Silencing White Noise: Six Practices to Overcome Our Inaction on Race

★ Publishers Weekly starred review\n"A superior volume on Christian antiracism."--Publishers Weekly\nRacism is omnipresent in American life, both public and private. We are immersed in what prominent faith leader Willie Dwayne Francois III calls white noise--the racist speech, ideas, and policies that lull us into inaction on racial justice. White noise masks racial realities and prevents constructive responses to microaggressions, structural inequality, and overt interpersonal racism.\nIn this book, Francois calls people of all racial backgrounds to take up practices that overcome silence and inaction on race and that advance racial repair. Drawing from his anti-racism curriculum, the Public Love Organizing and Training (PLOT) Project, Francois encourages us to move from a "colorblind" stance of mythic innocence to one that takes an honest account of our national history and acknowledges our complicity in racism as a prelude to anti-racist interventions.\nWeaving together personal narrative, theology, and history, this book invites us to engage 6 "rhythms of reparative intercession." These are six practices of anti-racism that aim to repair harm by speaking up and "acting up" on behalf of others. Silencing White Noise offers concrete ways to help people wrest free from the dangers of racism and to develop lifelong Christian anti-racist practices.\nFrom the Back Cover\nSix Practices to Develop Lifelong Christian Anti-racism\nRacism is omnipresent in American life, both public and private. We are immersed in what prominent faith leader Willie Dwayne Francois III calls white noise--the racist speech, ideas, and policies that lull us into inaction on racial justice.\nIn this book, Francois calls people of all racial identities to engage six "rhythms of reparative intercession" to silence white noise and to develop lifelong Christian anti-racist and abolitionist practices.\n"Francois charts a course for faithful followers of Christ to move from silent complicity with racism to prophetic resistance."
--Leah Gunning Francis, vice president for academic affairs and dean, Christian Theological Seminary\n"A book that wakes us up and cuts through the static. Silencing White Noise provides next steps to get--and keep--us moving in the direction on which our lives depend."
--Jennifer Harvey, associate provost of equity and inclusion, Drake University; author of Dear White Christians: For Those Still Longing for Racial Reconciliation\n"A brilliant contribution by a brilliant man of biblical faith to the struggle to make America a truly just and humane society."
--Obery M. Hendricks Jr., author of Christians Against Christianity: How Right-Wing Evangelicals Are Destroying Our Nation and Our Faith\n"An unflinching look at how the white noise of racism keeps us stalled out on the road to a true multiracial democracy and a call to cultivate practices that can get us moving. A necessary book."
--Stephanie Paulsell, Susan Shallcross Swartz Professor of the Practice of Christian Studies, Harvard Divinity School\n"Francois demonstrates why he is one of the most important pastoral voices of our generation."
--Candice Marie Benbow, author of Red Lip Theology\n"Francois packs this stunning manifesto full of history and theory, providing reliably sharp analysis whether dissecting the Bible or Foucault. This is a superior volume on Christian antiracism."
--Publishers Weekly (starred review)