World Suicide Prevention Day
It's World Suicide Prevention Day! Maybe it's weird to be upbeat about this day, but honestly I am just so glad that enough people have made enough noise for long enough that the world has taken notice! Also, this day is a day that reminds me/gives me an excuse to take extra care of myself and also tell the ones I love how much I love them. YOU, if you are reading this, I love you and I am so glad that YOU exist. Suicide has been a part of my life since junior high. That was
The Justice System Needs a New Name
"They are Jusef Antron Kevin Raymond and Korey. Those are their names and we need to KNOW them and SAY their names." (Ava DuVernay) Over the last few days I have raged and wept over Ava DuVernay's latest work, "When They See Us.' Ava takes the viewer on a journey through the 'Central Park 5' case through the eyes of the five young boys, wrongly accused of rape and assault in 1989. These BOYS, 14-16 years old, were in the wrong place at the wrong time, running through Cen
Reflections on Sainthood
What a week. October 29th marked 10 years since my father's best friend Mark completed suicide. October 31st was Halloween of course and...
Here I Stand, I can do no other
I have been writing this blog post for about a month now.. There have been countless opportunities to write, starting with National...
Pick up your Cross
Reflection: This Labor Day weekend I preached in front of a congregation for the FIRST time. This was NOT college chapel full of people I...
In Flux
[It has been awhile since I blogged because this blog was originally created for a J-term class I created for myself on the Black Lives...
A Beginning
As my research and reading comes to an end for this J-term class I am a mixed bag of emotions. With the prayer "I believe, Lord, Help my unbelief," constantly on my lips these days, I seem to have made my home in the awkward crack between hope and despair. Working on this project this month has opened my eyes to so many others who are fighting the same fight. I am encouraged by the fact that I am not alone. I am inspired by the work that is being done. But for every song I li
Prison advocacy
I am so tempted to say today is the day the world ends.. But while half of me is in despair, the other half says rise up and overcome. We have had bad presidents before, this is nothing new and I shouldn't be so surprised by my country. We will get through this, friends. We shall overcome. Resistance. I cannot push this enough. Resist when the government argues against basic human rights. Resist ignorance. Resist hate. Resist believing that you are disposable! You matter and
Mass Incarceration and for-profit prisons
In past posts I have discussed how our culture has come to the problem of mass incarceration and how it is a continuation of slavery. For a brief recap watch this video: Also, here is some quick and stunning facts about prisons in America: When America "freed" slaves, they included in the 13th Amendment that criminals can still be slaves. This allowed, post-civil war, white southerners to hold black people to slavery based on "crimes." This turned into convict lease system
Advocate to end police violence
Yesterday I blogged on the Black Lives Matter Movement and the police and I mentioned Shaun King's articles for the nydailynews. I focused on one solution he proposed, but I want to share all of his ideas. I've been outlining a national problem and police violence is a large part of that problem. Conversation can only go so far. Here are things we can do about it Shaun King’s 25 solutions to police brutality: Increase the number of people going into the police force – espec
