Ally Henny :: Stories of Finding Your Voice When the World Says to Shut Up Part Two
We are diving into part two of my conversation with author and advocate Ally Henny. If you missed part one of this conversation I would strongly recommend you check that episode out first so you can hear some context of Ally’s life, ministry, and some of her experiences as a Black woman in predominately white Christian spaces, and a glimpse into her journey of allowing herself to speak up and not just allow racism to be what is just an accepted part of her occupying space in the world. This gave birth to her new book I Won’t Shut Up: Finding Your Voice When the World Tries to Silence You.
Ally shares with us what it can really look like to fight racism from the inside, offers ideas of how to be welcoming in predominately white spaces, and how white people's good intentions can still cause harm if they (including me) aren’t willing to lean in when it's uncomfortable and admit we don’t know what we don’t know. She challenges people to consider what it might look like to embrace discomfort in these conversations. and embracing what we didn’t know and engaging people who do know, and then being willing to learn and sit with it.
Let’s lean in today, friends, and embrace this Kingdom-building work and learn how to better build one another up, and bear one another’s burdens as the body of Christ. I hope and pray that every time you encounter the stories on this podcast, you walk away encouraged to live more fully in your story, equipped with how to engage those around you more fully in their story, and how to better see your place in God’s story. You matter and your story matters.
Connecting with Ally:
The Audiobook is not out yet, stay tuned though!
Book: I Won’t Shut Up: Finding Your Voice When the World Tries to Silence You
Podcast “Combing the Roots”
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References:
Part one of my conversation with Ally (Spotify, Apple)
Dr. Tisby’s episode on the podcast (Ep 119)
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. talking about white liberal allies
Malcolm X talking about white liberal allies
Black churches exist because of white people’s racism - The Color of Compromise is a fantastic historical look at this by the way. (I’m linking his audiobook version here because the first two chapters are audio lectures and easy access to learning!)
“Be the Bridge” Facebook group (There’s a rule if you join it and you are white, you have to be quiet for 3 months before you can say or ask ANYTHING.)
“Be the Bridge” is an incredible resource that truly takes the time to offer resources specifically for white people to learn about how to be an ally.
Pass the Mic podcast episode with Ally talking about Prince Harry, the Royal Family and the Meghan Markle factor /(I THINK it was this episode or the next one where she mentions the parallels with the Royal Family and how H&M left loud)
The Tennessee Three // In the heat of the situation
The Justins (Rep. Justin Pearson and Rep. Justin Jones) and a few insanely captured moments of just blatant trying to get them to sit down and shut up when they were asking questions (oh this one is wild) and one for Rep. Gloria Johnson as well.
Belmont University (can I just say, listening to Dr. Tisby speak at a university that is on the property of a former plantation where hundreds of people were enslaved was… full of feelings.)
The Witness Black Christian Collective
Tyler Burns, President of “The Witness”
Ally and Tyler sharing about their Joy and Justice conference
The Color of Compromise: The Truth About the American Church’s Complicity in Racism by Dr. Jemar Tisby
Scripture References:
Romans 8:29-Growing to be more like Christ
Growing as brothers and sisters in Christ (so many scriptures)
Micah 6:8- Do justice, love mercy, walk humbly with your God
Matthew 6:33-Seek the Kingdom of God
Galatians 6:2, Ephesians 4:1-3-Bear one another’s burdens
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