Hope
Hope Years ago I sang in the choir at Elizabeth City State University. We sang a song about hope. I don’t remember the author. The song was sung in a round. The lyrics, beautiful in their simplicity are hard to … Continue reading Hope
Category: Empowerment
Birthing New Realities
Hope is Spirit Work From underground, hope springs eternal During my conversation with poet Drew E. Jackson, who writes at the intersection of justice, peace, and contemplation, he told me about two realities. There is a reality that we know, … Continue reading Birthing New Realities
Love Will Bring Hope
BIPOC individuals had a challenging existence throughout our history. They have been victims of lynchings, voter suppression, and racial prejudice. The Jim Crow Era promoting segregation did not improve the lives of African Americans. They were treated less than human during … Continue reading Love Will Bring Hope
Power to the People
Following Bacon’s Rebellion (1676-1677), a strategy was put into place to prevent any future uprisings which might threaten the wealth and power of the “white male elite.” A major part of that strategy was to separate people by skin color … Continue reading Power to the People
Beyond
“If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That’s to prevent anyone from confusing God’s incomparable power with us. As it … Continue reading Beyond
February Theme: Ties That Bind
At the beginning of Black history month’s annual observance to recognize African American contributions to American history, we still remember the hurt from last year’s Los Angeles City Council’s racist recording scandal against Black and indigenous people. This involved three majority Latino City Council members, led by former Council President Nury Martinez. Though the African American, Indigenous, and Hispanic/Latino communities have traveled different pathways, these communities share a parallel quest for equity. We will examine how BIPOC communities differ from one another, and what commonalities they share. Finally, how do we all, including allies and accomplices, come together to thwart … Continue reading February Theme: Ties That Bind
We Are Hope
“Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,I am the dream and the hope of the slave.”-Maya Angelou I am still the hope and the dream of the slave. In naming this, it is equally important to name the role of … Continue reading We Are Hope
After Life
Featuring Special Guest Contributors Keri Leigh Merrit and Yohuru Williams, who offer an op-ed I adapted/pulled from the Conclusion of their book After Life. Continue reading After Life
Sometimes Liberation Comes through Offense
Telling the truth always costs something. It’s never free, even if it does bring liberation. In the United States, our collective majority will gloss over the realities of systemic racism and misogyny point to a truth that can be too … Continue reading Sometimes Liberation Comes through Offense
Three-Fifths 