First Baptist Racial Justice Team
The First Baptist Church Racial Justice Team provides opportunities to enrich First Baptist’s understanding of racial injustice, systemic racism, and white privilege with book and film studies, attendance at lectures, participation in pilgrimages, exploration of the arts, review of related history, and by building interracial relationships. The Racial Justice Team also explores local actions promoting racial justice in our church and our community.
Me and White Supremacy 
by Layla F. Saad
Reviewed by First Baptist Racial Justice Team member, Stephen Hoell:
“For several years FBC has hosted a variety of small group studies that have offered language for and increased my awareness of white privilege and systemic racism. A book I happened upon titled, “Me and White Supremacy”, by teacher, author and host of the Good Ancestor Podcast, Layla F. Saad, I found quite valuable. I anticipated finishing the audiobook in under 3 hours and moving on to another book on my list. Two minutes in, however, I realized this book was intended as a 28-day journal with daily questions for deep self-reflection and written responses. Like other books, my plan was to listen and take a few notes so I kept going at 2x playback speed until 45 minutes later when I HEARD: “White exceptionalism is the little voice that convinces you that you can listen to this book but you do not have to do the work. That because you have an intellectual understanding of the concepts being presented here, you do not have to diligently write out your responses to questions. That you can just think about it in your mind, and that is enough.” Whoa! I was practicing white exceptionalism. I was embarrassed and uncomfortable. Instead of barreling forward, I stopped, went back to the beginning and slowed down to engage the tough, personal, and meaningful work of deep self-reflection to write down my responses. In a society that is deeply conditioned to elevate whiteness, I’d encourage you to engage with this book or one like it when you are ready. Reach out to me or other members of the Racial Justice Team to discuss and/or explore material like this as, together, we enrich our understanding of racial injustice, systemic racism and white privilege.”