Did the George Floyd murder teach us nothing? Nothing about pain? Did being shut up for a year with time to ponder the string of murders of People of Color and reflect on their reality have no effect on our hearts? Did the numerous murders teach us nothing at all? Nothing about grief? Nothing about … Continue reading Have We Learned Nothing?
Racism
The Painting
A misshapen hand grasps the paint brush with the skill of one who has painted for millennia. The canvas is blank. It is a new piece beginning. Not that it will be all that different than previous pieces. Same colors, same textures, same layers…just in a different order. A new form, an experiment really, as … Continue reading The Painting
Lament
You may have noticed, I haven’t written a whole lot lately. I am struggling to come out of the season of lament I have been in. I feel a bit like a flower with buds, that cannot bloom. I want to open my face to the sun but I am not ready. My passionate expression … Continue reading Lament
Black History
As an educator, I taught Black History Month for my entire career. However, as a child of the South, I was never taught anything about Black history. One reason is because February was not designated as Black History Month until 1976. Yet, even in my high school, years after that date, I never heard mention … Continue reading Black History
My Confession
Five years ago, I had a dream. There was a tall golden tower. It was beautiful and gleamed in the sunlight. I went into the tower, up the elevator to one of the highest floors. There were several ballrooms on this floor. They were full of people worshiping. There were speakers preaching. It was a … Continue reading My Confession
Melting Down
How are you feeling these days? I’m asking seriously. It seems to me we are in a season of melting down. I’ve talked to several people who are feeling the pressure of the times in which we are living. I am as well. The result is a cracking of our souls. Our emotions are riding … Continue reading Melting Down
Freedom Day
October 7 1963. 57 years ago today. Did you know about Freedom Day? I didn’t either until recently. Seems there are many events that were left out of my public school education as a child. Freedom Day was an organized effort to register Black voters in the Dallas County district of Alabama. The population of … Continue reading Freedom Day
Resistance
This whole computer nightmare has once again brought out how much I hate change. I prefer my comfort zone, thank you very much. I want my old systems, my documents, my photos, all of it, to be right where I put it. I want to be able to quickly find what I need. Never mind … Continue reading Resistance
Sitting With Grief
You may have noticed I have been missing in action as of late. I have learned, from doing it wrong so many times in my life, that grief takes an enormous amount of energy. When I am in a season of grieving, I have to give it space. That means giving up other things, so … Continue reading Sitting With Grief
Why Now?
Why now? Why ‘switch sides’ now? Why all of a sudden do I see things differently than I ever have before? It is a good question and one I am asking myself. I know I am making many of my friends uncomfortable. I am uncomfortable myself. Yet, I must proceed. There are several reasons my … Continue reading Why Now?