A Tale From The Desert Last week, my spouse, a black-Caribbean man, and I, a white-American woman, took our first ever desert vacation to Joshua Tree National Park, on the ancestral homelands of the Cahuilla, Mojave, Serrano, and Chemehuevi peoples. One of our stops in the national park was the Cholla Cactus Garden. Cholla cactus are … Continue reading Whose Wisdom Gets Centered?
Homesick for Justice this Christmas
In Christmas and Advent music, both secular and spiritual, there is a theme of homesickness and longing. “I’ll be home for Christmas, you can count on me.” “Oh there’s no place like home for the holidays.” “Oh come, oh come Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel.” “the hopes and fears of all the years are met … Continue reading Homesick for Justice this Christmas
Four Reasons We Can’t Talk About Community Police Relationships Without Talking About Mental Health
Last week Charleena Lyles, called 911 to report a burglary. Lyles, a 30 year old pregnant woman was in treatment for what her family described as “mental health issues.” She held a knife in her hands as she answered the door for the police. The two police officers answering the call both discharged their … Continue reading Four Reasons We Can’t Talk About Community Police Relationships Without Talking About Mental Health
Rehearsal for Racism
What if we PRACTICED or REHEARSED what we will say when we witness harassment, threats and injustice? Denial, Hate, Silence and Shame This weekend, while traveling for business in Alabama, an African American friend of mine was denied service at a store. She was called a series racial slurs and verbally threatened. “I knew I … Continue reading Rehearsal for Racism
The Election Tried to Break Us
I recognize that there is a level of privilege that comes with being broken-hearted after the election. My colleague at The Salt Collective, Lawrence Richardson wrote about that beautifully this week. Never-the-less, I felt something break, an almost a physical snapping, on election night. The normalization of sexual violence and sexism grieved me. I worried … Continue reading The Election Tried to Break Us
To Pastors Ministering in White Culture: The Gospel and Racial Stamina
Dear Pastor, I thank God for the work that you are doing in the church. I know how hard you work: hospital visits, sermon writing, and committees. You pour out so much for your community. Thank you. I’m writing today because I think that we have something to offer. I’ve noticed something, there are some … Continue reading To Pastors Ministering in White Culture: The Gospel and Racial Stamina