Black people identify with #GeorgeFloyd, #BrionnaTaylor, #ChristianCooper. We recognize something of ourselves in them. They remind us of family and friends. We know it could've been us. So we lament. We mourn. We protest. We advocate.

I wonder how many white people see themselves in Amy Cooper, in Gregory and Travis McMichaels. How many times have you held your purse or your child's hand tighter when you passed by us? How many times have you wondered if that appropriately masked black man was a threat to you?

How many times have you refused to acknowledge the racist rumblings in your heart against African Americans and other people of color? How often have you tolerated racist comments and jokes and conversations at the dinner table, in the conference room, in the fellowship hall?

Often my white friends don't seem to know how to respond to racial injustice. I think the first response is to look inward. See if there is any wicked way in you and ask the Lord to lead you in the way that is everlasting, the old ancient way, the way of truth and righteousness.

The second response is repentance. Repent of what the Lord reveals in your heart. Repent of not loving deeply from the heart those who are unlike you. Repent of silence and apathy and quick judgments. Repent of passing along racist attitudes and behavior to your children.

Repent of gladly tolerating fools in your extended family and friendships who are clearly racist. Repent of being unwilling to give up privilege and power and position to stand for what is right.

Repent of failing to risk even one little thing for the sake of your black and brown brothers and sisters in Christ. You pastor them yet you don't call or text or offer a word of prayer.

They are in your small group, yet you assume they are unaffected by these horrible incidents so you don't reach out to them. Or, you hide behind the "I don't know what to say" trope, so you don't say anything.

They're your colleagues and in your social networks, but you've never thought to ask how they're doing. We see it. We feel it. We know what it means. In effect, you don't care enough. We don't want pity and we don't want you to use us to assuage your guilt.

But for those who want to know what they can do, here's a start:
Look inward for seeds of racism in your heart.
Repent of racist attitudes, actions, systems that you willingly participate in.
Call your family and friends to account.
Risk something for the sake of another.