#379 – Lisa Sharon Harper – Race. Restoration. Real Healing.

Do you struggle to understand why race is so important in American life? Why people of color seem to struggle more than others in their quest to experience the proverbial American dream? Do you ever question your own role in the persistence of systemic racism or question if there is even such a [...]

Whether we realize it or not, our ancestral past impacts us regardless of the color of our skin. Given the unique experience of black and brown people in this world, that impact has echoed through time. Trauma plays a role in who you really are, who you think you are, and how you interact with the world.

My conversation with author, speaker, and activist Lisa Sharon Harper both challenged me and enlightened me. Lisa discusses her book, Fortune: How Race Broke My Family and the World – and How to Repair It All. Lisa encourages us to study our families' histories so we can better understand the magnitude of systemic racism in America and the ways in which our families have been impacted in times past and present by racist practices that were created generations ago. Knowledge really is power. The truth can be painful, difficult to hear, and hard to face, but change is possible – especially  if we commit to being intentional about seeking truth, forgiveness, healing, and restitution.
Highlights from Today's Episode

Wrestling with uncomfortable truths 
Restoring relationship with restitution 
Forgiving what is irreparable
Acknowledging racism in the Church

Resources Mentioned: 

Connect with Lisa Sharon Harper on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook or on her website.
Check out her play, “An’ Push Da Wind Down” or one of her 6 books, “Fortune”, “Evangelical Does Not Equal Republican or Democrat”, “Left, Right and Christ”, “Forgive Us: Confessions of a Compromised Faith”, “Still Evangelical”, “The Very Good Gospel” 
Check out these books recommended by Lisa: “Saving Grace” by Kirsten Powers, “Traveling Mercies” by Anne Lamott, “The Color Purple” by Alice Walker, “My Body is Not a Prayer Request” by Amy Kenny.
Check out these movies mentioned by Lisa: Harriett Tubman, A Woman Called Moses, and Roots.
Are you a writer looking for a space to grow and develop your craft? Consider joining Lisa’s Global Writers Group.
Interested in learning more about your family history? Start by creating a free account on www.ancestry.com.

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