONS

BY SHAUN O’CONNELL, ED.

The editor of this anthology of historical and literary excerpts about Boston has selected richly descriptive pieces as well as selections that consider the high purpose and vision set forth for the city.  These selections convey the flavor and everyday life of the city over the centuries, but also interpret, critique and praise the ideas, attitudes, and ideals of Boston. The book includes a wide range of authors from John Winthrop (1630), to Oliver Wendell Holmes (1831), to W.E.B. DuBois (1960), and Patricia Powell (2004).

BOSTON: A TOPOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 3RD EDITION.

BY WALTER MUIR WHITEHILL AND LAWRENCE KENNEDY

While the title of this classic work may suggest a narrow focus, Whitehill’s book is actually an excellent introduction to the general development of Boston. The changing face of the Boston landscape and its built environment are concisely covered and generously illustrated with many pictures and maps. Some newer books go into more depth on the filling of the Back Bay and the process of urban renewal, but this work is especially helpful in understanding the first three centuries of central Boston history. Although the book does not cover the social and religious aspects of Boston in any depth, it provides a remarkable amount of detail about the city’s buildings and physical development, all in a very readable style.

For more recommended reading on Boston and its history as well as resources for walking the city, here is a fuller list of resources.

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Next Step Resources on Race for White Evangelicals

Below is a compilation of resources to help White Evangelicals live a more racially just life through laying a theological foundation, understanding the problem, and doing something about it.

Note that this builds upon RCCI’s list of Starter Resources on Race for White evangelicals. If you have not yet read the resources or types of resources on this list, start here.

I — Laying a Theological Foundation

The Bible & Theology in Color: An Online Course — Follow Dr. Esau McCulley, author of Reading While Black, through an online course that explores the valuable contributions that African Americans, Asian Americans, and Latino/a Americans have made in the body of Christ.

Becoming a Just Church: Cultivating Communities of God’s Shalom — This book provides both a theological framework and practical examples for how to become a just church. It helps readers shift from seeing justice as an "optional" activity to a way of being that permeates the congregation and extends and embodies shalom.

II — Understanding the Problem

Race in America — Watch this 18-minute video offering a historical overview of race in America from Phil Vischer, the voice of Larry the Cucumber. This focuses on Black-White race relations from after the Civil War to today.

The Color of Compromise: The Truth About the American Church’s Complicity in Racism — Though the White Church is beginning to step up and address issues related to racism, unfortunately, historically, this has been the exception and not the norm. It’s important that we know how the Church has been complicit in racism so we can learn from our history and understand how it has shaped our present. 

The Myth of Equality: Uncovering the Roots of Injustice and Privilege — People’s experiences and outcomes are different based on the color of their skin, but where does racial inequality come from? And why does it continue today? Join Ken Wystma, founder of The Justice Conference, to better understand the U.S. history and social dynamics that have contributed to and uphold racial inequality today.

Insider Outsider: My Journey As a Stranger in White Evangelicalism and My Hope for Us All — Hear from Black pastor, Bryan Loritts, about his experience in White evangelicalism in ways that can help you see how White culture and racism may shapes your congregation and people’s experience in your congregation in ways you may not be aware.

White Lies: 9 Ways to Expose and Resist the Racial Systems that Divide Us — Journey with Daniel Hill, author of White Awake, to name, understand, and overcome the lies that pose obstacles to White people effectively continuing God’s redemptive work in the area of race relations. 

III — Doing Something About It

Allyship: A Guide Toward Solidarity — “Rather than think of an ‘ally’ as a person, it is more accurate to think of doing ‘allyship’ as a verb” (pg. 3). Check out this six-part devotional that explores biblical wisdom for allyship. It leads readers through the self-work and reflection that can nurture solidarity and offers practical exercises to support a lifestyle of allyship.

How to Fight Racism: Courageous Christianity and Our Journey Toward Racial Justice — This book provides practical suggestions and guidance for how to address racism as it shows up in ourselves, our relationships, and our social systems. Check it out for a wide-variety of entry points and on ramps for how to respond to racism as an outworking of our faith.

Rediscipling the White Church: From Cheap Diversity to True Solidarity — Addressing issues related to race is a matter of Christian discipleship. That said, many of the discipleship tools and Christian practices White congregations have been using have not produced a faith passionate about and equipped to continue God’s redemptive work in the area of race relations. Explore David Swanson’s book that recommends holistic, communal discipleship practices that can help birth true solidarity and transformation within White congregations.

Redeeming Our Ethnic Journey — Journey with Sarah Shin, author of Beyond Colorblind, in her video presentation that explores the biblical concept of ethnicity and how developing our ethnic identities and addressing our ethnic brokenness can serve as a witness to the healing power of Jesus Christ.

How Can Privileged Christians Work Strategically for Equity? — Check out this online lecture from Dr. Christena Cleveland that highlights the humble posture White people should have in the work of  race relations and offers concrete examples of what this can (and cannot) look like in our lives.

For another faith-based look at addressing issues related to race, check out High Rock Arlington’s resources for racial justice.

Intro to Civic Engagement in Massachusetts for White Folks

Created By: Brooke Cohen

Realities of racial injustice and inequity have dominated recent headlines, leaving many White people asking “What can I do?” However, White evangelicals who are moved by their biblical convictions to pursue justice and resist oppression often lack clear direction on how to seek these aims in concrete and tangible ways. 

This resource is designed to be a launching pad for White evangelicals to learn how to use their time, talents, and treasures for civic engagement, in service of justice and reconciliation. 

We invite you to live out your faith by engaging civically to confront and fight racism in all its forms through these five pathways: local government, legislative advocacy, voting, service, and donations.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Participation in democracy is an important way for Christians to love their neighbors and seek justice through policies and leadership. Just as Paul utilized his status as a Roman citizen to promote the Kingdom of God, so too can Christians use their citizenship to influence our governments (Acts 22:26-29; see also Paul’s appeal to the Emperor in Acts 25). While voting is the most commonly discussed way of participating in the democratic process, there are a number of additional ways to make your voice heard locally.

Let us keep in mind the principle of subsidiarity, which grants freedom to develop the capabilities present at every level of society, while also demanding a greater sense of responsibility for the common good from those who wield greater power.

Laudato Si’ (“Praise Be”), Pope Francis, 2015, Chapter 5, #196.

Practical Examples

·       Attend a community meeting in your neighborhood.

o   Community meetings are held in various neighborhoods around the city to provide a forum for residents to discuss developments and plans for improvement in that area. This is perhaps the most direct way to have a voice in the affairs of your community. 

·       Observe a city council meeting.

o   City council meetings are regularly scheduled gatherings of elected representatives of various geographic districts. Officials discuss and vote on matters of public interest. Generally, meetings are required by law to be open to the community, and a public comment period is included to allow residents to ask questions or opine on relevant topics.

o   The Boston City Council hosts meetings to provide a space for residents, community leaders, and other stakeholders to provide feedback and hold their elective officials accountable. This is a great way to encourage local officers to consider racial justice in their policies, and to make sure that they are focusing on the priorities they have committed to.

·       Attend a local training on community development and community organizing, such as those offered by the Mel King Institute.

o   In the words of the Christian Community Development Association, organizing “is the act of mobilizing voices around an issue that directly affects that group’s community… Organizing seeks to build influence and power, and then mobilize this power to mount campaigns to bring substantive systemic change on issues defined by the people.” Community organizing provides a framework by which activists can leverage the voices of community members to drive the advocacy goals and priorities presented to elected officials.

·       Learn about educational inequity in the US, and attend a School Board/Committee meeting to advocate for reform. 

o   Learn more about the responsibilities of the Boston School Committee and how you can get involved. Consider attending a meeting and participating in the public comment period to advocate for equity through budgetary, hiring, or policy priorities. 

LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY

Christians are commanded to amend our ways in order to practice justice, oppose oppression, and avoid the shedding of innocent blood (Jer. 7:5-7). Our pursuit of Christ’s Kingdom on earth is no passive endeavor. As the woman in Luke 18:1-8 demonstrates, seeking justice requires sustained and committed advocacy that persists in the face of opposition or apathy. The Bible is clear that laws and other political decisions play an important role in facilitating cultures of justice or oppression (Is. 10:1). State and national legislatures are tasked with forming and approving policies that affect racial justice in a number of ways. Examples include allocating funds for police reform, creating remedies for civil rights violations, committing to resettling refugees and asylum seekers, and creating affordable housing and healthcare opportunities. 

Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people… 

Isa. 10:1-2

Practical Examples

·       Research reforms advocated by leaders/politicians of color. Because these individuals represent the individuals and interests of communities of color, they are best equipped to understand the policy and reform priorities of their constituencies. One way you can do this is through the work of the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus. 

·       Follow local community organizers that are committed to hearing the voices of the community and amplifying them to work towards change. For example, click here to research legislative organizing updates from the Massachusetts Community Action Network. MCAN is an interfaith grassroots network that advocates in Massachusetts for racially just policies rooted in communal power and accountability.

·       Call or write your state legislators to encourage them to make racial justice a priority.

·       Advocate for criminal justice reform that seeks to reduce racial inequities in incarceration.

o   There are a number of organizations advocating for reform from a faith-based lens, including The Center for Church and Prison, Healing Communities, and Prison Fellowship.

·       Encourage your state to require racial impact statements for all criminal justice legislation. These statements would force legislators to consider the impact of a given piece of legislation on people and communities of color before signing it into law. 

·       Read, sign, and share this statement by the Prayer & Action Justice Initiative. Explore the Partner Organizations committed to advocating for racial justice with biblical conviction.

 VOTING

We know we have the right to vote, but what difference does it really make? Christians have an incredible opportunity to steward their political participation to choose candidates and policies that will promote racial justice. While national politics dominate the news cycle, most policies arise at the local and state level. State legislatures and city councils craft laws and regulations with widespread impact, particularly in housing, education, and criminal justice. Furthermore, given their smaller constituencies, they are usually more accessible and responsive to advocacy efforts.

Choose for your tribes wise, understanding, and experienced men, and I will appoint them as your heads.

Deut. 1:13

How? 

Voting it not a once-every-four-years endeavor. Local and state elections occur with greater frequency, providing voters with numerous opportunities to leverage their voices to promote the cause of racial justice.

·       Register to vote.

·       Find your Massachusetts polling place.

·       Check out Ballotpedia for information on local elections, both initiatives and candidates. Additionally, learn more about proposed ballot initiatives and constitutional amendments in Massachusetts.

·       Election dates and deadlines in Massachusetts.

Which elections matter for racial justice? 

·       District Attorney (DA)

o   The District Attorney is the chief prosecutor for a given county in the Commonwealth, and arguably the most powerful player in the criminal justice system. Following an individual’s arrest, the DA decides whether or not to charge them with a crime, and what crime(s) they should be charged with. A DA who is committed to racial justice will be more willing to hold police accountable for discriminatory or abusive practices, and can request alternatives to incarceration for young offenders. They can also work to ameliorate racial discrepancies in sentencing, and reform cash bail guidelines to avoid over-incarceration of low-income communities. See a video that further explains the difference a DA can make in fighting racial inequities and mass incarceration.

·       Attorney General (AG)

o   The Attorney General is the chief lawyer for the Commonwealth. The Office of the AG handles civil rights complaints, enforces health care laws, holds government officials accountable, and seeks community engagement throughout the state, among many other responsibilities.

·       Governor’s Council  

o   The Governor’s Council, or Executive Council, is comprised of eight individuals representing geographic districts. They provide advice and consent to the Governor on pardons and commutations, judicial appointments, and appointments of public administrators and members of the Parole Board, among others. Racial bias can often lead to disparate outcomes in a criminal defendant’s sentence or opportunity for parole. Electing individuals who will advocate for racial equity in criminal justice presents and important opportunity for reducing grave inequalities in incarceration.

·       Massachusetts General Court (state legislature)

o   The Massachusetts legislature is tasked with forming and approving a wide variety of policies and laws that affect racial justice – police reform, allocating budgetary funds to schools and community centers in neighborhoods of color, forming task forces to investigate racial disparities in health outcomes, and promoting housing stability.

·       Sheriffs (appointed or elected depending on county)

o   County Sheriffs are responsible for enforcing the law in their jurisdiction. These officials have incredibly wide-ranging power over policing in their jurisdictions, and have very little accountability and oversight outside of periodic elections. This critical position is often overlooked – an estimated 60% of sheriffs (who are 90% White men) run unopposed. In Massachusetts, sheriffs oversee the county jail and house of correction, and are tasked with the transport of inmates. 

Read a four-part 2020 WBUR investigation on prison deaths in Massachusetts, to learn more about how the decisions of county sheriffs can dramatically impact the life outcomes of prison populations – which are disproportionately people of color.

·       City Council 

o   City Councils create, pass, and amend local laws. Boston has thirteen councilors, four of which are elected at-large, while the other nine represent geographic districts. City Councilors speak into issues including civil rights, education, housing, public health, criminal justice, and small business development. A list of Boston City Council’s committees.

 SERVICE

One of the most important ways Christians can learn to love their neighbors as themselves is through becoming proximate to their realities, needs, and desires. Getting involved in your community provides a crucial opportunity to facilitate relationship building among individuals of varied life experiences. Service is also a direct Biblical mandate: we are called to care for the poor and oppressed (Isa. 1:17), to visit the incarcerated (Heb. 13:3), and to look out for the orphans and widows in their distress (Js. 1:27). 

“Injustice is not something to be aware of, it is something to engage, because to know is to do.”

Michelle Ferrigno Warren, The Power of Proximity: Moving Beyond Awareness to Action

Local Opportunities 

·       One legacy of racial injustice is the segregation of communities and fracturing of societal bonds. Open and trusting relationships and conversations are a necessary prerequisite to achieving racial reconciliation. 

o    Apply for a mini-grant to fund a community development initiative. Grant awardees receive funding from the city to create beautification projects, community gardens, mini free libraries, and other improvements alongside their neighbors. (Learn about ongoing beautification projects throughout the Boston area). 

o   Host a people’s supper to bring together individuals from different backgrounds and walks of life to engage in a discussion about race. This series of guided conversations is intended for established multiracial communities to come together at a shared table to break down barriers, lament injustice, and work towards collaborative solutions.

o Attend a Neighborhood Dinner through Unite Boston. Unite Boston is a non-profit that seeks to connect Christians from different congregations to build bridges across the work God is doing in Greater Boston. Neighborhood Dinners are opportunities to fellowship with other Christians in your neighborhood through the breaking of bread and sharing of conversation.

o  Join with neighbors in neighborhood clean-up days happening twice annual city wide through Love Your Block Neighborhood Cleanups.  

·       Volunteer at a Massachusetts prison.

o   As a tutor.

o   Through programs sponsored by the Commonwealth.

o   With the Alternatives to Violence Program.

o   With the Concord Prison Outreach.

·       Serve  as a facilitator of restorative justice circles. Restorative justice seeks to move beyond punitive or retributive models of justice and to focus on restoring personal or communal relationships damaged by crime. These processes can be an alternative to lengthy periods of incarceration.

·       Join a diversity committee at your workplace – or start one! Diversity committees are a great way to advocate for diverse hiring and cultural competency initiatives.

·       More opportunities to serve.

 DONATIONS

As Christians, we are admonished against storing up treasures here on earth, and commanded to be openhanded with our resources (Mt. 16:19-21). Christians can also promote economic justice by investing in communities and institutions that have been historically under-resourced and oppressed through racially discriminatory practices like redlining. Giving of our financial resources enables non-profits and initiatives to continue with their justice-seeking work, whether that is through empowering under-resourced communities, supporting the local church, or fighting discrepancies in access to justice or other resources. This is particularly important in the COVID-19 pandemic, as communities of color have borne a disproportionate burden.

But joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope is in the LORD their God. He made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. He keeps every promise forever. He gives justice to the oppressed and food to the hungry. The LORD frees the prisoners.

 Ps. 146:5-7

Practical Examples

Please note that RCCI does not necessarily endorse all of these ministries and/or all that they may advocate or believe. Rather, we seek to provide opportunities for your further exploration and reflection. Please do your own research before giving.

·       Support Black and immigrant churches that have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. Check out the Massachusetts Council of Churches One Church Fund and the Churches Helping Churches fund.

o   One Church Fund aims to provide financial, practical, and relational support to churches doing essential ministry in communities which have borne the brunt of systemic inequities since long before COVID-19. One Church Fund will raise resources for immigrant, Black, poor, unhoused, and unaffiliated churches.

o Churches Helping Churches encourages affluent churches to donate to lower-income churches who are at risk of closure, in order to stabilize them and enable them to support their communities as they deal with the economic and health fallouts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

·     Donate to Commonwealth Kitchen - Boston's Food Business Incubator.

o Their mission is to build a new food economy grounded in racial, social and economic justice by strengthening the capacity, connections, and collective power of diverse entrepreneurs to start and grow successful food businesses. 

·       Donate to the Massachusetts Bail Fund. 

o   In the US, over 60% of the population of local jails are pre-trial detainees – individuals who are legally presumed innocent. An estimated 9 out of 10 of those people are incarcerated because they cannot make bail. Even short-term incarceration can have disastrous results – loss of employment, child custody, or housing. Given that Black adults are incarcerated at six times the incarceration rate for Whites and nearly double the rate for Hispanics, conditioning one’s liberty on their ability to pay further exacerbates racial inequities in the criminal justice system. Contributing to bail funds helps ensure that the accused, which are disproportionately people of color, are not forced to remain incarcerated because of a lack of access to financial resources.

·       Support the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund (LDF).

o   The LDF uses litigation, advocacy, and education to promote racial justice in a number of spheres: criminal justice, economic justice, education, and political participation. LDF has been a key player in securing and protecting voting rights for African Americans, desegregating public schools, and fighting racial disparities in the use of capital punishment.

·       Give to the Equal Justice Initiative.

o   This organization, founded by noted author and attorney Bryan Stevenson, represents innocent and unjustly sentenced detainees, with a special emphasis on the death penalty and juvenile offenders. Additionally, EJI works to educate the public on the legacies of slavery, racial terror lynching, and mass incarceration through reports, digital experiences, museums, and memorials.

·       Further the mission of Historically Black Colleges and Universities through The Thurgood Marshall College Fund(TMCF).

o   TMCF provides college scholarships and internship opportunities to students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). HBCUs provide top-tier educations at more affordable prices that historically White institutions, as well as a context in which Black students are empowered to thrive. Additionally, TMCF lobbies for educational justice on Capitol Hill to increase funding for HBCUs and students of color in higher education.

·       Partner with the National Urban League (NUL).

o   NUL is a nonpartisan civil rights and urban advocacy organization seeking to enable “African Americans and other underserved urban residents to secure economic self-reliance, parity, power and civil rights.” NUL helps register people of color to vote and protects their ability to exercise their civic rights, provides civil engagement curriculum to students of color, and helps empower individuals to secure employment, homeownership, and quality healthcare, among other initiatives. NUL has local offices that serve the needs of particular communities, as well as a central Washington Office that advocates on Capitol Hill for policy and legislative change.

·       Support the Christian Community Development Association (CCDA).

o   The CCDA empowers Christians to live out the three R’s of community development: relocation, reconciliation, and redistribution. CCDA members live, work, and worship in marginalized neighborhoods, adopting a holistic approach to empowerment that is church-based and community-based. Additionally, CCDA organizes and advocates in Washington D.C. to fight injustice, with a focus on three initiatives: Immigration, Mass Incarceration, and Education Equity. 

Additionally, consider seeking out opportunities to support Black-owned businesses in Boston. Business ownership is an important avenue for wealth accumulation and job creation. Black-owned businesses have been particularly hurt by COVID-19, with an estimated 41% closing their doors in the economic shutdown. (Additionally, some Black business districts have historically been targeted for destruction, further preventing economic growth in these communities. Learn about the burning of “Black Wall Street” in Tulsa, OK). Purchasing from Black-owned businesses is a tangible way of supporting communities where injustice is occurring and promoting a more equitable distribution of wealth. 

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Brooke Cohen is a San Diego native who moved to greater Boston in 2017 to attend law school. Brooke studied Political Science and Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame, and loves to explore the complex relationship between mercy and justice in legal systems and in society. She and her husband, Justin, worship at Aletheia Church in Cambridge and reside in Downtown Crossing.

Resources for Teaching Children Anti-Racism

Created by: Alyssa Tocci and Sadie Elliott-Hart

Children notice and are shaped by our racialized realities at a young age. As caregivers, mentors, and church family, we need to help children understand the realities of racism and develop a positive racial identity from a Biblical perspective. One of the first steps to doing this is to learn how to talk to young people about race and expose them to race-related conversations. See below for resources to help you talk to children about racism.

Organizations

Wee The People (WTP) is a Boston-based social justice project founded by two Black mothers with the mission of engaging kids in topics of activism and social change through dance, movement, storytelling, and the arts. Their programming is aimed at children ages 4 to 12 and is rooted in the core WTP values: empathy, equity, racial justice, and social justice. WTP also hosts workshops and seminars for parents to strategize and prepare for challenging conversations with their children. Their goal is “to create high-impact, celebratory experiences that promote uncomfortable conversations parents often avoid with young children.”

Raising Race Conscious Kids  is designed for adults learning to talk to children about race, diversity, and justice. Their primary media are blog posts, webinars, and workshops, created to equip parents and caregivers for conversations that prepare young people to work for racial justice. Many of their resources are aimed at White people, but “a community of guest bloggers represent diverse backgrounds and the strategies discussed may be helpful for all.”

Instagram

Raising Little Allies To Be by @wanderandwonder.studio

Raising Little Allies to Be is a free resource available in pdf form created to facilitate conversations between caregivers and children. It includes book suggestions, activities such as drawing and writing, and opportunities for questions and reflections.

Diversify Their Imagination by @thedignityeffect

Diversify Their Imagination is an Instagram Live series from The Dignity Effect, a page founded by Nya S. Abernathy that promotes peacemaking and social-emotional wellness for families. This resource and reflection series is designed to engage parents in dialogue regarding raising children with an “anti-racist, equality- & empathy-focused worldview.”

Podcast

Coffee + Crumbs Episode 51: Talking With Kids About Race with Tasha Morrison

In this episode, host Indiana Adams and guest Tasha Morrison, author of Be the Bridge, discuss conversations about race with children and leading by example in the fight for racial justice. Several key points that Tasha addresses are the difference between diversity and racial reconciliation, being ‘color brave’ versus color blind, and equipping children to stand up against injustice.

Articles

“How to talk to your children about protests and racism” by Sandee LaMotte, CNN

Written in the wake of George Floyd’s death, this article provides parents with steps to help their children understand recent racial events as well as more general guidelines for talking to kids about race. It provides descriptions of various age groups' development stages and suggestions about what kind of conversations are appropriate and productive to help children understand race and racism.

Books

Diverse Bookfinder is a unique database created to help users find children’s picture books that feature Black and Indigenous people and People of Color. Their comprehensive collection includes all depictions featuring BIPOC characters published or distributed in the US since 2002, making it an excellent resource to explore and borrow books that represent a range of experiences and identities.

Our Skin: A First Conversation About Race is a book about race and racism to read with children ages 3-5. Filled with vibrant illustrations, engaging questions, and tips for parents on how to continue the conversation, this book provides a helpful onramp to start a developmentally appropriate conversation with your little ones.

The Gospel in Color: A Theology of Racial Reconciliation for Parents and The Gospel in Color: A Theology of Racial Reconciliation for Kids explain race, racism and reconciliation from a Biblical perspective. The parent’s version is written with the goal of equipping parents to educate their children, and the kids’ version is designed to facilitate conversations between kids and parents. Both books make complex ideas accessible with engaging illustrations and text, and celebrate the power of the gospel to bring reconciliation. 

Family Guides 

These guides come in different versions aimed at different family identities and give both an education for caregivers and curriculum to use with children. They are downloadable books that can be read at any pace. You can purchase and read more about the three different guides here. You can also learn more about how to use these guides on Naomi or LaNesha’s blogs or Instagram accounts.

For more teaching children anti-racism tools, click here.

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Take Action

If you are interested in Staying Connected to Alyssa and others Who Are Passionate about teaching children anti-racism, click Below.

Take Action

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Alyssa Tocci is an apostolic leader of a house church network in Boston. She is responsible for the launching of multiple expressions of local church in the city. She has been involved in a variety of other ministry roles since 2010. She is a fruitful ministry coach for children's ministry leaders, disciple making movements, and domestic church planting. Alyssa has two boys and lives in Roxbury.

History of Racism in Boston: A Resource List

History of Racism in Boston: A Resource List

By the RCCI Team, with contributions from Pastor Calvin Fergins

Recent realities, like COVID-19, the heightened publicity of racial violence, and economic downturn, have highlighted racial disparities in our communities. While these pandemics are deepening the chasms of differences in power and opportunity, they did not create them. On the contrary, our current crises highlight inequalities that have been present since before the founding of our nation. 

Boston has a long and complicated racial history. On the one hand, it tells stories of resilience, transformation, and victory. On the other, it reveals deplorable atrocities, subtle power moves, contemporary hate crimes, and well-intended actions that have a racist impact, giving us a veneer of progress while maintaining the status quo. 

As we find ourselves in a time of crisis and opportunity, we have the responsibility to work toward a new Boston, more just and equitable than before. To ensure a better future, we must look to our past. We must understand our history and learn from the mistakes, victories, and examples of those who have come before. RCCI invites you to explore the resources on this list to better understand our collective past so, together, we can move into a more just and equitable future. 

PS: Click here to see a downloadable bibliography of resources that goes well beyond these highlighted titles. 

Resource Write Ups  

Ten Hills Farm: The Forgotten History of Slavery in the North

Did you know that there was a Northern plantation in Medford, Massachusetts? You can still visit it, known as the Royall House & Slave Quarters museum, today. Ten Hills Farm tells the story of five generations of enslavers connected to this labor camp and how it was tied into the larger Transatlantic slave trade.

A People's History of the New Boston

The 1960s and 1970s represented a critical season of rebuilding for Boston following the impact of WWII. While wealthy, White men are often given credit for this transformation, this book tells the story of unsung influencers who, through grass-roots demonstrations, sit-ins, picket lines, boycotts, and contentious negotiations shaped Boston into the city we know today.

The New Bostonians: How Immigrants Have Transformed the Metro Area Since the 1960s

Between 1970 and 2010, the percentage of foreign-born, Boston residents more than doubled due to immigration from Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The New Bostonians explores these immigrant communities' invaluable contributions and their crucial role in nurturing Boston's prosperity - the fruits of which have not been equally shared.

Shut Out: A Story of Race and Baseball in Boston

Shut Out is the compelling story of Boston's racial divide viewed through one of the city's most renowned institutions: the Boston Red Sox. This story is told from the perspective of Boston native and noted sportswriter Howard Bryant.

Busing at 50

The Boston Busing Crisis of the mid 1970s garnered national attention as the city experienced mass protests and violence after the Boston Public School system attempted to implement school integration. Sadly, 50 years later, the Boston public education system is still unequal and still segregated. Explore this Boston Globe Series Broken Promises, Unfulfilled Hope that reflects 50 years after the Boston Busing Crisis.

Sarah's Long Walk: The Free Blacks of Boston and How Their Struggle for Equality Changed America 

In 1847, a five-year-old African American girl named Sarah Roberts was forced to walk past five white schools to attend the poor and densely crowded all-black Abiel Smith School on Boston's Beacon Hill. Incensed that his daughter had been turned away at each white school, her father, Benjamin, sued the city of Boston on her behalf. The historic case that followed set the stage for over a century of struggle, culminating in 1954 with the unanimous decision in Brown v. Board of Education.

Murder in Boston: Roots, Rampage and Reckoning

In 1989, Charles Stuart reported that his white wife had been murdered by a Black man. Boston’s deeply seated racism tainted the investigation and worked the city into a frenzy, before it was revealed that Stuart killed his wife by his own hand. Learn more about the Charles Stuart case - and the long-standing racial tension that shaped it - by watching this three-part docuseries or going deep through Boston Globe podcasts.

Holding Ground: The Rebirth of Dudley Street

Explore how, in 1985, the Dudley Street Neighborhood of Roxbury worked together to overcome barriers of systemic racism and rebuild the fabric of their neighborhood. This community movement gained national attention, set legal precedent, and models how residents, community activists, and city officials can organize for change.

Forever Struggle: Activism, Identity, and Survival in Boston's Chinatown, 1880-2018

Chinatown has a long history in Boston. In writing about Boston Chinatown's long history, Michael Liu, a lifelong activist and scholar of the community, charts its journey and efforts for survival. Liu depicts its people, organizations, internal battles, and varied and complex strategies against land-taking by outside institutions and public authorities. Chinatown is a powerful example of neighborhood agency, the power of organizing, and the prospects of such neighborhoods in rapidly growing and changing cities.

Black Bostonians: Family Life and Community Struggle in the Antebellum North

When published in 1979, Black Bostonians was the first comprehensive social history of an antebellum northern black community. The Hortons challenged the then widely held view that African Americans in the antebellum urban north were all trapped in "a culture of poverty." Exploring life in black Boston from the 18th century to the Civil War, they combined quantitative and traditional historical methods to reveal the rich fabric of a thriving society, where people from all walks of life organized for mutual aid, survival, and social action, and which was a center of the antislavery movement.

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Local Historical Sites

Explore local historical sites that honor the journeys of different groups.

•  A plaque and developing memorial highlighting the Native American internment camp that was held on Deer Island, one of the Boston Harbor Islands. Tours of Deer Island briefly acknowledge this injustice.

• Middle Passage Port Marker on Long Wharf. The Boston Middle Passage Marker looks two ways: Out to Boston Harbor, where enslaved Africans and enslaved Indigenous people arrived and departed, and also inward, down State Street, where these enslaved people and their descendants lived, worked, and fought for freedom.

• The Royall House and Slave Quarters in Medford.

• The Black Heritage Trail, African Meeting House, and African American History Museum in Boston.

• A variety of cultural sites in Chinatown highlighted in videos from the Boston Chinatown Heritage Project, created by teens in partnership with the Chinese Historical Society of New England and others.

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Author’s Note: Resource descriptions are based on language from their respective promotional websites and have been paraphrased for the purposes of RCCI.

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When a White "Sorry" Is Not Enough

When a White "Sorry" Is Not Enough

by Dean Borgman

Pentecost Sunday, and I just can’t get the sight of that white knee on a black neck out of my mind…. Just weeks after 25-year-old Black man Ahmaud Arbery was shot to death while jogging… Black police officer Breonna Taylor shot to death by white police in her own apartment… reminding us of a long list… including Eric Garner in 2014--also strangled by a wrongful police chokehold.

We’ve watched the slow and reluctant response of the police departments and police unions and town officials… and unresponsiveness up the line of our justice system to the Executive office itself. We’re forced to wonder about official response to a black knee on a white neck…. I’m left dazed and frustrated. 

My personal white apologies to close African American friends fall flat—I can sense it. They have seen it all… over and over… and experienced their own indignities. They have heard voices of seeming remorse with no systemic change… too often before. They know this painful cycle of oppression and are quite sure that hollow amends will continue. What can be done… until I… all of us… are able to see ourselves as part of the problem… before any solution can come?

Before we ponder solutions and suggest some new strategy, we must hear, more clearly than ever before, the depths of our problem. Few of us Whites have taken enough time to listen…  to really hear… what Black people have experienced along all the way since 1619… and how it really feels going into the fifth century since then. How does such a trail of racial travesties affect Blacks and Whites? Adequate response will take more painful time and effort than most of us have ever taken.

The Westminster Presbyterian Church of Minneapolis invited Princeton professor Eddie Gloude to speak on “Racism and the Soul of America,” (13Sep16) This look into White America’s soul from a Black perspective is painful… while perhaps prophetic as to the events of this past week in that same city.  This video speech is slow getting started but soon gets to the heart of systemic racism in America. Have we taken the time to listen to it… have we heard its diagnosis?

But how is it that so many White Christians, have through the centuries, failed to support the oppressed? Jesus announced his Gospel and personal Mission statement by saying:

 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me

to bring good news to the poor… to let the oppressed go free.”  (Luke 4:18)

In my life experience, growing up in a strong church, majoring in Bible and Theology, teaching in a White Seminary… this announcement of Jesus did not seem prominent… nor protests against systemic racism a priority… from Martin Luther King, Jr.’s time up until now.

A second Black voice comes to us from the pastor of Washington D.C.’ Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church, The Rev. William H. Lamar IV, preaching on: “It’s not just the coronavirus, it’s bad theology killing us:”

Here is what he had to say:

"There comes a time when being nice is the worst kind of violence. This is especially true for the many Christians who erroneously conflate being nice with following Jesus. No more euphemisms. No more pretending. No more craving the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day “Kumbaya.”

"I believe it is time for those who claim to follow Jesus to declare, without equivocation, that white evangelicalism is a morally bankrupt, bone-crushing theological system devoid of any semblance of the deity incarnate in Christ."

"Multiple factors are responsible for the alarming death rates that black, brown, Native American and poor white communities are experiencing from the novel coronavirus. Mendacious, misanthropic political leadership. A so-called health care system driven by profit and not human flourishing. An economic reality where even the below-a-living-wage money earned by poor and working-class people is siphoned off to the wealthy via tax cuts and tax policies that force wage earners to pay a larger share than dividend earners."

"American white evangelicalism is the offspring of the religion of settler colonialists, and the raison d’etre of settler colonialism is to remove an existing population and replace it with another. Settler colonialism is always violent, and it always has a theological system to support it.

"COVID-19—and its impact on black and brown communities—is the American empire in viral form. It lodges itself among the poor and feasts upon them. They cannot socially distance in tight, squalid quarters. They cannot wash their hands in lead-ridden water in Flint. We are having digital funerals for people who live in a city where Congress refuses to extend the health benefits… they themselves enjoy."

"This bad theology of who belongs and who does not, of who is worthy and who is not, has the blood of my parishioners on its hands. How would the novel coronavirus be affecting my community if the God-talk of white evangelicals, whose theology controls our political landscape, sounded more like Jesus?"

A third Black voice this Pentecost Sunday 2020 offers hope through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. It reaches into the richness of the Black experience for spiritual hope and more effective efforts for the common good. The voice is that of our national Episcopal Presiding Bishop Michael Curry: 

As a white man, I can’t say this so eloquently or as effectively. May the collective worldly- centeredness and individual-egocentricity of our systems be overcome with loving justice. May we, of all ethnicities and political parties, be able to hear this plea for our common good: the hope of God’s kingdom come and God’s will be done… for global health, for our national healing, and for the common good for all…. Through the love of Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit.

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Dean Borgman is a retired (but still teaching) professor of Youth and Family Ministries and Social Ethics at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He is an assisting Episcopal priest at Christ Church, Hamilton-Wenham and works as a part-time consultant for the Emmanuel Gospel Center in Boston. His experience in youth work is both suburban and urban, church and parachurch, national and international. He was involved in Young Life for several years, including YL’s early urban work on Manhattan’s Lower East Side and Young Life’s Urban Training Institute in NYC. He has taught for several years in Africa besides leading classes and workshops in several countries. His books include Hear My Story: Understanding the Cries of Troubled Youth, 2003, and Foundations for Youth Ministry: Theological Engagement with Teen Life and Culture, 2013. Dean received a Youth Ministry Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association of Youth Ministry Educators in 2006 and from Youth Specialties in 2013. Dean and his wife Gail live in Rockport, MA and have four grown children with twelve grandchildren.

LEARN MORE

EGC is issuing a series of 1st person reflections in response to the killing of Mr. George Floyd, in the hope that each unique voice might be heard, that we might each speak to the part of the Body that we are nearest to, and that together as a team we might disrupt the sin-cancer of white supremacy and our beloved church’s addiction to simple answers.

The Journey for Justice: How Lament Powers Repair

by Liza Cagua-Koo

The Journey for Justice: How Lament Powers Repair

We are a world in tremendous pain, and as we convulse with it in our inner being, Jesus is standing at the door knocking.  His spirit is knocking urgently at the door of the church, his Body.  He's here, looking for the sick and those who welcome resurrection.  We are each individually and through our local expressions of church now making decisions to answer that knock, or not. 

Pursuing God's ways of dealing with pain through lament are the strong foundation from which we can engage productively and perseveringly in the work of justice and healing.  Unless we figure out what to do with pain in an ongoing way, we won't last in the cross-bearing partnership Jesus is calling us into.

Unless we figure out what to do with pain in an ongoing way, we won't last in the cross-bearing partnership Jesus is calling us into.

In this 3-part series I will share what I’m learning about running a marathon against injustice, and the interrelated centrality of pain, lament and repair.  This first reflection attempts to bring some texture to the pain I am seeing in others and in myself.

We Are in Pain 

We are in pain.  I bear witness to it here, in my limited way, and pour out my anguished cry out before God now and in the presence of those who might have an ear to hear. 

Selah.

There is a pain that no human can really hold consciously in its fullness: the depth of the suffering of even one person who faces chronic systemic dehumanization from white supremacy culture and systems.  Only God can fully bear the parental soul pain of having "the talk", the bone-deep exhaustion of the black tax, the mental trauma of being continuously gaslit when you've tried to name the systemic pattern throughout your life, and for generations. 

This is the pain of fighting to honor your imago dei when your experience at school, at the doctor's office, with the loan officer, or with the police, screams otherwise. And now, in this unexpected moment opened up by the straw-break of one horrifying video, there is the jolting pain of seeing the world you've been living in suddenly perceived by those on the outside. 

And as this other world outside your door seems to be waking, as white strangers kneel along a funeral route honoring George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery, as targeting systemic injustice becomes a thing, there is the pain of daring to hope that this will lead to something.   And another kind of suffering manifests: the pain of figuring out a new way to be and to lead, in the face of eager white folks wanting to make it all better but not ready to face the cost to them of what repair might entail.

Selah.

There is another kind of pain: the pain of having your understanding of the world blown up into cinders.  The pain of deconstructing a comforting world that has rested on the myth of meritocracy, on the myth of American exceptionalism, and the misguided understanding that there are good and bad people in the world and all rests on individual choices, untethered from systems and their behavior.  The pain of betrayal of where you put your trust (your parents, your schooling, your history), and worse: the pain of sensing some level of responsibility now that you know something is deeply wrong. 

And when, finally, you come to terms with this new world, and decide to step forth into the struggle against systemic injustice, there is the pain of not knowing what to do, of making mistakes, of having your good intentions mean very little in the face of the impact of your actual choices. Here too is the pain of not knowing where to take your pain, because the world that has been oppressed does not have room for it.

Selah.

And there's the kind of pain I know best: the pain of being part of a group dehumanized by white supremacy while at the same time cooperating with white supremacy in order to survive it. 

This is a diverse nexus with many kinds of pain and expressions.  The pain of white-presenting Latinos who've gone along with being "white" and have let go of their roots.  The pain of non-white-presenting Latinos who've gone along with being tokens.  The pain of black-presenting Latinos marginalized within their own community because of colorism and anti-blackness in it.  The pain of seeing other people of color (POC) weaponized against our efforts for justice. The pain of seeing POC standing on the sidelines of those efforts, like when recent immigrants are quick to separate ourselves from historically disenfranchised groups here and distance ourselves from their cause. 

I well remember my first cries at school in Boston of "I'm Colombian!  I'm not Puerto Rican!" when my 8-year-old mind subconsciously tuned into that demonic wavelength broadcasting that Puerto Ricans were less than, as I witnessed my white teachers routinely chastising them and expecting little from them.  So much pain that the disease of white supremacy has caused the non-white immigrant communities as it has dehumanized and divided.  And as if that was not hard enough, there's the pain of coming to terms with the fact that we were also carriers, that the infection of racial/ethnic hierarchy was spread by us too.

Selah.

There is great pain amongst POC when we've left each other behind.  The pain is not just between white and black, it's amongst us all. 

The pain of indigenous people: decimated, blamed for their community's uphill battles—and mostly forgotten by other POC and whites alike as we fight for resources on their ancestral lands.  There is the pain of Southeast Asian immigrant communities left behind, invisibly falling short of the ridiculous "model minority myth," their youth in battle with other kids of color in the fight for street cred, looking for respect where it can be found.  There is much pain in the realization that we are often just fighting each other for crumbs in the heirarchy of the white supremacy table.

Selah.

What can be done with all this pain—these "tips" and the icebergs that they represent?  So many of us have trained ourselves to not look at such horrors, to ignore them, to overcome by focusing on what we think we can do and control.  But regardless of whether any of these different streams resonate with you or not, whatever your story is with injustice, I believe we MUST look at the pain and suffering, that the Spirit beseeches us to stand in its presence and see the extent of the desolation, the valley of dry bones before us corporately. 

I believe we MUST look at the pain and suffering, that the Spirit beseeches us to stand its presence and see the extent of the desolation, the valley of dry bones before us corporately.

Only by walking with God's spirit amongst these bones can God begin to transform us into a people who can be cross-bearers in Jesus, into a Body who can prophesy over dry bones, that they—that we—might all come alive and live.

While Ezekiel prophesied with words, I believe we must prophesy with action.  Today’s dry bones need the flesh of repair-- actions that have the chance to rehumanize what has been dehumanized, to bring to thriving what has been chronically attacked by the systems we live in. I am convinced that biblical lament is an essential fuel for our prophetic action, what will give us the courage to do what needs to be done.  Part II will speak to why that is.

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Liza Cagua-Koo
Assistant Director

Liza Cagua-Koo pursues racial justice & healing at home in a Latino-Asian family, at Emmanuel Gospel Center with a multiethnic team of urban ministry practitioners, and in life with her BFFs and church community in Dorchester, MA.  She is on the long journey of decolonizing her mind and longs for the day when the church is best known for being an agent of justice in our racialized society.  Or the day Jesus comes back and delivers us all.  She'll take either.

Learn More

EGC is issuing a series of 1st person reflections in response to the killing of Mr. George Floyd, in the hope that each unique voice might be heard, that we might each speak to the part of the Body that we are nearest to, and that together as a team we might disrupt the sin-cancer of white supremacy and our beloved church’s addiction to simple answers.

A Theology of Racial Healing

Though the word “racism” is not used in the Bible, the work of racial healing has always been a biblical value. Scripture tells the story of God reconciling all people to himself and one another. 

In this resource, we suggest a Biblically-grounded theology on Christ's redemptive work in the area of race relations. We explore how the Bible addresses issues related to race, the impact of racism, Jesus’ heart for the oppressed, and Biblical principles of reconciliation.

May you be inspired to pursue racial healing as an outworking of your faith.

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COVID-19 & Churches: Meetings, Services & Reopening Info

Last updated June 8, 2020

COVID-19 & Churches: Meetings, Services & Reopening Info

reopening: advance planning

Reopening houses of worship: Boston’s Approach

from Mayor Walsh — May 19, 2020

Places of worship must take a very cautious approach and are urged to not reopen if they have doubts about being able to plan, implement, and monitor strict safety guidelines.

The Statewide “Safer at Home” policy remains in place, which advises against people 65 and older leaving home unless absolutely necessary. The Mayor urged seniors to adhere to the advisory and hold off on going back to places of worship, even if services restart. He also asked faith leaders to reach out to their elderly parishioners, to guide them and support them in putting safety first, and keep them connected in other ways. 

The City has been getting questions about church choirs and hymns. The Mayor says they shouldn’t happen yet, given the added risk of virus transmission from singing in addition to speaking. Face coverings must be worn at all times.

"The Risks - Know Them - Avoid Them"

by Professor Erin Bromage 

When your church starts to plan for future reopening, consider carefully the information in this article, and the level of COVID-19 cases in your area. The article presents factual information and discusses the emerging science on COVID-19 in a colloquial way which is accessible to the general public. The examples can provide helpful background data.

Safety Standards for Places of Worship from the State of Massachusetts

On May 18th, Governor Baker allowed the limited reopening of houses of worship with mandatory requirements and recommended best practices and checklists. These fall under four categories – (1) Social distancing (2) Hygiene Protocols (3) Staffing and Operations (4) Cleaning and Disinfecting. The online documents should be read carefully, but they generally include standards such as operating at 40% or below capacity, wearing masks, childcare remaining closed, eliminating coffee hours & meals, cleaning and disinfecting between services, and if an attendee tests positive for COVID-19, following CDC guidelines for deep cleaning and disinfecting and also notifying the Local Board of Health for tracing and isolating those who have been in contact with the person. In addition to Massachusetts guidelines, see other suggested practices and details in the resources below. Keep in mind that people over the age of 65 and people who have underlying health conditions – who are at high risk for COVID-19 – should continue to stay home except for essential errands. 

Many Greater Boston churches envision reopening their church quite far in the future. But for those hoping to reopen sooner, it is important to carefully consider the logistics involved as well as government guidelines.

While the decisions about reopening churches will vary due to the size of churches and with city and state regulations, church leaders need to understand and create plans for the many needed adaptations for when reopening is the wise choice. Churches need to consider the welfare of the larger community as well as their own members.

If churches follow wise cautions, opening for services will still not be an immediate return to the way things were before.

• Steps of preparation and phased stages of reopening need to be taken.

• Churches renting space or sharing space face an uncertain future, dependent on the policies and decisions of the building owners.

The larger questions also need to be considered:

• What have we as a church community learned about “being the church” during the stay-at-home time?

• How will that impact our vision, structure, and practice going forward? 

Relaunching Church: How to Seize this Moment for Your Church’s Future. 

What do we want to take into the future from the present crisis? Thoughts on: “Four strategic stages in navigating a cultural crisis: (1) Stabilize (2) Normalize (3) Mobilize and (4) Futurize.” By Jeff Christopherson

Resources and Examples of Guidance from Denominations on Reopening 

The Massachusetts Council of Churches (scroll down the webpage)

“Covid Conversation: Re-Entry in the Black Church” webinar with church leaders recorded on Facebook

Resources and Guidelines for Reopening

A detailed set of suggested guidelines and practices to consider, from the Southern New England Ministry Network (of the Assemblies Of God) 

Overview of the CDC suggestions for reopening of churches by The Gospel Coalition 

Since these are national guidelines relating to many types of congregations, they are quite general. By Joe Carter

 Reopening Church: Discussions and Webinars 

We're not heading back to the way things used to be. We're opening a new chapter after what we've learned from this pandemic. From the Vanderbloemen organization

ADVICe on church meetings

Coronavirus and the Church: Best Advice, Articles, and News

Christianity Today Magazine

Guide to Christian Funerals During COVID-19

Mass Council of Churches

Remote Meetings Guide

How to set up small group church meetings with Google Hangouts and Zoom. Remote Meetings, a brief guide from Park Street Church.

Mastering Virtual Meetings

Describes the challenges and advantages of virtual meetings.    8 Tips to improve your online meetings.

How to Facilitate Effective Virtual Meetings

Beth Kanter, an experienced non-profit writer, provides detailed advice on virtual meetings.

What It Takes to Run a Great Virtual Meeting - Harvard Business Review

Preparing Your Church  for Coronavirus (COVID-19)

A step-by-step, research-informed and faith-based planning manual from Wheaton College

Plan de acción para iglesias latinas COVID-19

This four part action strategy from the National Latino Evangelical Coalition includes ideas for Care, Communication, Collaboration, and Resources for churches with practical suggestions for communication and ministry online.

Dios es nuestro amparo y fortaleza. En medio de cualquier crisis global, la Iglesia siempre ha sido parte de la solución. Únete y comparte este recurso con todos los que puedas para servir con amor y compasión a todos los que nos rodean. Los enlaces e información pueden ayudarnos ha compartir ideas y recursos para servir mejor a nuestras comunidades.

Warnings About “Zoombombing” 

Zoombombing is where malicious intruders join your Zoom call and display unwanted information. Be cautious in sharing zoom meeting information and invitations publicly. 

• Advice from Tiffany Vail to avoid malicious intruders  

• Video tutorial from Kristen Ferguson of Gateway Seminary 
  
  

TOOLS

Resources for Nonprofits Impacted by COVID-19 from Tech Soup

This website includes:

• Tools to Support Remote Work

• Policy Resources

• Virtual Workshop: Managing the Impact of COVID-19 on Nonprofits

• Free Courses from TechSoup

Faith on Facebook Resource Hub 

Many churches have a Facebook page and many churchgoers are familiar with Facebook. This online tool has potential to share information, broadcast services (using Facebook Live), develop groups, promote learning and raise support.  On the Resource Hub page see the downloadable “Faith on Facebook Toolkit” and “Getting Started with Groups” for more detailed instructions.

Free Church Online Platform

Designed specifically for ministry, the Church Online Platform  combines several church online controls into one free tool. With Chat, Live Prayer, and synced video streaming, Church Online Platform assists in doing church together.

Live-streaming & Promoting Church Services

During this time we here at WEZE 590am The Word and WROL 950am and 100.3 fm The Spirit of Boston, want to come alongside you to help spread the word that while the church doors may be temporarily closed, God’s Word is ALIVE and available online daily!

Our stations have created a NEW Church Service Live Streaming Page on wezeradio.com and wrolradio.com to share the link and broadcast times for your weekly church services. As a valued partner in ministry and as a community service, we want to include your church FREE OF CHARGE!  

Participation is easy! Just visit WEZE or WROL to submit your live stream link and service details. Shortly after you submit your information, your church will be added to our online guide and throughout the week we will encourage listeners – on-air and online - to check out this page for their weekly worship options.

Starter Resources on Race for White Evangelicals

Starter Resources on Race for White Evangelicals

by Megan Lietz

Biblical and Theological Foundations

As with all matters, it’s important that we root our understanding in God’s word. Explore the following resources to better understand the biblical and theological foundation of continuing God’s redemptive work across racial lines.

A Theology of Racial Healing:  Though the word “racism” is not used in the Bible, scripture tells the story of God reconciling all people to himself and one another. In this resource, RCCI suggests a Biblically-grounded theology on Christ's redemptive work in the area of race relations.

The Sin of Racism: Though racism is often not named as a sin from the White evangelical pulpit, this article by Tim Keller explains from a biblical perspective how racism is a sin and that it manifests individually and corporately. Though there is disagreement around how to respond to racism, as Christians, we cannot leave this sin unaddressed. 

Ethnic Identity: Bringing Your Full Self to God: God gave each one of us ethnic identities that reflect the character and image of God. Explore what the Bible has to say about ethnicity and culture in this self-led Bible study for groups and individuals. It reveals how God sees our ethnic identity and uses it as a part of his redemptive plan.

Race & Racial Hierarchy as the Product of Broken Humanity

While our ethnicities were given to us by God, the social classification of race and the racial hierarchy it serves was a product of a broken humanity. To learn more about how the concept of race developed and was shaped by socio-historical realities, not God’s will, explore the following resources.

Race: The Power of Illusion: This is a three-part PBS documentary that explores the origins of race and how it is not a genetic reality, but a relatively new social construct. Though somewhat dated, the foundation laid here is important to understanding the concept of race. If only one episode is watched, it is recommended to watch Part 2: The Story We Tell. It can be rented on vimeo or is available via Kanopy subscription service, that may be available through a local library.

Our Experience and Identity as White People

In order to engage effectively as white people in issues of race we need to understand how our experiences and perspectives may be different from those of people of color. An important part of this is understanding the racial privilege and power we have as White people because of the color of our skin. For some perspective, check out the following resources.

If you’re looking for a primer on how aspects of our identity like race and gender grant us measures of privilege and how they can impact our lived experience check out Allan Johnson’s book, Privilege, Power, and Difference.

Waking Up White is a memoir by Debby Irving, a white woman who grew up in a predominantly white, wealthy suburb of Boston, about how she came to see and respond to her whiteness. Her journey can offer insights and encouragement for your own.

In, White Awake: An Honest Look at White It Means to Be White, Daniel Hill leads readers through phases of White identity development and offers biblical tools to navigate these seasons of growth. He also offers strong chapters on markers of racial awareness and action steps you can take to progress in your racial awareness journey.

Peggy McIntosh’s article, White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack, is a brief and classic work that gives examples of how white people may experience privilege in their daily life. Simply becoming aware of what privilege looks like and how it can manifest in our lives is a crucial step!

 

Engaging Issues of Race

As we explore our identity as white people, we need to consider how this shapes our role in engaging issues of race and develop a toolkit for effective action.

Woke Church, by Eric Mason, explores the biblical call to justice that is for all believers and how the Church can regain its prophetic voice and practice to confront racism in the United States.

How to Be Last: A Practical Theology for Privileged People is a blog post by Christena Cleveland that lays a theological foundation for the posture that white people should take as they follow people of color into the work of racial reconciliation.

Soong Chan Rah’s book, Many Colors: Cultural Intelligence for a Changing Church, explores what Christians need to know and do to engage across racial lines in ways that are loving and respectful.

Mark Kramer’s article, Unpacking White Privilege: Feeling Guilty about Racial Injustice Isn’t the Point; the Point Is Doing Something About It complements Peggy’s McIntosh’s article by offering suggestions for how to respond to some of the privileges she identifies.

For additional resources, check out Next Step Resources for White Evangelicals.

Take ACTION

Contact Megan Lietz

Contact Megan Lietz

Megan Lietz, M.Div., STM, helps White evangelicals engage respectfully and responsible with issues of race. She is the director of EGC’s Race & Christian Community Initiative.

COVID-19: Church Finances

Last updated June 1, 2020

COVID-19: Church Finances

Advice

Guide to Church Finances During Covid-19 - Mass Council of Churches

TOOLS for Online Giving

Tithely

Givelify

Paypal

FUNDS

Agencia Alpha Emergency Funds for Immigrant Families  

If you or your family have been affected by the crisis created by COVID-19 and do not qualify for unemployment benefits and/or other state and federal aid, you may be eligible for financial assistance through the ALPHA Emergency Fund. This fund is to cover urgent needs such as paying rent, food and/or urgent charges. 

Eligible candidates must meet at least one of the following requirements:

• Being an immigrant over 18 years old without other emergency aid (Example: not being eligible for federal assistance and/or unemployment benefits)

• Being an immigrant who recently lost his job due to COVID-19

• Being an immigrant with children (under 18 years old) and/or other people who depend on and live with you

One Church Fund 

Through the One Church Fund, the Massachusetts Council of Churches prioritizes the financial, practical, and relational support of immigrant, Black, poor, unhoused, and unaffiliated churches. See the website for more information.

Loans / Grants for Churches through the CARES Act

The Payroll Protection Program is available to churches, nonprofits, and small businesses. This program provides loans through your local bank for 2.5 months of your organization’s average monthly payroll, and if used as directed these become forgivable loans, or in other words essentially grants. Beginning on Friday April 3, SBA (Small Business Administration) approved banks will begin accepting applications.

Loans for Churches - Mass Council of Churches

More detailed information and webinars.

CARES Act Grants & Loans - City Vision University     

Resource list on nonprofit government grants, loans, and the CARES Act.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Federal CARES Act Forgivable Loans to Churches (Paycheck Protection Program) 

Covers eligibility, qualifications to receive loans, autonomy of churches, religious freedom / legal requirements, and non-profit status.

CARES Act: A Guide to Financial Resources for Nonprofits

The NonProfit Times summary of the CARES Act provisions for non-profits.

The Boston Foundation COVID-19 Response Fund

One-time operating grants for Greater Boston non-profits whose operations address the basic needs of vulnerable populations and provide COVID-19-related relief.

United Way COVID-19 Family Support Fund

A dedicated resource for working families affected by the COVID-19 public health emergency.

The Boston Resiliency Fund

Focused on organizations that need support to modify or expand essential services that serve the immediate and basic needs of Boston residents. Priorities are to provide:

• food to Boston's children, families and seniors

• technology to Boston Public Schools students for remote learning

• support to first responders, front-line workers and healthcare workers so they can effectively do their job and promote public health.

COVID-19 & Churches: Action Against Racism

Last Updated July 2, 2020

COVID-19 & Churches: Action Against Racism

Megan Lietz and the RCCI Team

“Being Black or Brown does not increase one’s chances of contracting COVID-19, but systemic racism does.”

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See below to learn more about…

• COVID-19’s disproportionate impact on communities of color and how this is connected to systemic racism.

• Actions you can take as an individual during COVID-19 to combat racism on the many levels it manifests.

• Local organizations working toward equity during COVID-19 and how you can support them.

• Why businesses of color were disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 and how to find and support businesses of color in Greater Boston.

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We are truly living in unprecedented times. That said, this novel virus is exposing the age-old patterns of racism, xenophobia, and systemic inequalities. As we seek the Lord for how to respond to COVID-19 and reorient ourselves to this new reality, let's consider how racism is shaping our communities and how we can work to counter its impact through practical actions and compassionate faith.

Please see below to learn more about COVID-19's disproportionate impact on communities of color and concrete steps you can take to work against racism.

COVID-19'S Impacts on Communities of Color

The Intersection Between Systemic Racism & COVID-19

“The fact of the matter is that racism has created an uneven playing field. COVID-19 is only making these disparities worse.”

COVID-19 is no respecter of persons. Anyone, of any race, can be infected and even die—a reality that makes us mindful of our shared humanity. And yet, the coronavirus has had a disproportionate impact on people of color, both through its strain on already racially biased social systems, and because people of color are more likely than White people to be infected and die from COVID-19. This disproportionate impact is true in Boston and in our country at large.

These wide-spread disparities are not caused by anything inherent in people of color. Nor are they caused by some imagined "collective negligence" on the part of Black and brown people. Rather, they are the result of racist systems that were built into the infrastructure of our nation. 

Being Black or Brown does not increase one's chances of contracting COVID-19, but systemic racism does.

HOW COVID-19 & Systemic Racism Interact

Many people of color…	This connects to systemic racism because…
Serve as essential workers, work multiple jobs in different locations, or hold jobs that cannot be done from home, thus increasing one's exposure to COVID-19.	A long history of job discrimination has not given black and brown people the same professional opportunities as White people. Click here to see one example of how racism poses obstacles to people of color's job prospects today.
Have higher rates of pre-existing conditions like asthma, obesity, and heart disease that can amplify the impact of COVID-19.	These diagnoses are linked to discrimination-related stressors correlated with long-term adverse health outcomes. They are also fueled by environmental racism and the lack of access to healthy and affordable food that is more common in communities of color.
Reside in higher-density neighborhoods or housing where COVID-19 can spread more easily.	Living conditions have been shaped by a long history of race-based housing discrimination in the US that continues today.
May experience obstacles to accessing COVID-related information and care in their primary language.	Our society centers on the needs, values, and interests of English-speaking White people. This focus can leave the needs of those on the margins unmet.
Receive inferior medical treatment that can result in unnecessary consequences, including death.	Implicit biases and long-standing racial inequities persist in the U.S. healthcare system.

The fact of the matter is that racism has created an uneven playing field. COVID-19 is making these disparities worse.

In addition, while people may be doing their best to social-distance, social distancing in itself is a privilege. It takes a measure of privilege, for example, to be able to work from home, have private transportation, and to afford masks and gloves, etc. Our Black and brown brothers and sisters are less likely to experience these privileges and more likely to participate in social distancing at a higher cost.

“Social distancing in itself is a privilege.”

The Impact of Systemic Racism on the Ground: Far and Wide

Click on the map to see the full PDF report from the Boston Public Health Commission.

Systemic racism is amplifying the impact of COVID-19 on our city. To learn about a few of the ways COVID is impacting communities of color in Boston, check out:

• A recent episode of Basic Black featuring State Rep. Liz Miranda, Erica Lee, Ph.D., Edith Bazile and Phillip Martin as they discuss the impact of COVID-19 on communities of color in Boston.

• A two-part Boston Black Townhall meeting (Click here for Part 1 & Part 2) that features Black clergy, activists, and scholars addressing racial disparities in Boston, the impact it is having on them during COVID-19 and where to go from here.

•  "What The Pandemic Is Doing To My Boston Neighborhood" by Boston City Councilor Andrea Campbell. 

Interpersonal Racism and the Asian American Community

Map of racist incidents against Asian people during the COVID-19 pandemic, created by Harvard University grad students. Click on the image to see an updated map and full article.

In addition to the broad impact of systemic racism, Asian-Americans are being targeted through interpersonal racism ranging from inappropriate comments to violent hate crimes. Check out this personal account about anti-Asian racism in San Francisco and see where similar incidents have been identified and mapped in Boston and beyond.

These incidents are fueled by a wrong association between Asian people and COVID-19. This is part of a long history of disease being racialized in ways that perpetuate lies and uphold inequality. Check out NPR's "As Coronavirus Spreads, Racism And Xenophobia Are Too" to learn more.

In addition to the harm these lies have caused to Asian-people’s bodies and dignity, they have had an unequal impact on their businesses. Asian-owned businesses have taken an especially hard hit because COVID-related fears slowed business well ahead of the shelter-in-place orders.

RCCI affirms the AACC's call for the Church to address anti-Asian racism:

While people of all races are impacted by systemic racism, the rise of interpersonal racism against the Asian-American community must be named and addressed with intentionality and care.

RCCI encourages you to read and consider signing this statement:

Click here to to the AACC statement.

Racism Kills: Racial Disparities in Infection and Deaths in Boston

Not only has COVID-19 had a disproportionate impact on people of color generally through its strain on various social systems, but people of color are more likely to be infected and die from COVID than White people.

Click on the graph to read the full article in the Boston Globe.

COVID-19 is infecting, harming, and killing people of color at a higher rate than White people. For example, as of May 16th, 2020...

• Even though Black people represent 25% of Boston's population, they represent 39% of known infected persons and 36% percent of known deaths.

• In Massachusetts, Latino residents are 3.1 times more likely to test positive for COVID compared to a White resident.

• As the death rate increased across Massachusetts in early April, it surged nearly 40 percent higher in cities and towns with the largest concentrations of people of color compared to those with the least.

• Racial disparities are reflected in the fact that Boston neighborhoods with higher concentrations of people of color, like Dorchester, Roxbury, Mattapan, and East Boston, are experiencing higher rates of infection. Click here to see a neighborhood map of reported cases of COVID-19.

Similar data for the state of Massachusetts can be found in a mid-June report here.

For generations, people have been crying out against the racism in our social systems that value White humanity over the humanity of all others. It is in the disproportionate infection, harm, and death of people of color that the fruit of these unjust social systems become undeniably clear.

Systemic racism is death-dealing. As the Church, we must continue to take action to protect human life and to protect our shared humanity.

COVID-19’s Impact on businesses of color

COVID has not only impacted community’s physical health, but their economic well being as well. See below to learn more about how businesses of color have been disproportionately impacted during COVID-19 and concrete steps you can take to support them in our take action section. RCCI offers special thanks to Ed Gaskin, the Executive Director of Greater Grove Hall Main Streets, for offering his perspective and making significant contributions to strengthening our webpage. Thanks to his help, we could better reflect the reality small business owners of color are experiencing on the ground.

As of mid-April, 26% of Asian-, 32% of Hispanic- and 41% of Black-owned businesses have closed in the US. This is compared to 17% of White businesses that have closed in the same time frame. Businesses may or may not re-open.

This is due to compounding disadvantages like...

• The Racial Wealth Gap: When businesses come upon hard times, having a financial buffer can make the difference between staying open and shutting down. Unfortunately, businesses of color are less likely to have that buffer, shaped in part by Boston's racial wealth gap. This gap has been shaped by generations of inequitable lending and opportunities and results in entrepreneurs of color having access to less financial capital in their social networks, including less access to business investors. This issue is further compounded by the fact that Black and Hispanic people are under represented in tech industries and other high money-making industries of the future that could build wealth in communities of color.

• Lack of Integration of Businesses of Color into Boston's Economy: Businesses of color are not as well integrated into the larger, predominantly White-led economic systems of our city. For example, certain sectors, like travel, sports, entertainment, higher education, and construction, function largely independently from small businesses in communities of color. Furthermore, when major employment opportunities and business arise, they are less likely to go to businesses of color. For example, in 2019, only 1% of the $664 million that the city of Boston awarded in contracts for construction and goods and services went to minority- or women-owned businesses. Similar challenges are found in the private sector as well. Too often, businesses of color are left out. Realities like many businesses of color being micro-businesses, having contracted employees, and having a diversity of interests, pose obstacles to them organizing around and advocating for their needs. 

• Fears & Biases: Deep - and sometimes unconscious - biases can shape where we frequent and how we spend our money, especially during COVID-19. For example, because of wrong associations between COVID-19 and people of Chinese descent, public fears slowed business for Asian-American restaurants well ahead of the shelter-in-place orders. By mid-April, the pandemic wrought significant consequences and closures in Boston's Chinatown community.

• The Inequitable Design of Federal Funding: The current economic stimulus initiatives represent the largest direct transfer of wealth from the federal government in US history. Like so many other wealth-building initiatives, however, they are not as accessible to people of color, by default and design. As of May 12th, only 12% of Black- and Hispanic-owned businesses received federal assistance. This was shaped in part by realities like how the Paycheck Protection Program, and the pathways designed for people to access it, were structured in ways that disadvantaged small business owners of color.

In the first round of PPP:	Obstacles to People of Color:
Many major lenders opted to give preference to larger businesses. This allowed these businesses to apply first for first-come, first-served funds.	Businesses of color are often sole proprietorships and are more likely to be smaller than their White counterparts.
PPP applicants were required to go through a pre-approved lender (e.g. banks, credit-unions). These lenders initially gave preference to existing customers.	Businesses of color are less likely to have commercial banking relationships. This is shaped by obstacles to gaining small business loans and broken trust on account of a long-history of racially discriminatory lending that continues today.

Adjustments were made to be more inclusive for the second round of PPP applications, but not before many business owners of color missed out on the first round of federal funding.

Ongoing Structural Issues:	Obstacles to People of Color:
PPP info and applications were not readily available in business owners' primary language. Click here to explore a deep dive of challenges that the Executive Director of Greater Grove Hall Main Streets had to navigate to get info to business owners.	This made info less accessible to and delayed the application process for business owners who do not speak English as their first language. By the time many business owners navigated these obstacles, money had run out for the 1st round of funding.
PPP funding has restrictions on how it can be used and recipients must repay, with interest, any amount that cannot be used within a limited timeframe for eligible purposes.	This discouraged some businesses of color from applying because, if they had to downsize or close (which is more likely compared to White businesses), they would be less able to use the money within the guidelines and time frame needed to avoid repayment with interest.
The PPP excludes business owners who are currently involved in the criminal justice system or have been involved within the last 5 years.	This has a disproportionate impact on business owners of color due to over-policing in communities of color and other factors that contribute to mass incarceration.

Taking Action Against Racism During the Covid-19 Crisis

“Systemic racism is death-dealing.”

Cry Out: Spiritual Responses to COVID-19

Let us begin this action in ways that root us in the biblical tradition and orient us to God. Please please join RCCI as we...

1. Lament. Cry out to God. Declare that racism is not right. Invite the One who went to the cross into the pain and brokenness you are experiencing. We invite you to explore this guided lament, United? We Mourn: A COVID-19 Lament, that explores the intersection between COVID-19 and racism.

2. Pray that...

   • People of color will be empowered to navigate and overcome the results of racism that are amplifying the impact of COVID-19 in their communities.

   • White people who are not aware of the impacts of systemic racism would be awakened to these realities and respond in ways that further God's redemptive work in the world.

   • God would continue to use his people as channels for racial healing and justice.

3. Stand in Solidarity. We are one city. We are one body. In times like these especially, we need to stand with the most vulnerable among us and ask God to knit us into community.

Ways to Counter Internalized and Interpersonal Racism

1. Check out this article on how to interrupt racism when you see it happening in the age of coronavirus.

2. If you're an Asian person who has experienced hate crimes related to COVID-19, consider reporting it here.

3. Be it with family at home or a group you convene online, learn with others through this simple lesson plan that corrects racist beliefs related to COVID-19 and the Asian-American community.

4. Care for yourself so you can better care for others. Click here for an article with suggestions for self-care, written to people of color.

5. Check in with people of color, build community, support one another.

Ways to Counter Institutional and Systemic Racism

1. Support businesses owned by people of color by using their services or buying gift cards. Explore a list of businesses open during the pandemic. Identify local restaurants owned by people of color and black-owned businesses here.

2. Reach out to your local leaders to advocate for policies that support communities of color in areas where they are experiencing extra strain as a result of COVID-19. Click here for 10 policy Recommendations to Temper the Impact of Coronavirus on Communities of Color from the NAACP.

3. Donate time, talent, and money to local mutual aid networks that distribute resources to those in most need.

4. Check out this list of equity and justice-oriented resources with categories like "healing and community care" and "organizing and solidarity" to inspire and inform your actions.

5. Learn about Boston-based resources to support churches and people impacted by COVID-19. Spread the word to get information and help to those most in need.

Support Local Organizations Working Toward Racial Equity During COVID-19

As you seek the Lord for how to continue his healing work in the midst of the pandemic, RCCI invites you to explore these Boston-based organizations that are working toward racial equity and striving to meet the needs of communities of color. Please consider lifting up your prayers, giving of your time and talent, and making financial donations. The time for action is now.

One Church Fund

The Mass. Council of Churches (MCC) is raising money to redistribute to churches with a priority on the financial, practical, and relational support of immigrant, Black, poor, unhoused, and unaffiliated churches. Click here to donate. In addition, MCC has created an online database where Christians can share skills they have to offer and connect with people who might meet their needs.

Asian Community Emergency Relief Fund

The Asian Community Development Corporation, in collaboration with numerous partners, is raising money to provide immediate and direct financial support to Asian-Americans who have lost work, are having trouble meeting their basic needs, and may not be eligible for other public benefits. Donate here.

Black Ministerial Alliance Crisis Fund

The Black Ministerial Alliance, in partnership with Vision New England, is raising money to support Black churches and their communities during COVID-19. Click here to donate and specify that money is to go to the BMA crisis fund via the pull down "campaign" menu.

Agencia ALPHA

Agencia ALPHA is working hard to provide information and resources, such as food, emergency financial assistance, and wellness calls & follow up care, to Hispanic and Latino communities in Eastern Massachusetts. They are housed at Congregation Lion of Judah and have a focus on advocacy and legal assistance for immigrant populations. Click here to donate.

Mass Communities Action Network (MCAN)

MCAN is working hard to pass legislation that protects the most vulnerable among us. They contributed to the passing of the recent moratorium on evictions and are now working to see low-level offenders and ICE detainees released from facilities where, because of mass incarceration and anti-immigration sentiments, disproportionate numbers of people of color are kept in conditions ripe for the spread of COVID-19. Click to donate or learn more about how you can help pass life-giving legislation.

Violence in Boston (VIB) Meal Program

Started by a Black mother in partnership with a Black-owned business (Food for the Soul), VIB's meal program delivers between 1,500 - 1,700 lunches and dinners to Boston Public School students and their families each day. They'll continue to do this as long as funds last (it costs $3,500/day!). Show your support with a donation today.

Daily Table

Daily Table provides fresh and affordable food to the Codman and Dudley Square communities (36% less than their competitors!). During COVID-19 they have raised their workers hourly wage to $15/hr. and participated in free grocery and prepared meal distribution programs. Thus far they've served 15,600 people 127,000 free and healthy meals. Support them by shopping at one of their stores or click here to donate.

Community Health Centers

Many community health centers have been transformed into COVID-19 testing facilities that offer free tests to all regardless of insurance or immigration status. They are working hard to make sure that their communities, many of which are communities of color, have access to the tests and treatment they need. Many of these sites have given up their main income streams to serve the community during this crisis and are in need of personal protective equipment and funds to continue caring for the physical well-being of our city. Find your closest Boston-based testing site here and reach out to see how you can support.

support businesses of color

As Greater Boston continues to open, there is much work that needs to be done to rebuild our communities and ensure they reopen in ways that nurture justice and equity. One way you can contribute to this is by supporting businesses owned by people of color. 

support businesses of color today!

You can help work toward racial equity by supporting Black and brown businesses in Greater Boston. Consider doing this by...

• Spending Intentionally: We all spend money regularly: Groceries, take out, gas personal care, home repair, gift giving etc. 

• Where could you make a few shifts in your normal routine to direct the money you are already spending to support businesses of color? 

• How might you influence the purchasing patterns in your workplace, church, or other communities of which you are a part to get money in the hands of Black and brown businesses?

Pick one or two areas where you can make a change and stick to it. Every dollar counts in this critical moment, and long-term changes in how you spend your money really add up. 

• Eating Out: When you eat out, commit to supporting restaurants owned by Black and brown people. Delivery services like Grub Hub, Foodler, or Uber Eats can help bring food from businesses of color to you, even if there aren't restaurants owned by people of color in your neighborhood. Consider making an extra effort to travel to restaurants that don't have delivery (they may need your support the most!), but be sure to check to see if they have space to eat in and plan accordingly. 

• Bringing Others Along: Don't eat alone! If you're getting food from a business owned by people of color, consider...

• Asking family, friends, and neighbors if they want to join in on a group order. This provides more business and can allow you to split delivery fees or, if you pick the food up yourself, remove that obstacle for others.

• Doing a weekly office run to pick up food from restaurants owned by people of color. 

• Encouraging people to fellowship together at a restaurant owned by a person of color after church once a month.

• As the need for catering returns, remember businesses of color!

• Purchase Gift Certificates: Even if you don't need or would prefer not to use a certain service at the moment, purchasing gift certificates for you and others can get your money into the hands of Black and brown business owners at this critical time.

See below for businesses of color to support and spend your money in ways that work toward equity!

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business highlight: building the black block

Written by Leslie Moore

After the round of publicized killings of black men nearly 5 years ago, local Black Lives Matter leaders connected with Black Rhode Island entrepreneurs to imagine an impactful, lasting response to the challenges of discrimination and injustice experienced by the Black community. A creative strategy emerged to use a small amount of resources to build a sizable hub of Black-owned property and businesses and Black-managed community structures that would effectively build community wealth and wellbeing. Another goal of this hub was to give the Northeast region an opportunity to experience a fuller picture of black people as they shared their rich cultural heritage and unique creativity that is the result of surviving centuries of oppression. In the last year, the hub has launched a black owned mini-mall called Still on Main. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the hub developers built several shared commercial kitchens in the mall so that families and individuals with cooking and baking skills could cook, sell and cater food in their communities for income. The hub is located in downtown Pawtucket, RI. It is affectionately called “The Black Block” and leaders hold hopes that it will be a model for more hubs across the country.

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Listen to the Perspectives of People of Color

Media shapes the way we see and engage with our world. When learning about the experiences of people of color, make sure you're listening to people of color. Click here for a list of COVID-related news coverage written by Black and brown writers and reporters.

A Call to Action

We are one city with different experiences, challenges, assets, and opportunities. As an interconnected society, we are only as strong as the most vulnerable among us. In this season, we don’t need equality. We need equity to make sure we are all healthy and whole.

Ask yourself, what can I do? How can I give out of what I do have to make sure that the Boston emerging from the pandemic is healthier, stronger, and more equitable than before? 

We can all do something. Please prayerfully consider how to honor God in this moment and take action now.

Connect with the Race & Christian Community Initiative

Learn more about EGC’s Race & Christian Community Initiative.

Sign up for RCCI's newsletter for quarterly ministry updates and feature pieces like resources on COVID-19.

Get regular emails about race-related learning & action opportunities hosted by organizations in Greater Boston.

Share Resources

Share Resources

What resources do you know about? Suggest them for this “COVID-19 & Churches: Action Against Racism” resource page or for any of EGC’s “COVID-19 & Churches” resource pages.

COVID-19 & Churches: Youth Ministry

Last updated May 13, 2020

COVID-19 & Churches: Youth Ministry

The Institute for Youth Ministry at Princeton Theological Seminary

Youth Ministry in a Pandemic offers content and links that provide guidance, ideas, research, and insight for those who minister with young people in an unprecedented cultural moment. The eight content areas are Theological Reflection, Mental Health Support, Digital Gatherings, Spiritual Formation, Leading while Learning, Worship & Liturgy, the New Normal- moving into the next phase, and “the Covid Summer.”

Paul and Angela Gorrel

Guide to Taking Youth Ministry Online offers detailed information and discussion starters on contemporary concerns of youth which have been heightened by the COVID-19 crisis. These concerns include disappointment, anxiety, loneliness, fear of rejection, pain, jealousy, shame, fear of failure, and anger. The guide also covers the Fruit of the Spirit. It explains how to survey one’s youth group on access to tech devices and tech skills with various tools and platforms. Other topics include small groups, ideas to get youth talking, prayer, Scripture reading, art, using technology to create community and resources on using the various social media platforms. Angela Gorrell is the author of Always On: Faith in a New Media Landscape.

Youthscape Resources

Coronavirus: A youth ministry liveblog. This website from England is a regularly-updated hub dedicated to helping youth leaders respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Youthscape offers Together Apart a short series of curriculum resources enabling you to explore life and faith with young people. It is designed specifically for use in the context of an online youth work session. Free download.

Search Institute  

If you take a look at the Search Institute Relationships Check, you may be able to see where your relationships with important young people in your life are particularly strong and where they can grow. If you answer the questions, you’ll receive actionable approaches and activities to strengthen relationships with young people in your life.

Download Youth Ministry (DYM)

Free youth ministry ideas & downloadable resources in the time of COVID-19 

Fuller Youth Institute

Doing Youth Ministry During a Pandemic - Steve Argue

Navigating New Territory: Moving Ministry Online - Lisa Hanle

Naming Loss and Gratitude with Young People in these Uncertain Days - Brad Griffin 

Urban Youth Workers Institute

6 Creative Ways to Engage Youth During Social Distancing - Susan Delano

Includes rap video “Corona Clap” by Dee-1.

National Network of Youth Ministries

Several useful blog posts for this time of crisis

Group

Free Resource Hub

10 youth devotionals on the “Jesus Centered Life;” five virtual games bundles; free resources for children’s ministry.

Youth Ministry 360

COVID-19 Youth Ministry Resources  

A variety of practical resources & articles for youth workers 

COVID-19 & Churches: Employment

Last Updated May 13, 2020

COVID-19 & Churches: Employment

Jobs & Companies Hiring

Boston

The Newmarket Boston Jobs Initiative

The Newmarket Boston Jobs Initiative is committed to hiring local talent from the neighborhoods of Roxbury, Dorchester, and Mattapan into full-time jobs at our member and partner businesses.

Spreadsheet of Boston Companies Currently Hiring

National

Some potential sources of jobs include the following. Try a Google search like “Amazon jobs Boston” or “CVS jobs Boston” or use the company job links below.

Amazon Jobs  

CVS Jobs

UPS Jobs  

FEDEX Jobs  

Target Jobs

Research

Partners in Health is looking to rapidly hire up to 1,000 COVID-19 tracers for the program, starting at $25/hr. Here is more information about these jobs that allow you to work from home and require a high school diploma or equivalency.

UNEMPLOYMENT

Massachusetts COVID-19 unemployment information / Información de desempleo de Massachusetts sobre el virus COVID-19   

Unemployment Assistance Contact forms (multiple languages)

If you are filing a new claim for benefits related to COVID-19.

Employee Frequently Asked Questions

Includes unemployment assistance information when quarantined or on reduced hours due to the  COVID-19 crisis.

Employer Frequently Asked Questions related to COVID-19

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA)

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) provides up to 39 weeks of unemployment benefits to individuals who are unable to work because of a COVID-19-related reason but are not eligible for regular or extended unemployment benefits. 

PUA is a program open to the following individuals:

• Self-employed individuals, including gig workers, freelancers, and independent contractors

• Those seeking part-time employment

• Claimants that have an insufficient work history to qualify for benefits

• And claimants that have been laid off from churches and religious institutions and are not eligible for benefits under state law