My latest thoughts on
faith, family, disability,
privilege, and healing
AJB Recommends: Resources About Antiracism, the Enneagram, and Church in the 1960s
#Blacklivesmatter. Cancel culture. Free speech. Antiracism. Marxism. Classical liberalism. Democracy. These are the ideas, words, themes that have been swirling in my brain for the
What Should We Do About Segregated Sunday Mornings?
The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. famously said that 11 a.m. on Sunday morning was “the most segregated hour of the week” across the
S3 E4 | Challenging Comfort, Acknowledging Power, and Using Privilege with Natasha Robinson
Natasha Sistrunk Robinson began her career as a United States Marine and later worked in the Department of Homeland Security. She is now an author,
Continuing the Conversation: Penny and Black Lives Matter
In this week’s podcast, I interviewed all three of our kids about their experiences over the past few years of reading diverse books, traveling to museums
Continuing the Conversation: William and Growing Up to Be a White Man
In this week’s podcast, I interviewed all three of our kids about their experiences over the past few years of reading diverse books, traveling to museums
Continuing the Conversation: Marilee and Ruby Bridges
In this week’s podcast, I interviewed all three of our kids about their experiences over the past few years of reading diverse books, traveling to
S3 Bonus | Talking with Our Kids About Race, Justice, Love, and Privilege
How do we talk with kids about race, justice, and privilege? In this follow up to last week’s interview with Patricia Raybon, Amy Julia interviews
Christianity Today Essays: Racial Healing Within the Church
Six years ago, I decided to run a series of essays on my blog at Christianity Today about racial reconciliation and healing within the church.
AJB Recommends: Reckoning with Our American Identity
As Americans across the nation gather (or don’t gather, as we are in a time of global pandemic!) to celebrate the 4th of July, many
The Radical Generosity of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton
Tonight at 7pm EST, Disney Plus will release a film version of the megahit Broadway musical Hamilton. Our whole family will gather in our playroom
Uncomfortable, Beautiful, Disruptive Change
Institutions change slowly. Individuals change slowly. If I change my diet and exercise patterns, it takes weeks for that change to register on a scale.
A Black Lady Talks to a White Cop
“A black lady talks to a white cop.” That was the title of the essay Patricia Raybon wrote as a guest author on my blog
S3 E3 | Our Different Stories Divide Us with Patricia Raybon
How do white parents talk with their children about race and racism? Why do white evangelical and Black Christians seem so socially and politically divided?
Five Next Steps Toward Racial Healing
I resisted offering “action items” for white people (like me) who wanted to DO something about injustice and inequity in our nation for a long
S3 E2 | Living into the Really Real with Micha Boyett
How can we talk about race and disability without conflating the two? How can white, able-bodied, neurotypical people enter into this conversation? What is the
The Difference Between White Fragility and Vulnerability
Robin DiAngelo’s book White Fragility has soared to the top of the non-fiction bestseller list. If you haven’t heard of it before, here’s a podcast
Penny Heads to High School
This week we celebrated the end of Penny’s years in middle school with a car parade through campus, a dinner out—for the first time in
I Didn’t Know About Juneteenth…
I started hearing and learning about Juneteenth a few years ago as a holiday where African Americans celebrated emancipation from slavery. I was a white
Privilege, Monuments, and Healing
Twenty-one years ago, I moved to Monument Avenue, in Richmond, Virginia. The monuments that line the center of this thoroughfare that connects downtown Richmond to
S3 E1 | Waking Up to Privilege with David Bailey
Race, class, and the kingdom of God all come up in this conversation between Amy Julia and David Bailey, Director of Arrabon, a ministry to
Using My Head, My Heart, and My Hands to Consider Defunding the Police
Defunding the police? Support and thank the police? Criticize the police? Commend the police? There’s a long list of names of Black men and women
Season 3 Trailer: White Picket Fences
Are you looking for a safe place to talk about race, class, and social divisions? Do you want to learn more about these topics? Do
Recommended Books, Podcasts, and Films about Race and Privilege
Post contains affiliate links. As I’ve written before, one part of a meaningful, transformational, humble, and holistic response to the history and current reality of
Christianity Today: Enough to Share in the Land of Plenty
I write about love, peace, hope, and possibilities a lot. In the midst of a global conversation about disease, death, and despair, I worry about
Some Stories of Hope in a Week of Hardship
Hope and racism. Ta-Nehisi Coates is feeling hopeful. I didn’t think I would ever type those words. Coates is famous for his 2015 memoir, Between
Injustice: Reflect, Relate, Respond
My various news feeds are swirling with people responding to injustice. Peaceful protests all across the nation. Violence and looting. Police brutality. Police support. Theological
A Week of Protests: Learn, Listen, Lament, and Love
As everyone paying any attention to the news knows, social unrest and protests have broken out across our nation. A black man named George Floyd
Chapter 4: Prayer
When I was deciding what chapters to record for this Reading Small Talk podcast, I skimmed through the whole book. But when I got to
Five First Steps toward Participating in Racial Healing
How can white people respond to racial tensions and violence in a meaningful way? How can white people contribute to a collective work of racial
George Floyd and Breonna Taylor: Why These Particular Deaths Deserve Our Attention
I woke up to reports of violence in multiple cities around the country. In the wake of George Floyd’s death earlier this week and the
