I was asked to provide a list of resources I've found helpful in thinking and shaping issues concerning racism and privilege. I've added resources that also deal with contextual theology because we all read from a place, a position, a framework. Privilege is often assumed and is typically hidden from our eyes, especially when we benefit from those systems. As such, it's helpful to be made aware of our position and its underlying assumptions.
Many of these titles have been very formative for me. Some of the ones I will list have been good to read just to hear dissenting voices from my own. I don't necessarily agree with every position taken in every book, but I've learned something from each one and therefore offer them as helpful starting points to further conversation and learning. I will also try to categorize each book so that they can be held together with other books that approach privilege, racism, and contextual theology through a particular lens (i.e., preaching, community development, etc.). Some of these resources don't deal with privilege directly, but I certainly see application and overlap. I hope these are helpful!
Preaching as Weeping, Confession, and Resistance: Radical Responses to Radical Evil by Christine M. Smith
Toward a Womanist Homiletic: Katie Canon, Alice Walker, and Emancipatory Proclamation by Donna E. Allen
They Like to Never Quit Praisin' God: The Role of Celebration in Preaching by Frank A. Thomas (one of those preaching books that should be on every preacher's bookshelves)
Listening to Listeners: Homiletical Case Studies by John McClure
Decolonizing Preaching: The Pulpit as Postcolonial Space by Sarah Travis
Blue Note Preaching in a Post-Soul World by Otis Moss III
The End of Words: The Language of Reconciliation in a Culture of Violence by Richard Lischer (in full disclosure, the preaching prof at Duke Divinity when I was a student)
The Liberating Pulpit by Justo Gonzalez
The Word Before the Powers by Charles Campbell (also of Duke Divinity)
Preaching at the Crossroads: How the World -- And Our Preaching -- Is Changing by David Lose
Preaching as Local Theology and Folk Art by Leonora Tubbs Tisdale
The Journey and Promise of African American Preaching by Kenyatta Gilbert
Who Lynched Willie Earle? Preaching to Confront Racism by William Willimon (former Duke Chapel Dean and my first supervising pastor)
Soundings in Cultural Criticism: Perspectives and Methods in Culture, Power, and Identity in the New Testament by Francisco Lozada, Jr.
Interpretation Theory: Discourse and the Surplus of Meaning by Paul Riceour
Desiring the Kingdom: Worship, Worldview, and Cultural Formation by James K. A. Smith
Making Neighborhoods Whole: A Handbook for Christian Community Development by Wayne Gordon and John Perkins
The New Parish: How Neighborhood Churches are Transforming Mission, Discipleship and Community by Paul Spark
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass by Frederick Douglass
Night by Elie Wiesel
"Letter from a Birmingham Jail" by Martin Luther King, Jr.
Jesus and the Disinherited by Howard Thurman
The Cross and the Lynching Tree by James Cone (an absolute must-read!)
The Christian Imagination: Theology and the Origins of Race by Willie James Jennings (also formerly of Duke Divinity)
Naming the Powers by Walter Wink
Unmasking the Powers by Walter Wink
Engaging the Powers by Walter Wink (these three Wink books should be on every preacher's shelves!)
Covenant of Peace: The Missing Peace in New Testament Theology and Ethics by Willard M. Swartley
Migrations of the Holy: God, State, and the Political Meaning of the Church by William Cavanaugh
Being Consumed: Economics and Christian Desire by William Cavanaugh
Theopolitical Imagination: Christian Practices of Space and Time by William Cavanaugh
The New Asceticism: Sexuality, Gender, and the Quest for God by Sarah Coakley
The Blackwell Companion to Christian Ethics by Stanley Hauerwas (collected essays)
Prayers for a Privileged People by Walter Brueggemann
Acts: A Theological Commentary on the Bible by Willie James Jennings
Cross-cultural Partnerships: Navigating the Complexities of Money and Mission by Mary T. Lederleitner
Going Global: A Congregation's Introduction to Mission Beyond Our Borders by Gary Nelson
Serving With Eyes Wide Open: D oing Short-term Missions with Cultural Intelligence by David Livermore
Ministering Cross-culturally: An Incarnational Model for Personal Relationships by Sherwood Lingenfelter
A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America by Barbara Ehrenreich
The Way We Never Were: American Families and the Nostalgia Trap by Stephanie Coontz
Schindler's List
Le Chambon: La Colline Aux Mille Enfants
Of Gods and Men
Roots
The Mission
Mandela: A Long Walk to Freedom
Selma
Mississippi Burning
Many of these titles have been very formative for me. Some of the ones I will list have been good to read just to hear dissenting voices from my own. I don't necessarily agree with every position taken in every book, but I've learned something from each one and therefore offer them as helpful starting points to further conversation and learning. I will also try to categorize each book so that they can be held together with other books that approach privilege, racism, and contextual theology through a particular lens (i.e., preaching, community development, etc.). Some of these resources don't deal with privilege directly, but I certainly see application and overlap. I hope these are helpful!
Preaching
Dem Dry Bones: Preaching, Death, and Hope by Luke Powery (in full disclosure, also the Dean at Duke Chapel)Preaching as Weeping, Confession, and Resistance: Radical Responses to Radical Evil by Christine M. Smith
Toward a Womanist Homiletic: Katie Canon, Alice Walker, and Emancipatory Proclamation by Donna E. Allen
They Like to Never Quit Praisin' God: The Role of Celebration in Preaching by Frank A. Thomas (one of those preaching books that should be on every preacher's bookshelves)
Listening to Listeners: Homiletical Case Studies by John McClure
Decolonizing Preaching: The Pulpit as Postcolonial Space by Sarah Travis
Blue Note Preaching in a Post-Soul World by Otis Moss III
The End of Words: The Language of Reconciliation in a Culture of Violence by Richard Lischer (in full disclosure, the preaching prof at Duke Divinity when I was a student)
The Liberating Pulpit by Justo Gonzalez
The Word Before the Powers by Charles Campbell (also of Duke Divinity)
Preaching at the Crossroads: How the World -- And Our Preaching -- Is Changing by David Lose
Preaching as Local Theology and Folk Art by Leonora Tubbs Tisdale
The Journey and Promise of African American Preaching by Kenyatta Gilbert
Who Lynched Willie Earle? Preaching to Confront Racism by William Willimon (former Duke Chapel Dean and my first supervising pastor)
Hermeneutics/Interpretation
Reading from this Place, Vol. 1 by Fernando F. Segovia (collection of essays)Soundings in Cultural Criticism: Perspectives and Methods in Culture, Power, and Identity in the New Testament by Francisco Lozada, Jr.
Interpretation Theory: Discourse and the Surplus of Meaning by Paul Riceour
Desiring the Kingdom: Worship, Worldview, and Cultural Formation by James K. A. Smith
Parish Ministry as Community Development
When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor ... And Yourself by Steve CorbettMaking Neighborhoods Whole: A Handbook for Christian Community Development by Wayne Gordon and John Perkins
The New Parish: How Neighborhood Churches are Transforming Mission, Discipleship and Community by Paul Spark
Theology/Ethics/Memoirs
Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? by Martin Luther King, Jr.Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass by Frederick Douglass
Night by Elie Wiesel
"Letter from a Birmingham Jail" by Martin Luther King, Jr.
Jesus and the Disinherited by Howard Thurman
The Cross and the Lynching Tree by James Cone (an absolute must-read!)
The Christian Imagination: Theology and the Origins of Race by Willie James Jennings (also formerly of Duke Divinity)
Naming the Powers by Walter Wink
Unmasking the Powers by Walter Wink
Engaging the Powers by Walter Wink (these three Wink books should be on every preacher's shelves!)
Covenant of Peace: The Missing Peace in New Testament Theology and Ethics by Willard M. Swartley
Migrations of the Holy: God, State, and the Political Meaning of the Church by William Cavanaugh
Being Consumed: Economics and Christian Desire by William Cavanaugh
Theopolitical Imagination: Christian Practices of Space and Time by William Cavanaugh
The New Asceticism: Sexuality, Gender, and the Quest for God by Sarah Coakley
The Blackwell Companion to Christian Ethics by Stanley Hauerwas (collected essays)
Prayers for a Privileged People by Walter Brueggemann
Acts: A Theological Commentary on the Bible by Willie James Jennings
Missions
Missions and Money: Affluence as a Missionary Problem Revisited by Jonathan BonkCross-cultural Partnerships: Navigating the Complexities of Money and Mission by Mary T. Lederleitner
Going Global: A Congregation's Introduction to Mission Beyond Our Borders by Gary Nelson
Serving With Eyes Wide Open: D oing Short-term Missions with Cultural Intelligence by David Livermore
Ministering Cross-culturally: An Incarnational Model for Personal Relationships by Sherwood Lingenfelter
Fiction
Jonah's Gourd Vine by Zora Neale HurstonA Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
Pop Culture
Decoded by Jay-Z (preachers should read this)Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America by Barbara Ehrenreich
The Way We Never Were: American Families and the Nostalgia Trap by Stephanie Coontz
Documentaries/Films
13Schindler's List
Le Chambon: La Colline Aux Mille Enfants
Of Gods and Men
Roots
The Mission
Mandela: A Long Walk to Freedom
Selma
Mississippi Burning