Tag: Black History
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3 Ways to Stand Up Against Hate

Recently a group of people held a racist demonstration on a highway overpass in the St. Louis area, my hometown. It was a sad sight. The masked individuals held up Nazi flags and a banner proudly touting white supremacist language. Along with sadness, it was surreal for me to witness this deplorable sight. Unfortunately, I’m…
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Healing and Restoration

Message from Sunday June 16, 2024 from Ephesians 4:11-16. The way to successful cross-cultural relationships is through empathy and engagement.
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This is a Man’s World?

In his 1966 classic James Brown sings: This is a man’s world, but it would be nothing without a woman or a girl Brown gets half of this line right. In this song he endeavors to list the achievements that men have developed over the course of history while noting the vital maternal roles that…
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Why Women’s History Month Matters!
In March of 1978 a local group in Sonoma County, CA celebrated Women’s History Week to align with International Women’s Day and the event sparked similar ones across America. In 1980 March was declared Women’s History Month by presidential proclamation. Yet, even today we see great disparities toward women including the pay gap and the…
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3 Ways to Celebrate Black History All Year Long!

In Why Black History Month? I affirmed that: Black History Month is a good thing AND Black history should not be contained to February. Below are three ways to celebrate Black history from March through January: Did you know that Kathairo Solutions (a Black-owned business) leads discussions on topics like the ones highlighted in this…
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Recommendation: The 1619 Project

When I speak and teach on racial reconciliation, one resource that I regularly recommend is The 1619 Project. Named for the year when the first ship containing enslaved Africans docked in United States, The 1619 Project provides a deeper historical perspective of the United States by delving into the atrocities of chattel slavery and the…
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Recommendation: Caste

Few books have the ability to educate very deeply on a particular topic, inspire readers to change their perspective, and provide a framework for action. This is especially true regarding the topic of race. Yet, Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents accomplishes all of these. Isabel Wilkerson’s experience as a New York Times and Pulitzer…
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Recommendation: Who’s Black and Why?

Who’s Black and Why?: A Hidden Chapter from the Eighteenth-Century Invention of Race is without a doubt one of the most insightful books I’ve ever read. In my post addressing the question What is Race?, I list a few works that have helped form my understanding of race. This book has been quite influential in…
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Freedom (Juneteenth Sermon)

Sermon from Pastor Herman Armstrong at New City Fellowship on June 18, 2023. Title: Freedom I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that…
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3 Tips for Successful Diversity Efforts

Is your organization or ministry looking to start an initiative geared towards diversity? That’s a good thing! But, navigating the waters of diversity and inclusion efforts has great potential for miscommunication which can snowball and create more problems than solutions. Here are three thoughts on rolling out diversity efforts in ways that are clear, respectful,…