Invite class members to fill out the self-examination form and discuss in pairs. This exercise provides an opportunity for class members to explore some of the race prejudice they bring with them. After everyone has had a chance to fill out the first side, invite them to pair up with someone to discuss the second side. Encourage pairing with people they don't know. Report any observations or sharing back to the entire group.

List all the in-groups members of the class currently are or have been a part of. Do the same for out-groups. After a general comparison of the two lists, ask which of the identified in-groups involved some sort of racial prejudice in addition to the primary source of separation. Did any of the out-groups also involve racial prejudice? What does this tell us about prejudice based on race? Is it more or less pervasive than we think?

1. On p. 49, the author suggests that the only way to change prejudiced worldviews is to understand them. Will Campbell, an author and Baptist pastor, has been active in Civil Rights initiatives for many years. As part of that work, one of the things he has done is spent time drinking whiskey with members of the Ku Klux Klan. While not advocating the consumption of alcohol, Campbell's action provides an example of someone trying to understand a prejudiced world view. This is dangerous work. Do you know examples of others who have done the same? Could this class be a place to consider this kind of activity? Who would you spend time with if you did?

2. Where are the "Galilees" of today? Would we accept Jesus if he came to us today from a contemporary Galilee region, country or part of town? What impact does the knowledge that "Jesus knew prejudice" have on your reading of other scripture stories?

3. The Bible is full of stories of prejudice and prejudicial attitudes. Is that the case in your congregation? Does your congregation have a tradition of individual or corporate confession? Are prejudices ever referred to in that confession? In a prayerful spirit, identify the types of prejudice present among you.

4. Miller Shearer states, somewhat obliquely, "being nice is never enough." What is behind this statement? Is he referring only to duplicity? Or is something else meant? What is the difference between polite behavior and just action? Would "Miss Manners" agree or disagree with this assertion?

Read Chapter 4: What is Racism?