A PASTOR TALKS: OLU BROWN

Olujimi (Olu) Brown is a father of two and the lead pastor of Impact Church in East Point, where he and his congregation strive to bring healing, justice and compassion to the world. Atlanta Parent spoke with him about improving race relations.

ATLANTA PARENT:

What can an individual do to improve social and race relations?

OLU BROWN:

We have to be willing to have deeper conversations and talk to each other. If we simply believe the sometimes true yet often false narratives that are told about other people, and don’t have a conversation with people who are different, there is never a real opportunity to demystify the myths about individuals or certain groups.

In my congregation, I talk about actually sitting down and having a meal with someone who thinks, looks and acts differently. If you are a Democrat, find a Republican; if you are white, find a person of another ethnicity; if you are older, find a millennial, and actually sit down to engage in deeper conversations and valued relationships.

AP:

How can parents positively approach a conversation with their children about race and current social unrest issues?

OB:

As parents we have to be reminded that it is first important to always have a “calming presence,” and the only way we can do this is to be “centered within ourselves.” As parents we are mentally “in so many different places” that we give off energies our children can certainly pick up on. It’s important to be calm and centered so that when you have a conversation with a young person, they don’t feel the anxiety, fears and frustrations of their parents. Be sure to ask your children questions such as: how are you feeling, what are you thinking, what are your friends saying, what are you seeing on social media? When your kids do respond to these questions, be sure to hear them out and don’t be quick to correct, but rather walk with them to a healthier place and a common point of mutual understanding.

AP:

What advice would you give to white parents?

OB:

One encouragement that I would offer to white parents is to be aware of what you don’t know, and don’t be afraid to communicate this to your child. I think from a positive perspective, many of our white brothers and sisters are realizing now that there are gaps of understanding, and how we fill in those gaps can determine our trajectory going forward.

Keep in mind that “no child is born a racist,” and often when we see a child displaying racist ideals they are simply acting out what they’ve seen, heard or been taught both directly and indirectly. A white parent might start race relations conversations by saying: “There are some historic isms that our nation has struggled with from the very beginning, and as a parent I want to take this journey with you so that together we can learn more about many of the injustices that have happened to people of color and other minority groups.”

– Monica Croom