Look what arrived this morning! Just in time for me to start reading up before tomorrow's #StrictlyRE panel on anti-racist RE. @AnthonyGReddie @SaimaSaleh_RE

Realised I should make this a book thread. I'll try to keep any comments/reflections here. I'm finding it a very helpful book so far. Good introduction to Black Theology, Practical Theology and Participative Black Theology in the introduction.

Good point about "the bulk of racism in the UK" often built on "seemingly concealed forms of 'English manners' and spurious politeness add opposed to legal sanctions..." and references to "patrician" notions of "Euro-American hegemony or power". I'm sure I've been guilty of this.

"I believe it is still the case that Black people know far more about White people than the reverse." Yes - I'm embarrassed by how I little I knew about the Black British experience historically before I began reading more widely. I would encourage everyone to read more widely.

Have just discovered that @AnthonyGReddie was, like me, a member of a Christian street-theatre group at university! Mine was CMaD @univofstandrews - Christian Music and Drama society - I mainly acted in churches and theatres, but have "mimed" outside Holy Trinity Church...

You know when you read something that seems both fresh and obvious at the same time? The parable of the "good" Samaritan - does this reinforce that the "other" is not normally "good"? Should call it the parable of "the Samaritan of extraordinary mercy". (Page 18)

Chapter two features some Caribbean 'proverbs'. Some familiar ones, only in a different voice. "Wantey wantey nuh getty getty, but getty getty nuh wantey wantey." Perhaps a good one for looking at modern day prophets: "Tell de trut' an sleep a door!" (Page 26)

A particulate favourite that is new but relateable: "If yu 'ave ears fi 'ear, but cyaan 'ear, den yu mus' feel." If you've been given a warning but don't listen, you must feel the consequences, and learn the hard way. What sayings did you learn growing up? Who taught you?

Reading these remind me of the Chewa proverbs that we have in our library, listed, explained and illustrated. Reddie refers to OT proverbs: "they work through relationship, repetition and remembering."

Anthony Reddie's reflections on his name remind me of the time I met a Black woman working in a shop in Toronto who had my surname, Reynolds. I was about 15 and thought it was quite cool that we could be related. Now I wonder more poignantly about that connection.

A definition of Black theology, and three themes in its development - which seem to me to be trinitarian. This also links to a previous book that made the links of Black church to Moses/community liberation, White church to Paul/individual salvation.

One section on Black theological reflections on Biblical passages covers the shepherds present at the birth of Jesus. Important people, needed by society, but seen as ritually unclean. Key workers? Also reminds me of refuse workers in Bolivia: https://cafod.org.uk/News/International-news/Not-standing-for-any-rubbish

I've missed out chapter 5 (will read tomorrow!) in order to read the afterword on Black Lives Matter. Clear reflections and evidence on the need for reparations, including reference to the Rich Young Man and Zacchaeus.

"The use of finance for constructive purposes is a liberatory theological and ethical commitment that demonstrates Black Lives Matter.... God - who is not colour-blind - demands nothing less!" (Page 113).