12 Actions YOU Can Take to Help Address Causes and Consequences of Racial Inequity

The Rich Young Ruler and YOU

As the days have turned into months and seasons have passed since the protests and conversations around race have taken center stage in our country, there has been much to take in. I have been both encouraged and disappointed by the reactions, actions, inaction and opposition of my white brothers and sisters in Christ. In some cases I have been completely disgusted and angry. But, I have learned that there are times when change is so painfully incremental that the process will just burn you out and make you bitter. Better to go somewhere where life is welcomed rather than stay with those who are willing to fight you to the death for the status quo. To help dissipate my disgust and anger I have to remind myself that these folks are not my audience, but they are on my prayer list. I, by nature, am a champion of change. So, for those of you whose hearts have been shaken, gripped and held captive by a desire to love people of color with a Christ-driven passion, I am excited to take the journey with you.

One of my very respected and beloved friends recently shared a perspective with me that has humbled me. Here is this gist:

The body, the location, the culture that we were born into was ordained by God for a specific purpose. For those born into privilege, it is not for selfish comfort. It is to use that privilege to help others in God-honoring ways.

This is a message that my friend has been speaking to her white Christian friends and acquaintances over the last few months. Many of whom have met her with shunning and disgust. Did I mention these are brothers and sisters in Christ?

Guess what: Matthew 19:16-22. My friend’s message is a version of what Jesus said to the rich, young, ruler (RYR) when He asked him to sell all he had and give to the poor and then follow Jesus. Jesus didn’t tell everyone to do that. But he does tell us to lay down all we have to follow Him. We lay it down for Him to use in the way that He has planned.

Whenever I read this passage, there is always a hope in my heart for that RYR who walked away sadly. I imagine that over the next few days, months or even years, he wrestles with this challenge until he eventually comes back to Jesus, ready to do whatever is asked of him. The happy ending is that he becomes one of Christ most loyal followers…………….. who knows? I don’t. But I do know that our riches and our comfort have a lot to do with how little we do for God and those He wants to send us to.

In case you have been wrestling with the thought, the compassionate burdening question of “How can I do more” as it relates to racial inequities in our country, I have some ideas. These ideas come from an understanding that many of the racial inequalities we see have very real and tangible impact with poverty and disadvantage as the end result. It’s hard to separate race and economic disadvantage. Technically, they can be teased apart, but for the purpose I am writing today, I will not do that. There are plenty of books and papers out there that you can access on

Many of you who have done lots of soul seeking regarding race have emerged with a new desire to be part of the healing. Below are some action items you might prayerfully consider. Before you read that list, read this “Caution list”:

Caution:

• These action items are RYR level. They are EXTREMELY UNCOMFORTABLE, INCONVENIENT, AND MAY BE SEEN AS LUDICRIOUS. THEY ARE HIGHLY SACRIFICIAL AND HUMBLING. But they can be extremely powerful with far-reaching results.
• Prayerfully consider this list. Sometimes we are so eager to do something, that we end up doing something crazy and cause more harm than good.
• This list is not exhaustive. These are starter ideas.
• You may not be in a position to do any of these. However, there are probably a thousand more things that are just as RYR level that you can take on.
• You are not a Savior. You are a servant. You are a sister or a brother to a person of color in this human experience. You are not above anyone you serve. You are the foot washer. If you remember this, your service will have great power.

Twelve RYR level actions you can take to be part of the solution:

1. Invest in communities of color: When you get your next big promotion, rather than moving out of your current big house and into a more expensive property, buy investment property in a low income neighborhood. Rent it out and provide safe, affordable housing. Find a property manager or a management company that employs or is owned by people of color. Or, build an affordable home and sell it.
2. Be an amazing landlord. If you own rental real estate in an area populated with people of color, make sure that your properties are in good order. How can kids do well in school if your properties have mold, poor heating or pests? Pay attention to your tenants and do not allow active criminals to inhabit your property. Everyone deserves to live in a safe neighborhood.
3. Engage in intentional hiring practices. Review your company’s or your personal hiring record. Identify the percentage of hires of people of color. This one is tricky because people are quick to say that they have not encountered qualified people of color. One thing to recognize is that job openings are usually communicated to people who are in the same circles of the people that are currently employed by you. Reach out to people of color in your network to share job openings with and be very clear about qualifications. Trust me they will know some very highly qualified people of color who would be a great fit. If you don’t have people of color in your network, skip to number 7. IMMEDIATELY.
4. Shift your paradigms. Revisit the concept of fit in the professional environment. Many times in the hiring process we look for people that we easily feel comfortable with. Unfortunately most times those people tend to share our same characteristics. Think about the person’s qualifications, and what their experiences and unique perspectives will bring to your team. People with different cultural or ethnic backgrounds can make an amazing fit for your team. And they don’t have to act like you (same mannerisms, colloquialisms, vernacular, and so forth) in order to do so.
5. Intentional placement. Place yourself in diverse environments. When purchasing your next primary residence, actively look in areas that are racially diverse. Or connect with churches of color, online Bible studies, prayer teams and, small groups where you are the minority. When you get to know people as people, you learn that differences can be appreciated, embraced, and celebrated as opposed to being an automatic divider.
6. Evaluate your inner circle. When is the last time you had a real relationship with a person of color? Can you visit each other’s homes? Do you know each other‘s families? Have you done anything outside of your comfort zone inside of their comfort zone? Vice versa? Go out and seek to build connections with those who are different from you and embrace them as a brother or sister (not as a project).
7. Check your arrogance at the door. Be aware of the Savior mentality and avoid it. The only way to do this is to look at a fellow human being as a brother or sister that you are eager to do life with. Your privileges or skin tone do not make you a greater human being than any other person.
8. Intentional relationships; output. Seek out people of color to mentor or partner with. Whether at work or in your community.
9. Intentional relationship: input. Seek out people of color that can mentor you. If you think you can’t learn anything from a person of color, then just go to your prayer closet. Please don’t come out anytime soon. Don’t die in there. Just stay in there until that arrogant, supremacist spirit of pride dies.
10. Listen to learn. Listen to the experiences of people of color and accept that you don’t get to articulate the narrative of American life for them. That would be you operating with a white supremacist mind set. I don’t think you want that.
11. Use your gifts. If you are an amazing teacher, use your gift in a school with a high “minority” populations.
12. Financial support. Set aside regular giving to organizations (small or large) that are having an impact in communities of color. Create relationships with businesses led by people of color. Promote and support them!

Please prayerfully consider Jesus’ conversation with the RYR:

Matthew 19:16-22

16 Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good[a] Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”17 So He said to him, [b]“Why do you call Me good? [c]No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” 18 He said to Him, “Which ones?”Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ 19 ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”20 The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept [d]from my youth. What do I still lack?”21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.