Just prior to Lent, a number of Trinity disciples joined members of other Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod congregations in a series of Zoom seminars considering the Debby Irving book, Waking Up White and Finding Myself in the Story of Race (Elephant Room Press, 2014). In her surprisingly transparent memoir, Irving describes growing up in an all-white suburb of Boston and traces her personal, riveting adulthood journey of discovery regarding her unconscious complicity in racism. I grew up about eight miles from Debby Irving’s hometown (15 years earlier) and reading her honest, absorbing memoir was like holding a mirror before me that she powerfully provided. Below are insights offered by Trinity classmates. The Trinity Racial Justice Task Force highly recommends this memoir to our church family.
Waking Up White made me confront white culture, a reality that I had not identified previously. I was raised being taught that if you work hard and do not give up, you can do anything you want. That point of view was an underpinning in my life. In her book, Irving points out that African Americans are taught to keep their heads down and not to make waves. Starting from these two very different perspectives, it is easy to see the flaw in America’s notion of meritocracy where we are told that anyone can succeed. ~Barbara Devlin
Participating in the Synod series on Waking Up White opened my eyes to privileges I have experienced as a white person. One of Debby Irving’s observations of particular interest to me was her social code growing up that interactions with others should be kept light and cheerful. “Never discuss politics or religion” served as an explicit guideline. Problems were to be kept private. She found that this social norm left her ill-prepared to understand struggle or to engage in difficult conversations without reflexively changing the subject. I believe that engaging in difficult conversations, seeking to understand another person’s point of view and identifying common ground is a critical part of being one in Christ. I feel that having difficult conversations is an important practice the church shouldn’t avoid but embrace. The church is a perfect place for these conversations. We know and respect each other. We can engage without judgement. We can love each other even if we don’t agree. I hope that in our church we can engage in difficult conversations in the coming year. ~ Meg Ehm
The book and workshop were highly revealing. Reading Debby Irving’s book was like reading her personal, usually secret diary. Her writing clearly reveals her transition from ignorance of the active racism (invisible to her) around her family and community to her shocking awakening to the forces of racism-induced behavior influenced by “white privilege.” More shocking, brought out by workshop small group discussion, was becoming aware of my unwitting lifelong ignorance of my own “white privilege” and mostly being a “bystander” in viewing racism events and taking little action to bring about change. The book itself, reinforced by the workshop sessions, has inspired me to participate in long-neglected cultural change. ~Tom Mellon
Waking up White is an eye-opener for anyone who grew up believing the world is genuinely a good place and the people who surrounded you in your upbringing—family, family friends, even your own friends, were genuinely good people but more importantly looked and behaved just like you. Growing up, I understood racism as a disadvantage to others stemming from individual acts of meanness. I was oblivious to the fact that the color of my skin offered me privileges and opportunities daily, unlike individuals of color. For me to understand what has led to systemic racism in this country, I had to overcome the uncomfortable feeling inside of me and face the real truth that I never learned in my American History classes. When you are ready, I encourage you to take a leap of faith and open your heart and mind to such things as Reconstruction, Jim Crow, The GI Bill, redlining, or even Martin Luther King’s letter from Birmingham Jail. Then take the next step and read Waking up White. ~Kim Wreath
The book was an awakening for me as I never thought of myself as having white privilege. Growing up with two parents with only eighth grade educations and both holding full time jobs, I wouldn’t have described myself as privileged in the definition as I once knew it. I was blessed with all the necessities of life and loving, kind, God-fearing parents, but the frills of summer vacations, random shopping trips, or even owning a car were absent. However, I didn’t know what else I was missing. Debby Irving opened my eyes to the reality that anyone with a complexion like mine is indeed privileged. I feel that if White people who haven’t done so would take the time to educate themselves about the historic struggles of Black people still going on today, they might understand why the fight for equality continues. ~ Lynn Staples