Posts Tagged ‘Racial Justice’
My Christian College Censored My Alumni Update
He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? (Micah 6:8) When I was asked at the start of last spring semester whether I would be interested in assisting on research for an amicus brief…
Read MoreCivil Rights For All: The Making Of “The New Black”
Here is perhaps the most salient lesson I learned in making the documentary The New Black. What goes unspoken–and unheard–in our national conversations is equally as important as what is said. When, in 2008, an erroneous CNN poll laid the blame for the passage of Proposition 8 squarely at the feet of California’s black voters,…
Read MoreHow Shall We Be Seen?
How does one enter into this conversation regarding issues of racial justice, sexual identity and religious belief? I mean, seriously? Over the course of roughly a year, I have found myself having this conversation internally. Events like Jason Collins’ “coming out,” the Supreme Court’s ruling for marriage equality the day after deciding a section…
Read MoreSacred Solidarity: Do Not Squander the Precious Moments
In the immediate aftermath of the September 11th tragedy, there were amazing moments for solidarity between groups and communities rarely experienced. The solidarity was among U.S. citizens across the racial, religious, political, sexual, and economic spectrums. And solidarity within the global community as many nations and peoples were filled with genuine care and compassion for…
Read MoreThis Is Not The Progress We Deserve
The LGBT movement has made a strong case that gays are just the same as everyone else, and furthermore, our same love deserves equal rights. In the meantime, we are watching the clock unwind on racial justice. The same week the Supreme Court ruled in favor of marriage equality, they struck down Section 4 of…
Read MoreBayard Rustin Speaks
My post today is unique because today is unique: the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington. Bayard Rustin, an unsung organizer of the march and the movement, was interviewed by my friend Mark Bowman for the quarterly publication Open Hands in 1987, the year of Rustin’s death. As subsequent editor of the magazine, I republished the…
Read MoreMany Voices: Celebrating the Soul of Justice
If you’re in DC—or coming into town for the Congressional Black Caucus or National Black Justice Coalition convenings—don’t miss Celebrating the Soul of Justice on September 17. Remember how worship and singing fueled the civil rights movement and encouraged Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and our community to move forward with resolve? So must we…
Read MoreSearching God’s Guidance: How Will We Cope With Diversity?
In 2010, the U.S. Census showed that the non-Hispanic white population is growing at the slowest rate; it added that the Hispanic and Asian populations have grown considerably. In addition, we have seen remarkable shifts in public opinion to accept LGBT people over the past decade. What do these changes mean for America and our…
Read MoreBlack, Queer & Standing On The Side Of Love
Shanelle is currently working with the Unitatarian Universalist Association on the upcoming Mama’s Day celebrations. Send a custom e-card to the mama in your life, featuring inspiring messages and beautiful, originally-commissioned artwork by artists of color. Growing up, I didn’t always understand what love was. For me, it was both constant and obscure, almost always coming in the…
Read MoreWe, The Black Church, Have A Sex Problem
My friends Renee and Susan have been together for nearly 24 years and are thoughtfully raising a beautiful and brilliant five-year-old son. Like most parents, they goad him to eat his vegetables, admonish him to “slow down” inside the house and to share about his school adventures. They are making a home life worthy of him and…
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