Silencing White Noise - by Willie Dwayne Francois (Paperback)

About the Book

A prominent faith leader calls people of all racial backgrounds to engage six "rhythms of reparative intercession" to silence white noise--the racist speech, ideas, and policies that lull us into inaction on racial injustice--and to develop lifelong Christian antiracist practices.

Book Synopsis

★ Publishers Weekly starred review

"A superior volume on Christian antiracism."--Publishers Weekly

Racism 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.

In 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.

Weaving 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.

From the Back Cover

Six Practices to Develop Lifelong Christian Anti-racism

Racism 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.

In 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.

"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

"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

"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

"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

"Francois demonstrates why he is one of the most important pastoral voices of our generation."
--Candice Marie Benbow, author of Red Lip Theology

"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)

About the Author

Willie Dwayne Francois III (DMin, Candler School of Theology) is senior pastor of Mount Zion Baptist Church in Pleasantville, New Jersey, and president of the Black Church Center for Justice and Equality. He serves as assistant professor of liberation theology at New York Theological Seminary and directs a master's degree program at Sing Sing Correctional Facility. He created the Public Love Organizing and Training Project and has served in various organizations engaging racial justice issues, including the Atlantic City chapter of Black Lives Matter, the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference, and the NJ Department of State's MLK Jr. Commission. Francois is an active speaker and has written for HuffPost, Sojourners, The Hill, the Christian Century, and Religion Dispatches.