Monday Ministerial Musings
By Rev. Mark William Ennis
2023 Blog #41
October 16, 2023
“Trauma and Race: A Path to Wellbeing” by Rev. Dr. Micah McCreary
During this past week I had the privilege of attending a book signing party at New Brunswick Theological Seminary. The author of the book is Rev. Dr. Micah McCreary who is the president of New Brunswick Theological Seminary, and the book title is “Trauma and Race: A Path to Wellbeing.” It is published by Fortress Press.
I was pleased to attend this book signing and look forward to reading this book although the topic is rather disturbing. It obviously involves race relations and the trauma that non-white people carry within them from generations of abuse. Whether we are comfortable with this or not, there has been a systematic oppression of non-white people by white people since our country was formed.
Indigenous people had their land stolen and the attempt to eradicate such people was an official policy of the United States Government. Black people came to our country, not willingly but through violent force. As late as the 1950’s when suburbs were booming, many of them had provisions in deeds which dis-allowed people of color from buying or moving into these suburbs. The policies of white Americans since our founding should not be anything that we white people should be proud of.
Many of us hate that such a system of oppression began and continues but few of us have discovered ways to get beyond such systems and move toward a society of justice, fairness, and equal treatment. Rev. Dr. McCreary’s book shows a potential path to these goals.
With his background in theology as well as counselling, he has designed a system for overcoming the trauma that has haunted people of color through hundreds of years of systemic racial oppression. This book shows a way forward toward healing. It is not simply a glance back with a look at the present and no hope for the future. This book brings hope for a better future, new healing, and a better tomorrow.
I was pleased to be part of Micah’s book signing party and to hear him interviewed a about his book. I consider him to be a friend and I was happy to share this moment with him. More important than the event is the book itself and the ideas behind it. As Christians, reconciliation and justice are goals that we must strive for and in this book, Dr. McCreary has given us a path toward those goals.
As uncomfortable as this book is for us, I recommend that we all read it. Its message is valuable for people of all races. Reconciliation and justice is an issue for every type of person who longs for the justice and righteous that God requires of us.
May God bless Rev. Dr. McCreary richly for this gift that he has given us.
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