Episode 31: Talking About Race with Youth (Michelle Ami Reyes)

It’s tempting to avoid direct conversations about racism because it immediately raises people’s alarm systems. We all bring our personal baggage into the conversation and we don’t want to cause offense to anyone through disagreements. How can youth pastor theologians model faithful ways to have sensitive conversations? 

• How can youth workers in mostly white youth groups care for the non-white students in our ministries - especially when we witness racism or cultural insensitivity? 
• How does the gospel reshape the way we think and talk about racism? 
• What are some of the biggest misconceptions people have about race conversations, and how can we avoid serious misunderstandings. 
• Sometimes we simply misunderstand each other. But sometimes we really do fundamentally disagree with our brothers and sisters in Christ. How can we disagree with each other well and navigate that with trust and respect from both sides of those disagreements. 

Michelle Ami Reyes is the creator of Seasoned with Grace and writes at the intersection of multiculturalism, faith, and justice. She is the author of Becoming All Things, and co-author of The Race-Wise Family. Michelle lives in Austin, Texas with her pastor husband, and two amazing kids.

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