Racist Youth Pastor

Love covers a multitude of sins

I recently listened to a remarkable book by Tayari Jones titled Leaving Atlanta. In this historical fiction story, Jones shares the thoughts of three black fifth-grade classmates during the Atlanta child murders that took place in the years 1979-1980. Through the eyes of these children, readers experience how the terror of such evil can cause anxiety, depression, and insecurity in the mind of a child. The audiobook is superb!

Jones's ability to interpret a black child’s thoughts brought back a discussion I had with a group of friends about a time when my innocence was met with cruelty.

One day I was talking with a few friends, all of whom are white women, on a zoom call. I don’t remember what we were talking about, but I started sharing with them a time when someone played a practical joke on me.  

I was between the ages of 9 and 11.  At this time, my family was one of only two families of color at a small conservative church in the country. One particular Sunday, the youth pastor was …