Drick Boyd's Blog
A Meditation on the Murder of Eddie Irizarry
Introduction in the last several blog entries I have been outlining the nature and process of systemic racism. I have sought to make clear that systemic racism is different than what most people think of as racism. We tend to think of racism as a discriminatory or...
Responding to Systemic Racism
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will test and approve what is God’s will - God’s good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12.2, The New International Version) Don’t become so...
Opening Our Eyes to Systemic Racism
“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then You will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —- God’s good, pleasing and perfect will.” The Apostle Paul Letter to the Romans 12.2 ...
Christianity and the Religion of Jesus
In this posting, we continue our discussion of antiracism as spiritual formation by looking at the way the Christian faith, as it is often conceived and practiced, has been shaped and distorted by systemic and historic racism. Howard Thurman in India In 1935 when he...
Antiracism and Spiritual Formation
Introduction For the past few months, I have been exploring the ways in which our spirituality and spiritual practices can be shaped and informed by a commitment to resist racism in all its forms: interpersonal, cultural and structural. As a framework for discussing...
Black Jesus
Jesus Among the Disinherited In my previous blog I reflected on Howard Thurman’s depiction of Jesus in his book Jesus and the Disinherited. Based on Thurman’s understanding, I said Jesus was not a charismatic outsider coming to “rescue” the poor, but rather was one...
Jesus and the Disinherited
Several years ago my good friend Mary Wade introduced me to the writings of Howard Thurman. Mary is an expert on Dr. Howard Thurman, having earned her PhD (1) after a long career with the American Friends Service Committee as well as serving as a Baptist pastor. Now...
Spiritual Formation Starts with Jesus
In my introduction to this series on “Antiracism as Spiritual Formation” I shared a definition of spiritual formation offered by Dr. Robert Mulholland in his book Invitation to a Journey: A Road Map for Spiritual Formation. In the preface to that book Mulholland...
Antiracist Spirituality – Take Two
Been in the Struggle In my previous posting “Seeking to Develop an Antiracist Spirituality,” I began to explore what a spirituality rooted in an antiracist perspective and lifestyle entails. I reflected on a presentation by the Anglican priest Rev. Kenneth Leech to...
Seeking to Develop an Antiracist Spirituality
The Episcopal Urban Caucus 1994 In 1994 The Episcopal Urban Caucus (EUC) met in Charlotte, North Carolina. Founded in 1975 the EUC is a group within Episcopal Church in the United States that seeks to raise up issues of social justice for the wider church. Their...
Antiracism as Engaged Spirituality
Discovering Engaged Spirituality During the summer I turned 17, I made a conscious decision to become a follower of Jesus. In the language of the evangelical context in which this happened I “gave my life to Christ.” While for me, the decision was not particularly...
Antiracism as Spiritual Formation: An Invitation
Spirituality and the Battle Against Racism Several months ago I was invited to give an address at a Christian college related to my 2021 book, Disrupting Whiteness: Talking with White People About Race. My presentation was part of an ongoing effort of the institution...
An Open Letter in Defense of AP African American Studies
A couple of weeks ago I posted a response to Florida Governor Desantis' action forbidding the teaching of an AP course in African American Studies in public high schools. At this Ink is a more detailed and critical response to the action by Gov. Desantis signed by...
Shame on You Governor DeSantis!
On Monday, January 23, just one week after commemorating the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced that his administration would not allow public schools in his state to offer the Advanced Placement course in African...
Against the Grain: Talking with White People about Racism in a Time of Polarization
On January 9, I spoke at the First Monday program of Pendle Hill Quaker Study Center on the topic of "Against the Grain: Talking with White People About Racism in a time of Polarization." A YouTube recording of that presentation and the discussion that followed can be...