Podcast Recommendation: On Ramp, Two Christians Talk About Race
Few things are more pressing in our country than an honest examination of the legacy of racism. It affects everything from education and housing to policing and healthcare. For too long, the Church has been (wittingly or unwittingly) complicit in maintaining the status quo.
Two years ago my denomination, the United Church of Christ, called upon Christians to engage in “sacred conversations” about racial reconciliation. Unfortunately, as important as this effort is, I have rarely seen these conversations go well. Too often, preconceived notions are reinforced, the seemingly enlightened feel self-congratulated, and no real progress is made.
This is why I have so much appreciated being introduced to “On Ramp.” In this podcast Shane Blackshear and Kerri Fisher talk accessibly about the reality of race in America. They come at this conversation as friends. That level of trust allows them a more open and honest dialogue than I usually hear.
An eventful first season
The first season is twelve episodes long. Among other issues, they talk about bias, stereotyping in the media, crime, and the legacy of slavery. They take turns facilitating the conversations so that their perspectives as a woman of color and a white man will better balance each other out. They are Christians speaking to a Christian audience, but the conversations should be valuable to people of other traditions as well.
For people who are new to this conversation, I encourage you to listen to the introductory episode first. It explains their backgrounds and their approach. Parts of the discussion will be uncomfortable. Listen to more than one episode before dismissing their approach.
Trusting and challenging each other
It is okay to disagree with what they are saying. At times they even disagree with each other. Hear them out. The point is to learn to listen and truly understand what other people are trying to say. Learn from the conversation. Take the bits of wisdom you hear and set the rest aside.
The hosts routinely demonstrate that none of this is about blame or accusation. Racial inequality started long before any of us were born. None of us have it all figured out. “On Ramp” is exactly what it says it is, an accessible introduction to a challenging subject. It is a great way to take a small step outside whichever bubble you were raised in. Allow the encounter to change you and help you grow. Through that growth our nation will become more and more the society that God has called us to be.
