Is it possible to truly move forward in a positive direction as a country, if we haven’t collectively done the work of examining our past, warts and all?
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Piece 14: Where Does it Hurt?
Our babies, the babies they may have one day, and the babies of those babies – all deserve a future brighter than our present.
Piece 10: 12 Years a Slave
To study these two stories and the popular response to both is, I believe, to see with fresh eyes the expectation of the dominant culture in America that it is always the expected position of black bodies to be submissive to their pain and struggles while observers who are not themselves on the margins with black Americans cry for a moment and then move on with their lives: never changing, never changed.
piece 9: Get in the Way
This week’s three resources are all about John Lewis, a personal hero of mine whose life’s work was justice, equity, and liberation.
Piece 8: The Blood of Emmett Till
Over all this, I knew of course that black people – even children – could not truly be free around white people without being punished.
Piece 6: Lift Every Voice
Simply put, “Lift Every Voice and Sing” belongs to those of use whose weary years and silent tears have been seen by God. It is a hymn of worship to God, not an anthem of allegiance to a flag.
Piece 3: Black and…
Bayard Rustin, the openly gay activist who was instrumental in organizing 1963’s March on Washington – the march where Dr. King gave his “I Have a Dream” speech, the march that Al Sharpton has announced plans to replicate this August – was in many ways kept behind the scenes of the Civil Rights Movement because of his status as an openly gay man. Then, as now, folks thought that his sexuality would be a distraction if he featured more prominently in the movement.
Piece 1: The Bluest Eye
This article is part of a year-long series. If my work is helpful for you, consider a contribution through Venmo to keep the anti-racism work going.