Annotated Bibliography – Compiled by Ann Marie and Don Coleman

Number Twelve – November 2010

This bibliography was a handout at the Pro-Reconciliation/Anti-Racism booth at the 2010 Regional Assembly. Putting it in blog form makes it more available to more people and it allows you to share what you’ve been reading and resources with which you are familiar. Please add your comments to this blog.
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Hobgood, Chris. 2009. BORN APART, BECOMING ONE: DISCIPLES DEFEATING RACISM. St. Louis, Missouri: Chalice Press.
Five tenants of Christianity and their articulation within the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) tradition are discussed. Hobgood proposes a sixth: dismantling Racism in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). This Pro/Reconciliation/Anti-Racism agenda of the denomination is embedded within (incarnated within) the five basic beliefs of the Christian tradition.

Jha, Sandhya Rani. 2009. ROOM AT THE TABLE: STRUGGLES FOR UNITY AND EQUALITY IN DISCIPLE HISTORY. St. Louis, Missouri: Chalice Press.
This small, but information packed book, surveys Disciples’ history in relation to the “others” (Blacks, Native Americans, Japanese, Koreans, Chinese, Haitians and Mexicans). Sharing the Good News of Christ with immigrants has often included making them loyal US citizens and seems to make patriotism more important than serving within the reign of God. The struggle for unity continues and equality within the church is not to be taken for granted.

Ministry of Reconciliation (ed.). 2009. FROM BELOVED COMMUNITY TO COMMUNITY OF HOPE. Indianapolis, IN: Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
A small group guide for engaging in a time “of hope and change.” These seven sermons were put together to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. 80th birthday and the inauguration of President Barack Obama on January 20, 2009.
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Lee, Nelle Harper.1960. TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. New York, NY: HarperCollins.
If you haven’t read this celebrated Pulitzer Prize winning novel then put everything else aside and READ IT. This book was published 50 years ago and is still relevant in its portrayal of the debilitating effects of Racism on people’s lives and the life of a community.

Nevergold, Barbar A. Seals and Peggy Brooks-Betram. 2009. GO TELL MICHELLE: AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN WRITE TO THE NEW FIRST LADY. Albany, New York: State University of New York Press.
This collection of letters and poems will bring tears to your eyes as Black women of all walks of life share their joy and dreams for new opportunities as the first Black family moves into the White House. Older women never thought they’d see this day and younger women articulate dreams of new opportunities for themselves and their children.

Stockett, Kathryn. 2009. THE HELP. New York, NY: Penguin
Twenty-two year old Eugenia Skeeter Phelan has just returned home to Jackson, Mississippi after graduating from Ole Miss. She dreams of becoming a writer but needs a project. She gains the trust of her parent’s maid Abilean, and through Abilean the trust of other Black servants. Skeeter collects the stories of the Help serving the wealthy of Jackson and writes about their lives. This is a deeply moving novel about the social circles we live within, and the ones we find courage to cross.
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Alexander, Michelle. 2010. THE NEW JIM CROW: MASS INCARCERATION IN THE AGE OF COLORBLINDNESS. New York, NY: The New York Press.
Studies show that drug crime rates are remarkably similar between men of various ethnic groups but black and brown offenders have been imprisoned at rates twenty to fifty times greater than the rates for white men. This is no accident or coincidence. It is a racist form of channeling black men into prison in order to remove them from a white dominated and controlling society. It is similar to the intent and practice of imprisoning and creating prison work gangs of black men during the Reconstruction days after the Civil War.

Ayers, Bill and Bernardine Dohrn. 2009. RACE COURSE: AGAINST WHITE SUPREMECY. Chicago, Illinois: Third World Press.
Over a dinner conversation Haki R. Madhubuti, founder and publisher of Third World Press, invites Bernardine Dohrn and Bill Ayers to write about their life’s struggles against Racism. The idea for the book RACE COURSE was born. It is Bernardine and Bill’s journey, as a white couple, overcoming their personal racism and articulating their understanding that White Supremacy is “state terrorism.” In each chapter one learns about their personal struggles and is challenged by their analysis of systemic Racism.

Drey, Phillip. 1996. AT THE HANDS OF PERSONS UNKNOWN: THE LYNCHING OF BLACK AMERICANS. New York, NY: Random House.
Terrorism is the act of intimidating and immobilizing a certain group of people by acts of intimidation, violence and murder. Drey describes the lynching of hundreds (perhaps thousands) of people by white community leaders as their efforts to control by fear Black citizens in the United States.

Guskin, Jane and David L. Wilson. THE POLITICS OF IMMIGRATION: QUESTION AND ANSWERS. New York, NY: Monthly Review Press.
False information abounds regarding immigrants and immigration policies. This book addresses the most frequently asked questions with facts and in a format that is easy to find wanted/needed information.

Wright, Jeremiah A. 1993. WHAT MAKES YOU STRONG? SERMONS OF JOY AND STRENGTH FROM JEREMIAH A.WRIGHT. Valley Forge, PA: Judson Press.
A sermon quoted extensively in the news, during his campaign for the presidency, led to a break in relationships between Barrack Obama and his pastor and Trinity United Church of Christ. This book provides opportunities to read, in his own words, the Gospel of God’s love as preached by Pastor Wright.



Members of the Team have found these books helpful and challenging. We also know that you may have some books or resources that are important to you. Please share them with us.

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Team Members:
Karon Alexander, Dwight Bailey, Jerry Bennett-Barker, Britany Barber, Darron Bowden, Gloria Carey-Branch, Minta Coburn, Ann Marie Coleman, Don Coleman, Teresa Dulyea-Parker, Martha Herrin, Carol Josefowski, Delre Smith, Leila Ward