How to Talk to Black and Brown Students After the Shootings

This is a Guest Blog by Mario Moore.

1,  BRING RECOGNITION TO THE ISSUE (STATE THE FACTS).
Begin by asking simple questions.  Do you know who was shot or killed?  What is their name?  Actually say it.  When did this take place?  Where did it happen?  Who was there when it happened?  Who shot them?  Was there a person of color involved?  Was there a person who is white involved?

At this point, we want to get students in the habit of recognizing that these things are happening.  Both black and white students will need help  here.  We do not know it all but it is better that we learn and process these things together.  Doing it alone can cause students to not give it its due attention or become angry and bitter that no one else has talked to them about it.  We either will take time to learn together or we will passively entrust the media to be their source of wisdom.

But I echo that the challenge is to recognize the facts, not your opinions.  The facts will help us later on as we seek the Lord in how to pray.  Part of the issue is that we do not see things as we ought to.  So be careful not to not bring in presumptions into your dialogue with students.  We do not know all the facts, but there are some things which are crystal clear.
-Practice by analyzing the George Floyd murder.  What is clearly evidenced in this tragedy..
-In a one on one conversation ask someone else what they observed.
-Write down your observations.  This can help down the line to possibly pick up on commonalities.

2.  PRAY FOR THOSE INVOLVED (FAMILY, OFFICERS, CITY...)
Every time this happens, ripple effects are sent throughout and form concentric circles of impact.  Of course those who are closest are from the families of the victim, the officer's family, the city, a large portion of the black and brown community.  In the outer rings my be your students, and many others who are not in that city.  Try to sympathize with those who may be closer to the situation than you are.  Try to put into words what they may feeling at this point and turn to the God who cares for them.  If God cares for them, shouldn't you as well?

As a warning, know that many feelings are intertwined with every tragedy.  They should not be avoided or considered invalid despite how you feel.  Just because its not what you feel does not mean their feelings are invalid.  Imagine if we saw a person fall down and they said their back hurts.  We may not be able to see their pain, feel their pain, or fully understand why it hurts.  It would be cruel of us to disregard their cries and their pain because it did not affect us or we do not feel it.  That posture makes us look like the Levite and the Priest rather than the good Samaritan (ref Luke 10:25-37).   Doing this well can really allow us to weep with those who weep (Romans 12:15) and will help our students and ministers to care well for black students who feel this more acutely.  That being said.....
-Call your black and brown students and pray for them.  Bring the facts with you as to let them know if you are seeing the same thing.
-Host a brief prayer meeting with students over zoom and pray for those involved, the city, the hearts of the people, and the churches there.
-Construct prayer cards with scriptures that can teach your students how to pray when they see these things happen.

3.  ALLOW SPACE FOR FRUSTRATION, CONFUSION, AND ANGER. (TEACH THEM TO LAMENT)
Hear the words of the Lord.  For those who are well have not need for a physician, but those who are unwell (ref Mark 2:17).  So, please teach your students it is is ok to tell the Great Physician where it hurts.  If their feelings are unrighteous, He can make them well.  Our frustration, confusion, fear and anger must be brought under the righteous care of our Lord, Jesus.  So, give them space and prompt them to do so. Ask them to describe their demeanor and listen to them.  Do not explain them away or try to fix them.  Sit with those who are having a hard time.  We often try to quickly turn people to just be happy when their hearts are not there yet.  Walk with them as a good brother or sister.
-Provide journals for students and encourage them to write out their thoughts and prayers.
-Ask students to "describe in 1-3 words how they are feeling about.....?  This is hard for most people to do but it is a great exercise to allow them to stop and process.
-Know someone in your context that can help you and your students process racism and examples of it in your setting.

This does not answer all our questions or solve all our problems.  I pray that things like this will cause us to ask more questions and see that there is a problem.  Then that the weight of the issue would turn us to the One who holds us in his hands.

Mario Moore is an Assistant Campus Minister with the Baptist Collegiate Ministry at the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville.

Arliss Dickerson is a college ministry coach, blogger and author.  His new book, ALMOST EVERYTHING ABOUT COLLEGE MINISTRY, is available at amazon.com.  Type in his name or the title.