Baptized in Tear Gas: From White Moderate to Abolitionist
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- Create Date：2021-08-13 19:21:14
- Update Date：2025-09-06
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- Author：Elle Dowd
- ISBN：B08VLK6BXM
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Summary
For years Elle Dowd considered herself an advocate for justice， but her well-meaning support always took a back burner to what Martin Luther King Jr。 called the tension-free， ordered negative peace of white moderates。 Then Michael Brown， a Black man， was murdered by a white police officer in Ferguson， Missouri， and the subsequent Uprising changed everything。 In Baptized in Tear Gas， pastor and activist Elle Dowd tells the gripping story of her transformation into an Assata Shakur-reading， courthouse-occupying abolitionist with an arrest record， hungry for the revolution。 Thanks to deep relationships with people in Ferguson and St。 Louis， and to experiencing a fraction of the system for herself--including the fear of rubber bullets， the shock of sound cannons， and running from tear gas--Dowd fully committed to the work of anti-racism and abolition。 Now she wants to help other white allies do the same。 Like in baptism， this transformation requires parts of us to die: our lack of power analysis， our commitment to white niceness， our tone policing， our respectability politics--all of those impulses we have been socialized by since birth must die so that something new can be resurrected in our lives and in the world。 The uprising in Ferguson changed Dowd， and through it， God made her into something new。 Now it's our turn。
Reviews
lizzie mcmanus
，
Elle bravely， beautifully， and vulnerably dives into her journey to abolition。 This book is incredibly readable and I am excited to study it with friends and in my church。 I'm especially impressed at her continuity in values -- all proceeds going to Black folks affected by police violence feels not only congruent with what she writes about， but also with the work on white folks to do。 Highly， highly recommend！！ Elle bravely， beautifully， and vulnerably dives into her journey to abolition。 This book is incredibly readable and I am excited to study it with friends and in my church。 I'm especially impressed at her continuity in values -- all proceeds going to Black folks affected by police violence feels not only congruent with what she writes about， but also with the work on white folks to do。 Highly， highly recommend！！ 。。。more
Claire Meyer
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Just finished Baptized in Tear Gas by Elle Dowd。 Amazing， heartbreaking， inspiring， thought provoking， challenging。 Get a copy。
Julie
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Powerful and inspiring！ Dowd speaks candidly about her own political and spiritual journey and about the importance of the Black Lives Matter movement。
Caden Sjogren
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I am in love with this book！ Especially the discussion questions that are included and focus on ways to apply the work in daily life。 I am going to be ordering more copies of the book to give as gifts， and can't wait for more chances to have great， in depth discussions。 I am in love with this book！ Especially the discussion questions that are included and focus on ways to apply the work in daily life。 I am going to be ordering more copies of the book to give as gifts， and can't wait for more chances to have great， in depth discussions。 。。。more
Heidi Neumark
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In a time when the loudest voices of Christian faith are often linked with hooded （or fully on display） white supremacy， Elle Dowd’s Baptized in Tear Gas could not arrive at a more crucial moment。It is beautifully and honestly written， theologically deep and both tender and fierce。 It is a must-read for anti-racist work， especially among aspiring allies。
Leslie
，
I highly recommend this book and hope/plan to live up to the challenges Elle Dowd poses for us white Christians to become abolitionists as part of our biblical commandment to do justice。 This is the book I needed to read this summer to help frame my mindset for moving into a new school year/year with my church’s community organizing coalition of which I am a leader。 Dowd’s book not only uses her story as a frame of reference for change， but she also makes space for the larger truth-telling stori I highly recommend this book and hope/plan to live up to the challenges Elle Dowd poses for us white Christians to become abolitionists as part of our biblical commandment to do justice。 This is the book I needed to read this summer to help frame my mindset for moving into a new school year/year with my church’s community organizing coalition of which I am a leader。 Dowd’s book not only uses her story as a frame of reference for change， but she also makes space for the larger truth-telling stories of the African American experience with racism and injustice in America。 As an ELCA Lutheran and future librarian， I especially appreciated the reflection questions and action items at the end of each chapter。 This will help individuals and groups dig into the text and learn about themselves and their neighbors。 The action items give people a starting point to do justice work in their communities。 。。。more
Br。 Bill Bradley
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As a Lutheran Franciscan friar I am pretty mellow。。。but this book fired me up！ I can't even read it sitting down。 I have to walk while reading。 It lit a fuze that burns bright with anger at a broken system， and shame for being a part of it for so long。 No more！ Thank you Elle。 All people should read this book。 It can REALLY make a difference。 Peace and All Good。 As a Lutheran Franciscan friar I am pretty mellow。。。but this book fired me up！ I can't even read it sitting down。 I have to walk while reading。 It lit a fuze that burns bright with anger at a broken system， and shame for being a part of it for so long。 No more！ Thank you Elle。 All people should read this book。 It can REALLY make a difference。 Peace and All Good。 。。。more
Tommy Estlund
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A fantastic and very insightful look at one white woman's radicalization in the face of centuries of racial oppression in the United States。 Strongly recommend。 A fantastic and very insightful look at one white woman's radicalization in the face of centuries of racial oppression in the United States。 Strongly recommend。 。。。more
Anna Taylor-McCants
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Elle Dowd's book is relatable and challenging。 Throughout her book， Dowd shares raw moments of implicit bias and racism that many white liberals - myself included - face。 But she never leaves us there。 Sharing her process of unlearning white supremacy helps others like her find solidarity and encouragement for their journey， too。 She never promises that we'll get there （because we won't）， but picking up this book might be the beginning of someone's journey or a stop along the antiracism path。 Pa Elle Dowd's book is relatable and challenging。 Throughout her book， Dowd shares raw moments of implicit bias and racism that many white liberals - myself included - face。 But she never leaves us there。 Sharing her process of unlearning white supremacy helps others like her find solidarity and encouragement for their journey， too。 She never promises that we'll get there （because we won't）， but picking up this book might be the beginning of someone's journey or a stop along the antiracism path。 Packed with so much beautiful theology， Dowd's book is the perfect addition to your church library， church Council devotion rotation， or adult faith formation schedule。 。。。more
Mark Olsson
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I highly recommend this book。 Elle is a great writer。 I learned a lot and grew as a human reading this。 I’ll definitely get the audiobook when that comes out and “read” it again。
Kaitlin Pabo-Eulberg
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Elle Dowd’s debut book， Baptized in Tear Gas， felt like a kaleidoscope into my own angst and burning in anti-racist work。 White folks of the church， THIS is the book to read in the next few months。 Honestly this book is vital for all white folks since she recounts her movement into the Ferguson Uprising and how she shifted from a “nice” white person to an active anti-racist and abolitionist—just expect some solid theology around Christ alongside her harrowing stories。 May her words propel us int Elle Dowd’s debut book， Baptized in Tear Gas， felt like a kaleidoscope into my own angst and burning in anti-racist work。 White folks of the church， THIS is the book to read in the next few months。 Honestly this book is vital for all white folks since she recounts her movement into the Ferguson Uprising and how she shifted from a “nice” white person to an active anti-racist and abolitionist—just expect some solid theology around Christ alongside her harrowing stories。 May her words propel us into reflection and action。 All of the proceeds from this book go to black activist movements！ Elle is the real deal， folks。 。。。more
Pastor Shannon
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Elle’s awakens to the contradictions and outright lies she has been socialized into believing about race in this country。 Rather than close her eyes to them， through the lens of faith she critiques herself and the church， specifically the ELCA， a mainline denomination known to the Whitest in this country。 She is not superficially “woke。” Her writing is authentic and thoughtful。 I appreciate her critique but what sets this book apart are the discussion questions and action steps for change。 Bapti Elle’s awakens to the contradictions and outright lies she has been socialized into believing about race in this country。 Rather than close her eyes to them， through the lens of faith she critiques herself and the church， specifically the ELCA， a mainline denomination known to the Whitest in this country。 She is not superficially “woke。” Her writing is authentic and thoughtful。 I appreciate her critique but what sets this book apart are the discussion questions and action steps for change。 Baptized in Teargas reads well for personal reflection as well as small group study。 I’ve purchased multiple copies to share wi 。。。more
Kailina
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Elle invites you into conversation in this book。 Written in an approachable， easy-to-read way， it’s truly like having a conversation with her。 Her words are powerful and illustrate how relationships and narratives of lived experience are critical to the work of antiracism。 For the white moderates she writes to， I believe the reflection questions and action items at the end of each chapter will be incredibly helpful， providing a clear focus and allowing each person to develop their own intentions Elle invites you into conversation in this book。 Written in an approachable， easy-to-read way， it’s truly like having a conversation with her。 Her words are powerful and illustrate how relationships and narratives of lived experience are critical to the work of antiracism。 For the white moderates she writes to， I believe the reflection questions and action items at the end of each chapter will be incredibly helpful， providing a clear focus and allowing each person to develop their own intentions and goals as they seek to move themselves from moderate to abolitionist。 。。。more
K H
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This is a book that can be many things at once。 It’s a quick read from cover to cover， but it is also a book that lingers with you and begs to be reread and carefully studied。 In part it is a straightforward journalistic account of the events in Ferguson， Missouri in 2014-2015。 But it’s also a very stirring and intimate personal reflection on those events and on a life lived in pursuit of justice， though the definition of justice has changed over time for the author。 This book is partially a lov This is a book that can be many things at once。 It’s a quick read from cover to cover， but it is also a book that lingers with you and begs to be reread and carefully studied。 In part it is a straightforward journalistic account of the events in Ferguson， Missouri in 2014-2015。 But it’s also a very stirring and intimate personal reflection on those events and on a life lived in pursuit of justice， though the definition of justice has changed over time for the author。 This book is partially a love letter to the community in the greater St。 Louis area， and partially a compassionate letter to the author’s younger self， who is just as guilty as all of us of making mistakes and advocating in unhelpful ways。 This is a book about the beauty of Lutheran Theology and it is a book about how the white church has failed us。Most of all this book is a call to action。 Each chapter contains reflection questions to inspire thoughtful reading and personal growth， as well as action items with concrete steps a reader can take to join the movement in some small and some large ways。 This is a book about how no one can do everything alone。 We are better together and we must learn how each of us can fit into the larger puzzle to dismantle racism。 I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a riveting memoir， but also to anyone interested in historical perspective for the current BLM movement， and to any scholar of Lutheran theology。 。。。more
Andrea
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As an African American Woman and a clergy person I was skeptical， then I began to read。 Elle tells so much truth in this book。 She tells the truth of her experience in Ferguson， the truth about white supremacy and racism in this country。She bares her heart and lets us walk with her in her transformation。 She uses theology and what she has discovered about God to tell this story。 It is clear that Elle wants others to do the work of transformation。 I cried; I shouted; I applaud the work that Elle As an African American Woman and a clergy person I was skeptical， then I began to read。 Elle tells so much truth in this book。 She tells the truth of her experience in Ferguson， the truth about white supremacy and racism in this country。She bares her heart and lets us walk with her in her transformation。 She uses theology and what she has discovered about God to tell this story。 It is clear that Elle wants others to do the work of transformation。 I cried; I shouted; I applaud the work that Elle has done， the hard， hard work she has done to bring her to this place。 I applaud her courage to write this book。 I appreciate the questions and the action items at the end of each chapter。 Most of all I implore you to read this book！ 。。。more
Jay LaNunziata
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Elle Dowd is a force for good。 Her clearly articulated Lutheran theology echoes throughout the entirety of this well-considered work。 This book felt like a hard conversation had with great love， like I was being bid to some very serious and important work that the white Church has been neglecting。 I walked away with some new insight， a new resolution to tackle white supremacy， a renewed drive to abolish unjust systems， and some practical steps to take toward those goals。
Jeff Greathouse
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I am giving this book a 5-Star。I have to be honest in that there are not many books that 'surpass' my expectations。 However， this is one of the few that surpassed my expectations and it is NOT because I set the bar low。I appreciated her sharing her stories and how the transition from a Moderate to Abolitionist occurred。 There were two things that really stood out to me though。1） Definition/Language。 She walks you through the vocabulary very well。 I think many times， miscommunication and not bein I am giving this book a 5-Star。I have to be honest in that there are not many books that 'surpass' my expectations。 However， this is one of the few that surpassed my expectations and it is NOT because I set the bar low。I appreciated her sharing her stories and how the transition from a Moderate to Abolitionist occurred。 There were two things that really stood out to me though。1） Definition/Language。 She walks you through the vocabulary very well。 I think many times， miscommunication and not being on the same page is one of the big hinderance and in her writing， she breaks this down。2） Chapter 2， Releasing Control。 This may have been my favorite chapter。 This chapter， in my opinion， is the clearest explanation for the title of the book。 But， what I really appreciated; as a Lutheran Pastor， was her writing on control and baptism and the reason behind our liturgy。 It was an excellent piece of writing。The book is one of paradox in a sense。 It is an easy read， I did in on a Saturday morning。 Yet， it is very challenging and thought provoking in the same manner。 I look forward to getting this into the hands of members of the congregation and begin discussion。 Speaking of discussion， at the end of each chapter， there is a list of questions; so you have a starting point。Discussion is not enough， actions must take place and Elle helps out in this area as well with giving us action steps on what we can do to start making a difference。I highly recommend you this book。 。。。more
Nathan Roberts
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If you are a white person of faith wrestling with the state sanctioned violence you witness in the streets of America， this book is a must read。 Dowd's stories and theological insights will steel our resolve for the next time we demand justice and are met with tear gas， white supremacist hatred， and our own insecurites。 If you are a white person of faith wrestling with the state sanctioned violence you witness in the streets of America， this book is a must read。 Dowd's stories and theological insights will steel our resolve for the next time we demand justice and are met with tear gas， white supremacist hatred， and our own insecurites。 。。。more
Dale Brown
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I highly recommend this book。 Dowd writes about her experiences and perspectives of the Ferguson Uprising， which happened after Michael Brown was killed by a police officer。 She discusses her transformation from being a nice white lady into a police and prison abolitionist。I like how Dowd challenges the white church to do better。 She notes that the church could shine a bright light on oppression and push back against it。 She also wants the church to stop ignoring the politics during the time of I highly recommend this book。 Dowd writes about her experiences and perspectives of the Ferguson Uprising， which happened after Michael Brown was killed by a police officer。 She discusses her transformation from being a nice white lady into a police and prison abolitionist。I like how Dowd challenges the white church to do better。 She notes that the church could shine a bright light on oppression and push back against it。 She also wants the church to stop ignoring the politics during the time of Jesus and show how those politics are still relevant today。 Yes， Jesus had political views！ Another thing I particularly like is that at the end of each chapter， Dowd includes ready-made Reflection Questions and Action Items。 These are perfect for book clubs or other groups interested in diving deeper。Not into church or Jesus？ That's ok！ If you love others or are into social justice， there's plenty in this book for you， too！An important note， Dowd will be sending all proceeds to Black activists and organizations， Black political prisoners， and Black families who have loss due to police violence。 She also recommends several books written by Black authors because she has learned from these Black people， as well as others， many of whom were so gracious to teach her as she experienced the Ferguson Uprising with them。 。。。more
Peter Jarrett-Schell
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If you're like me， you may have found yourself at some point on that treadmill of well-meaning whote liberal sentiment: angry over another news story of racist denigration and violence， feeling powerless to do anything about it and equivocating over whether its really all that bad until you're able to put it out of your mind and start the cycle again。 Maybe you're tired of that treadmill， and maybe you're bothered because deep down you know it is wrong， and maybe you're frustrated because you fe If you're like me， you may have found yourself at some point on that treadmill of well-meaning whote liberal sentiment: angry over another news story of racist denigration and violence， feeling powerless to do anything about it and equivocating over whether its really all that bad until you're able to put it out of your mind and start the cycle again。 Maybe you're tired of that treadmill， and maybe you're bothered because deep down you know it is wrong， and maybe you're frustrated because you feel， and know， you're made to be more than a bench warmer for justice。 What you need is a swift， loving kick in the pants。 "Baptized in Tear Gas" delivers that and more。This is not some holier-than-thou guilt trip。 Elle Dowd offers a poignant and joyful evocation to radical action， and speaks it right from the heart of the matter: She gives the story of her own conversion from amilquetoast moderate to a committed abolitionist with skin in the game。 It's a remarkable story told with remarkable humility。 Dowd writes with a deep sense of gratitude and indebtedness to the many Black leaders， activists and organizers who shepherded her along the way。 She writes to pay that debt by calling us all to come down the same path， and she's serious about it too: all her profits from this book go back to liberationist organizations and directly impacted folk in the Black community。It's an easy read， in the sense that Dowd's prose flows delightfully; and the story of her journey is sometimes nail-bting， but never boring。 Its a tough read in the sense that it wont leave you unmoved， it won't leave you unchanged。Seriously， every white Christian everywhere should read "Baptilzied jn Tear Gas。" If you're ready to get off the treadmill of empty and tired sentiment， if you're eager to walk the walk of true discipleship， this is the book for you。 。。。more
Mark Hilditch
，
Were you at the protests in Ferguson， Missouri？ I was not。 But， I felt like I was catching up with what I was like to be there in reading Elle Dowd's moving account of her actions in Ferguson。 This is a great book for those who want to know what the experience was like and to know how to be more involved in the future of Black Lives Matter activities。 An excellent first-person account。 Give it a read！ Were you at the protests in Ferguson， Missouri？ I was not。 But， I felt like I was catching up with what I was like to be there in reading Elle Dowd's moving account of her actions in Ferguson。 This is a great book for those who want to know what the experience was like and to know how to be more involved in the future of Black Lives Matter activities。 An excellent first-person account。 Give it a read！ 。。。more
Brianna Richardson
，
Elle Dowd has written an outstanding call to action for those that think they can remain neutral on policies that impact outcomes of marginalized communities。 There is no middle ground。 She was raw and vulnerable about her journey。 I am so pleased to hear all proceeds are donated to care for BIPOC activists and organizers。 Highly recommend this read。
Heidi
，
I’m so grateful for this book as clergy， as a white Christian， and someone seeking to grow in being an anti-racist accomplice。 Dowd takes us straight to the heart of the hard and provoking questions。 What is safety？ Who gets to decide？ What does that mean for those of us who follow the Gospel？ This is a work that continually challenged me， and one I will keep returning to in my pastoral work。 It’s a must have for white clergy folk looking to grow these muscles， and anyone interested in deep lear I’m so grateful for this book as clergy， as a white Christian， and someone seeking to grow in being an anti-racist accomplice。 Dowd takes us straight to the heart of the hard and provoking questions。 What is safety？ Who gets to decide？ What does that mean for those of us who follow the Gospel？ This is a work that continually challenged me， and one I will keep returning to in my pastoral work。 It’s a must have for white clergy folk looking to grow these muscles， and anyone interested in deep learning in this vein。 。。。more
Eric Clapp
，
"Today， if we do not act with each breath to tear down every vestige of the death cult of white supremacy， we betray the gospel of Jesus Christ。"What Elle Dowd has done here is truly remarkable。 I deeply appreciate her ability to call a thing what it is with clear eyes and a full heart for those with their backs against the wall。 No matter where you are in your life of faith， if you want a road map to faithfully respond to racial injustice， this is the book for you！ Elle is certainly a worthy gu "Today， if we do not act with each breath to tear down every vestige of the death cult of white supremacy， we betray the gospel of Jesus Christ。"What Elle Dowd has done here is truly remarkable。 I deeply appreciate her ability to call a thing what it is with clear eyes and a full heart for those with their backs against the wall。 No matter where you are in your life of faith， if you want a road map to faithfully respond to racial injustice， this is the book for you！ Elle is certainly a worthy guide。 。。。more
Gordon Gilmore
，
TLDR （last paragraph）:Elle's book does such a great job of tackling a lot of anxieties and fragilities that crop up when white folks are doing the work of antiracism and speaking to the plethora of ways in which communities can band together to support such work， if not from the front line of a march。 Chapter 4 addressed the bulk of what had been expressed in that reaction from my classmate， and chapter 6 did a wonderful job speaking to the power of community care， of which mutual aid is a part。 TLDR （last paragraph）:Elle's book does such a great job of tackling a lot of anxieties and fragilities that crop up when white folks are doing the work of antiracism and speaking to the plethora of ways in which communities can band together to support such work， if not from the front line of a march。 Chapter 4 addressed the bulk of what had been expressed in that reaction from my classmate， and chapter 6 did a wonderful job speaking to the power of community care， of which mutual aid is a part。 Writing as a white minister from ELCA， one of the whitest churches in the US， Elle's story of grappling with her engrained white moderate perspective to have it broadened to see the police terrorism at work in black communities， and have this work alter her spiritual worldview toward one of abolitionism， is a true journey through a baptism by tear gas。 And it's so readily accessible/approachable that even those who are obstinate in their white moderate worldview may open to see how the Holy Spirit is at work in these communities of resistance， and how these communities are serving as the body of Christ here on Earth to work against the systemic oppression that's warped this world and is a blight on God's creation。 Thank you， Elle。___________________________________________________________The year 2020 radicalized me。 Prior to it， I was caught in the ruts of life， nominally supporting the ends of liberation I hoped to serve， but overall not addressing that which I needed to in my academic work to support such ends。 And it was then that I first learned about/got in touch with Elle Dowd。 Conversations with her emboldened me to embrace the political philosophy of feminist and black liberation， and in tandem with these social anarchism， in a way that could lead to putting theory into practice to serve those ends。While researching in Bilphena's Library， I came across a number of articles on mutual aid and the use of such practices。 So I drafted a class syllabus on "Mutual Aid and the Church"， and taught an abridged version of it at my church。 I really needed the pedagogical practice， but overall it went well。 In the final session， however， a pastor who had offered to let me teach the course at their church attended， and they watched as one of my fellow parishioners went into a reactionary rant about how I was forcing this theory on the service program at the church， despite the fact that no one had asked for it。 This was， of course， disregarding the fact that each of the church services throughout the second half of 2020 and the first half of 2021 started with"We acknowledge that we live and gather to worship on unceded native lands。 We recognize that throughout our nation's history， and at this very moment， indigenous， black and brown people have been， and are， the victims at the hands of those of us entrusted to protect the common good。 We recognize that racism is embedded in the systems that support our society。 We commit， as a congregation， to not only study this issue， but also to seek real changes in this community。"At the time， I was caught off-guard。 I got so flustered by the response on the part of this person， and the fact that they finished their response at exactly the time that the class was supposed to be ending， that I could not think of a good way to answer her and shrunk from the prospect。 I had not anticipated encountering that type of reactionary fragility coming from one of the folks there。 And， of course， I feared that I might have mucked up the possibility of teaching the course for my friend who was visiting the session。But now that I've read Elle's book， I feel like I've been empowered to be able to speak to just such a situation！Elle's book does such a great job of tackling a lot of anxieties and fragilities that crop up when white folks are doing the work of antiracism and speaking to the plethora of ways in which communities can band together to support such work， if not from the front line of a march。 Chapter 4 addressed the bulk of what had been expressed in that reaction from my classmate， and chapter 6 did a wonderful job speaking to the power of community care， of which mutual aid is a part。 Speaking as a white minister from ELCA， one of the whitest churches in the US， Elle's story of grappling with her engrained white moderate perspective to have her perspective broadened to see the police terrorism at work in black communities， and have this work alter her spiritual worldview toward one of abolitionism， is a true journey through a baptism by tear gas。 And it's so readily accessible/approachable that even those who are obstinate in their white moderate worldview may open to see how the Holy Spirit is at work in these communities of resistance， and how these communities are serving as the body of Christ here on Earth to work against the systemic oppression that's warped this world and is a blight in God's creation。 Thank you， Elle。 。。。more
Jerry Wirtley
，
Wow！ Elle Dowd takes us on a ride that is filled with tears and laughter。 I found myself in agony listening to her tell about being chased and beaten by police and then laughing in the next paragraph about being fed and dancing in the streets。 Elle bore her soul in this book that takes you into the streets of Ferguson and gives you a view we do not get to see。 She opened my eyes and showed me truths that are hidden from the public。 You need to read this book。 It will change you。
Adam
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