Danielle and I (Maggie) met virtually this week with author, filmmaker, theologian, poet and PhD candidate, Phil Allen Jr. to discuss the themes in his new book Open Wounds: A Story of Racial Tragedy, Trauma and Redemption around the layers of racism, the ways trauma effects us intergenerationally and the difference between reconciliation and solidarity.
Read MoreWe are filled with sorrow and rage. In the last year, violence against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders has surged 149% according to a recent article in Time. It is sickening and heartbreaking. The most recent attack gaining national attention happened last week in Atlanta on March 16th, the murder of 8 people, 6 of whom were Asian women in what has still yet to be classified as a hate crime.
Read MoreDan says it's a lot like "judging books by it's color," assuming someone is sick because of their race. Any race can get diseases, as shown throughout history. In fact, dominate culture has spread disease as was the case when Europeans came to this continent and decimated the Natives. Disease, when it originates in another culture, can be demonized... But that same narrative has not been told when the dominate culture brings the disease.
Read MoreAs Kobe’s life is celebrated today, I’ve been pondering on the lessons I’ve learned from the #blackmamba. Here’s EIGHT from the great 8:
Next Play Mentality: In life and sport, he never let failure hinder him from pursuing greatness. Whether it was making poor choices off the court, missing shots, having conflicts with coaches or teammates, he always looked for ways to make things better. Improvement by any means. Failure was never an option.
Pastor Ken Riley joins us for a discussion on racial relations and reconciliation, and how the church should lead the way. He talked about how to engage important conversations about race (and politics!) while still respecting each other’s human dignity. Ken shares some of this own stories about traveling Dakar, Senegal, his time serving as a Navy Chaplin and being wrongly incarcerated.
Read MoreIs it any wonder why black indigenous people of color whose cultures value oral tradition, place, narrative, movement, and harmony might gravitate to this type of theology; or why the oppression of this population (in the name of systematic theology)—would birth a counter theology of liberation based upon the biblical text?
Read MoreRead More"I used to think that all the big stuff was going to happen outside of normal life." - Kelly Welk
