10 Questions a White Person Could Ask an African American Friend

Make an appointment. Meet on Zoom. On the phone. Or over coffee. Have lunch. Better yet. Have your friend over for a cookout. 

Then ask and just listen. Don't explain. Don't defend. Don't rationalize. Don't minimize. Just listen. Take notes. If you must speak, simply say, "Tell me more" or "What do you mean by that?"

Next, spend some time with God. Ask Him, "Lord, what could I do? What should I do? Would you make me to be more pleasing to You and more of a blessing to my brothers and sisters of color?" 

Finally, pray this way, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Your presence and take not Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit."

10 Questions You Could Ask...

1. What was a defining moment in your childhood or your life where you realized your skin color alone made other people feel uncomfortable around you or even hate you?

2. What others acts of racism have you unjustly experienced?

3. What is the evil behind racism?

4. What is it that you wish that white people understood that it seems like we don’t truly understand?

5. What are things that white people say or do that unintentionally, perhaps, perpetuates racism or is dismissive about race issues?

6. What happens in a culture where “racial jokes” and “off-color” comments by friends, co-workers, or family are allowed to slide by without a challenge?

7. What would you say to the white person who says, “I’m not racist,” “I have black friends,” “I didn’t kill that man in Minnesota,” therefore, “I’m not part of the problem”?

8. What would you say to whites who won’t speak out against racism and bigotry because of the backlash they might receive?

9. I have truly been blessed. What do you think using my blessings well to fight for Biblical justice might look like?

10. What is a question that I did not ask you that I should have asked?