For seven years, members of a predominantly White church congregation in Douglas County have been meeting every month to learn about race and racism.
“Gracious Lord, thanks for bringing us here together,” said D’Nelle Macaluso as she led the group in prayer. “To help us dismantle racism and also to see others as we see ourselves. And to love others as we love ourselves.”
Every meeting of the racial justice group at New Hope Presbyterian Church in Castle Rock starts and ends with a prayer.
The group’s founder, Jeanette Macon, is the only face of color in the room. She’s used to it after living in Douglas County for 20 years, where less than 2% of the population is Black.
It’s something Macon says she clearly sees and experiences.
“Shopping in a store and there’s five people ahead of me and they all get checked through at the checkout counter and I get through and they ask for my identification,” said Macon. “It makes me angry.”
It’s why she and her friend, Ann Milam, started the racial justice group after a church summer book group sparked discussion about race. Both women grew up in Mississippi at the same time.