We All Play a Role

February 16, 2021.Reading time less than 1 minute.

February is Black History Month.

Take It In

February 11, 2021.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Robert Stephens, 26, Kansas City, MO “It was the last day of school, and I was walking with my dad, preparing to leave. Suddenly, he paused, looked at me intently and said, “Son, you’re a black male, and that’s two strikes against you.” To the general public, anything that I did would be perceived as malicious and […]

Niceness Doesn’t Negate Racism

February 10, 2021.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Courage

February 5, 2021.Reading time less than 1 minute.

As a white woman, waking up to the implications of her privileged existence, I marvel at the courage of those like Rosa Parks who stand up for what they know to be right and good. I pray for the courage to step beyond the limitations of my own prejudices that I may become an empowering […]

On Hope and History

February 4, 2021.Reading time less than 1 minute.

An Example of Systemic Racism

August 12, 2020.Reading time 1 minute.

A friend texted me the following article on Sunday morning. She is the woman featured in the write up. We have known each other since our children were young, hers just stair steps behind mine. We raised our kids as single moms, without help from our former spouses. She was the first one to go […]

Imagine

If we could lift understandingto indigenous teachingsexpand our loveto earth, sky, and seaMake personal gain tabooand Ancients a weigh point If we could witness the mountainsslow floating across the skyand touch the dolphin’s soulanxiously swimmingwhere tuna are netted Would we cower at our insignificanceor move forward, learning to acceptthat all of life is deeply woveninto […]

Dear Child

I know a little girl,whose hair in ringletsfalls, unkempt from lackof brushing; who standswhen she should be sitting;who laughs with defiance whenchallenged, her dark eyes gleamingwith mischief; who holds her chin uphigh and stamps her feet, arms foldedin protest when she does not get her way. I see that little girl,have watched her play,with a […]

Re-de-fine-d

Ask me how I’m doingand I’ll say “fine”, notbecause I’m actually fine,but because “fine” is the onlysocially acceptable response. If I said that I have been lyinghere, for three hours now,willing my body to move,that would elicit unsolicitedadvice and tarnish my “fine”. I’d berate myself for breakingmy promise not to moan,knowing that complainingprovokes a compulsive […]