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Colorful Connections: 12 Questions About Race That Open Healthy Conversations
Encourages ordinary Christians to engage in real talk together about race and change There are a lot of conversations happening in homes and churches about difficult and timely topics--but when it comes to race, too many Christians stay silent. They may be overwhelmed, or worry about saying the wrong thing.
Saundra Dalton-Smith and Lori Stanley Roeleveld--two women of different races who didn't know each other well before this project--believe there's a clear path to meaningful discussion about racism with someone of a different skin color. Instead of avoiding hard conversations, they enter a transparent and open dialogue about race, privilege, bias, and discrimination.
Readers will witness a real-time process as these two women walk their journey of self-reflection, discovery, and healing. Lori and Saundra demonstrate how to give voice to pain without blame, how to express anger without ridicule, and how to ask questions without guilt. After reading the pages filled with vulnerable personal stories, biblical teaching, conversation starters, and practical next steps readers will be equipped to have their own healthy conversations.
This book is for all who see God in ethnic diversity and want to be part of a true and deep understanding process. In these pages, there is hope to heal the racial divide and bring together the body of Christ.
Saundra Dalton-Smith and Lori Stanley Roeleveld--two women of different races who didn't know each other well before this project--believe there's a clear path to meaningful discussion about racism with someone of a different skin color. Instead of avoiding hard conversations, they enter a transparent and open dialogue about race, privilege, bias, and discrimination.
Readers will witness a real-time process as these two women walk their journey of self-reflection, discovery, and healing. Lori and Saundra demonstrate how to give voice to pain without blame, how to express anger without ridicule, and how to ask questions without guilt. After reading the pages filled with vulnerable personal stories, biblical teaching, conversation starters, and practical next steps readers will be equipped to have their own healthy conversations.
This book is for all who see God in ethnic diversity and want to be part of a true and deep understanding process. In these pages, there is hope to heal the racial divide and bring together the body of Christ.
- GenresNonfiction
208 pages, Paperback
Published September 20, 2022
10 people are currently reading
73 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
October 3, 2022
Lori Stanley Roeleveld and Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith share from their hearts, unlocking the door from both sides to enter into a much needed conversation about racial reconciliation. Their 12 questions help to release raw feelings we may harbor unknowingly. Once discovered, we will not go back to life-as-usual. We will walk away changed. Highly recommended read.
October 17, 2022
Thank you Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith and Lori Stanley Roeleveld for having the courage to write such a powerful book! The 12 questions in the book allow people to have honest conversations, while also being respectful and open-minded. It’s filled with biblical truths and wisdom. I’m eager to share this book with others.
October 7, 2022
Powerful, revelatory, instructive, inspiring.
I wish every high school, post-secondary school, and religious institution would carry this book in their libraries.
With bared hearts the authors demonstrate through their dialogue how to conduct honest, healthy, productive conversation to help bring understanding, healing, and build relationships across ethnicities. Prepare to do some soul searching and shed some tears as you read these personal accounts.
No matter your religious or political persuasion, your ethnicity, experience or lack thereof in the realm of race relations, this book empowers readers to bring reconciliation to their communities. The principles and exercises in Colorful Connections: 12 Questions About Race That Open Healthy Conversations not only have the potential to help bridge the racial divide, but can be beneficial to any relationship.
I wish every high school, post-secondary school, and religious institution would carry this book in their libraries.
With bared hearts the authors demonstrate through their dialogue how to conduct honest, healthy, productive conversation to help bring understanding, healing, and build relationships across ethnicities. Prepare to do some soul searching and shed some tears as you read these personal accounts.
No matter your religious or political persuasion, your ethnicity, experience or lack thereof in the realm of race relations, this book empowers readers to bring reconciliation to their communities. The principles and exercises in Colorful Connections: 12 Questions About Race That Open Healthy Conversations not only have the potential to help bridge the racial divide, but can be beneficial to any relationship.
October 7, 2022
We should have had this book in our hands 200 years ago. But I can’t believe we are still having these conversations. It’s so heartbreaking for me to think we’ve learned nothing through so much pain. Thank you Sandra and Lori for your honest personal stories, your candid comments and bringing us to the place of true connection of leaning in and listening. Thank you for bringing us to our connection with God where we are all one family, the same blood and called to love one another. This book should be required reading in all schools and churches, and around the dinner table in our homes.
October 4, 2022
The book Colorful Connections is a hopeful, thought-provoking book with practical suggestions for being part of the solution to the seemingly hopeless problem of racism in America.
September 29, 2022
Colorful Connections proved to be a challenge for me because it became an emotional journey of my own past. The book resonated with me more than I ever expected - I was surprised to discover that I wasn't alone in some of my thoughts and opinions.
I've highlighted almost half the book, and plan to read it again to see if my perspective is different than it was on first read. This would be an excellent book for a small group to read and discuss together, to get different perspectives and thoughts as you go through it.
I've highlighted almost half the book, and plan to read it again to see if my perspective is different than it was on first read. This would be an excellent book for a small group to read and discuss together, to get different perspectives and thoughts as you go through it.
March 2, 2023
As a person surrounded by precious friends of all different backgrounds and skin colors, my flesh said I didn't "need" to read this book and that it was just going to talk about the topic of race reconciliations in ways I am already acquainted with, but I was still drawn to it the moment I saw the calm welcoming cover. My soul has been surprisingly refreshed by the contents, challenges and encouragement found in its pages. I have already almost used up a highlighter and have notes all over the place. It has been a joy to get to know both authors through their candid conversations. I have also seen how many of the nuggets of wisdom in the book will help me navigate conversations in other areas of life as well. I look forward to sharing this book as a study with our local church family and truly believe it is going to be a catalyst for much needed healing in many families, churches, and communities. Go ahead and click to buy it and grab a good highlighter!
February 25, 2024
I read this group with a few women in my faith community. We meet monthly, are from different races, and we meet specifically to discuss racial reconciliation. We hated this book…and I cringed to say that, but it’s the truth. While we appreciate the authors’ vulnerability, this book hardly scratches the surface of actual productive conversation. At the end of reading it, the white women in our group expressed dismay and fear that other white people will read this and actually think they are being productive.
Both women offer too many apologetics for bad behavior and tried to explain away harmful speech and actions. We suspect the very watered-down language to make the uncomfortable conversation about race more palatable. Unfortunately, what they’ve done is made the conversation into something that will hardly move the needle.
While this book accurately affects where some people are at on their journey of having conversations about race, the authors should explicitly state from the beginning that the book is only a starter. It should explicitly state that it will only be just the beginning of a journey. Yet, it positions itself as a full resource that reflects a journey, though my friends and I didn’t see much of an evolution.
If you’ve read some of the more well-known books by scholars in race, this book is not for you. It will feel like taking ten giant steps backward.
Both women offer too many apologetics for bad behavior and tried to explain away harmful speech and actions. We suspect the very watered-down language to make the uncomfortable conversation about race more palatable. Unfortunately, what they’ve done is made the conversation into something that will hardly move the needle.
While this book accurately affects where some people are at on their journey of having conversations about race, the authors should explicitly state from the beginning that the book is only a starter. It should explicitly state that it will only be just the beginning of a journey. Yet, it positions itself as a full resource that reflects a journey, though my friends and I didn’t see much of an evolution.
If you’ve read some of the more well-known books by scholars in race, this book is not for you. It will feel like taking ten giant steps backward.
September 30, 2022
Thank you, Lori Stanley Roeleveld and Dr Saundra Dalton-Smith for having the courage to write Colorful Connections. This is a powerful book for such a time as this.
I thought we had made substantial progress in race relations since the 1960’s but I was wrong. This book opened my eyes to how much work is yet needed and how the church must be at the forefront of change.
The authors take on tough topics with grace and honesty and encourage readers to do the same. The questions addressed in each chapter would be great conversation starters for small groups and adult Sunday Schools classes.
Even though I have a number of friends of varying races and cultures, it grieves me how often I’ve avoided deep conversations about our differences out of fear. This book gives me the courage and resources to reach out in love. I will not remain silent any longer.
I thought we had made substantial progress in race relations since the 1960’s but I was wrong. This book opened my eyes to how much work is yet needed and how the church must be at the forefront of change.
The authors take on tough topics with grace and honesty and encourage readers to do the same. The questions addressed in each chapter would be great conversation starters for small groups and adult Sunday Schools classes.
Even though I have a number of friends of varying races and cultures, it grieves me how often I’ve avoided deep conversations about our differences out of fear. This book gives me the courage and resources to reach out in love. I will not remain silent any longer.
July 12, 2023
"Colorful Connections: 12 Questions about Race That Open Healthy Conversations" is a new book written by Lori Stanley Roeveld and Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith, two women of different races. The authors wrote this book to encourage conversations between believers of different cultures, backgrounds, and races. I especially liked their assertion that "to love is to listen." Our nation is undergoing a crisis because we have forgotten how to listen to each other. Each chapter focuses on a particular topic and includes testimonials from a variety of people, along with Scripture to read and some tasks to complete as a starting place.
This book is very timely, and I feel it will be helpful for people who are willing to do the work to encourage diversity in the church. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
This book is very timely, and I feel it will be helpful for people who are willing to do the work to encourage diversity in the church. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
October 5, 2022
Sometimes the hardest part of a conversation is just getting it started. This resource provides a gateway to healthy discussions on race, as modeled by Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith and Lori Roeleveld. Both authors bring their personal experiences to the table, along with contributions from others, but they don't stop there. They provide the reader with Biblical insights, practical suggestions, and even discussion questions to encourage healthy conversations. Tough issues tackled with love and clarity can be rare these days. This book accomplishes both with excellence!
October 4, 2022
What a great starting place for tough conversations! Lori and Saundra share their experiences and give tips for having helpful conversations about race. I love how they dialogue with each other, and the guest voices at the end of each chapter bring even more depth to the issues.
July 2, 2023
Well written and thought-provoking. Balanced sharing between the two authors, and I appreciated the other voices they brought into each chapter. The cover is excellent. An important book for individual use or group discussion.
September 13, 2022
Opening my eyes to deeper and healing truths
October 10, 2022
Brava! Dr. Saudra and Lori wrote a masterpiece. I see why this book is a best seller! I appreciate their transparency and willingness to express what most won’t about racism.
January 24, 2023
Insightful! For those of you who feel that a discussion on "racial division" is LONG overdue, this is a safe place to land. Once you finish it, go deeper. Begin with the WORD (1 Corinthians 15:39).
November 30, 2022
Colorful Connections
Wonderful, vulnerable, thought-provoking, poignant book. As the authors intended, I literally felt invited into a private conversation between two women, as they processed our racial divide. The modeled healthy discussion. Carefully crafted by two well-qualified women, the book proceeded through twelve themes they mutually agreed on. As the conversation flowed, the reacted to one another, told stories, asked good questions. Supported by Scriptures, colorful conversation sidebars by others, with steps and baby steps into how to have our own colorful connections and conversations, I wished we had this book two years ago. But maybe it’s better now, as tempers have cooled. Maybe now, with tools like this book, we can make healthy progress. Kudos to the authors for their brave candor and thanks for a wonderful resource.
Wonderful, vulnerable, thought-provoking, poignant book. As the authors intended, I literally felt invited into a private conversation between two women, as they processed our racial divide. The modeled healthy discussion. Carefully crafted by two well-qualified women, the book proceeded through twelve themes they mutually agreed on. As the conversation flowed, the reacted to one another, told stories, asked good questions. Supported by Scriptures, colorful conversation sidebars by others, with steps and baby steps into how to have our own colorful connections and conversations, I wished we had this book two years ago. But maybe it’s better now, as tempers have cooled. Maybe now, with tools like this book, we can make healthy progress. Kudos to the authors for their brave candor and thanks for a wonderful resource.
November 28, 2023
i’m so grateful for this read.. definitely filled a need in my heart on how to approach hard conversations, not only in topics of racial injustice, but how to approach fellow christians with forgiveness and reconciliation. So much can be learned from Saundra and Lori and i encourage anyone struggling with finding a seat at the table, understanding how privilege affects perspective, or has ever said the words “i don’t see color” or “i’m color blind” to read this book.
my ethnicity is Filipino-American
my ethnicity is Filipino-American
January 25, 2026
Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith and Lori Stanley Roeleveld bring a restorative message at just the right time in their powerful book Colorful Connections—12 Questions About Race that Open Healthy Conversations. It’s a weapon, much like the ancient proverb “a gentle answer turns away wrath” (Proverbs 15:1a NIV). Its pages open the door for healthy, though sometimes hard, conversation related to racism and its misconceptions, even misguided guilt, concerning that which goes much deeper than the color of one’s skin. A perfect tool for small groups, this book offers sound biblical support as well as personal testimonies to hit home truth. Our world is racked with deception concerning God’s intent in creating a beautifully diverse world—yes, when He created the human race. As the fair-skinned mother of a brown-skinned son, I’ve experienced firsthand the ugliness of such deception, but I’ve also experienced the beauty of reconciliation. Healing happens when a good word and the right questions are spoken in just the perfect season and in the company of safe people. That’s what this book is about.
January 25, 2023
Such a needed, relevant book for today!
This book is an excellent conversation starter about race. I identified with so much that was shared in this book and I feel empowered to engage people who may look different from me, act different from me, and believe different from me. I appreciate each of the authors’ humility and wisdom as they share their experiences with racism, diversity, and racial reconciliation. Thank you for this wonderful book!
This book is an excellent conversation starter about race. I identified with so much that was shared in this book and I feel empowered to engage people who may look different from me, act different from me, and believe different from me. I appreciate each of the authors’ humility and wisdom as they share their experiences with racism, diversity, and racial reconciliation. Thank you for this wonderful book!
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