I wonder who I am called to speak for…. do I need to know that even if it is the name of my blog? and why am I called? What am I speaking of?
a thousand thoughts in sixty seconds July 21, 2008
A man approaches me outside your house last night.
He knocks on my passenger window, asking for me to just crack the window so we could talk.
“I’m black. A man. Its night time. But don’t be afraid… I am a good guy…I know you’re white and I am black but please I need your help!”
I nervously fumble around to roll the window down a little.
My car is on and my foot is on the brake. I’m meeting my friend in five minutes.
“My car ran out of gas. It is parked in fornt of Margret’s house around the block–she is okay with that. My name is David. Do you have a gas can I can use? Please, I will give you my ID… i am a good guy.”
I don’t have a gas can, truly I don’t…sorry.
“You look good, are you going out tonight? Man, you are beautiful… do you have a boyfriend? I would surely hit on you if we were at a bar!”
Thanks but I can’t help you.
“Could you at least give me a ride?”
no. i can’t do that. sorry. I need to get going.
“Wait! Please, I have been out here for an hour. I’m a good guy. My address is 414 18th st apt 325 hasting, mn. Do you have cash to pay for a gas can?”
Again, I can’t help. I don’t have any cash on me. I got to go.
“alright. Have a good night, sweetie.”
**I have cleaned up the conversation quite a bit. There was a lot of stubling over words, sluring, and repeating going on. With a sent of alcohol in the air.
blackberries May 8, 2008
I bought some blackberries yesterday! I love blackberries…. i would have to say they are my favorite berry, wouldn’t you agree?
The strength of my ancestors March 6, 2008
While I was back home in Watertown, SD I visited my grandma. My grandma is 83ish years old and not ashamed. I am incredibly privileged to know my grandma and to have her still in my life. My grandpa passed away far before I could have an adult relationship with him…so I understand how lucky I am. I usually go and visit my grandma when I am home and our conversation follows the same pattern–how are you? What are you up to? How is school? Do you like the Cities? It is good seeing you. You never write, call, or email me… be safe driving and I love you.
*But
…this time was different. I interviewed her about Black History Month and had an interesting conversation revolving around race, racism, white privilege and much more. Her responses to the questions were sincere and heartfelt. I was proud of the fact that her spirit dwells in me and that she has graced me with her wisdom. After some great conversation she started telling me about an ancestor of ours. Prudence Crandall–greatX4 aunt of mine. My grandma had a book that was written about her and she let me take it. I have yet to read it but I do know a little about her story. She was born in 1803 in Rhode Island. When she was 30 years old she started a school for black women. After countless attacks on the school, herself and a law made to shut her school down, she ended the school in Connecticut. But she didn’t stop there. She married and moved west were she started many schools for black children. Here are some official writings on her:
Prudence Crandall was born in Rhode Island on 3rd September, 1803. After being educated at a Society of Friends school in Plainfield, Connecticut, Crandall established her own private academy for girls at Canterbury.
The school was a great success until she decided to admit a black girl. When Crandall, a committed Quaker, refused to change her policy of educating black and white students together, parents began taking their children away from the school. With the support of William Lloyd Garrison and the Anti-Slavery Society, in March 1833, Crandall opened a school for black girls in Canterbury.
Local people were furious at Crandall’s actions and attempts were made to prevent the school receiving essential supplies. The school continued and began to attract girls from Boston and Philadelphia. The local authorities then began using a vagrancy law against these students. These girls could now be given ten lashes of the whip for attending the school.
In 1834 Connecticut passed a law making it illegal to provide a free education for black students. When Crandall refused to obey the law she was arrested and imprisoned. Crandall was convicted but won the case on appeal. When news of the court decision reached Canterbury, a white mob attacked the school and threatened the lives of Crandall and her students. Afraid that the children would be killed or badly injured, Crandall decided to close her school down.
In September 1834 Crandall moved to Illinois where she married Calvin Philleo, a Baptist clergyman. Prudence Crandall died in Elk Falls, Kansas, on 28th January, 1890.
AMAZING….right? Thank you grandma for all you have done for me and thank you for sharing stories of our history.
faith and school collide January 18, 2008
faith colliding with my studies?!?!?!?! Amazing. I never thought it would possible…. at least to happen outside of my head and heart. I heard words like: power, whiteness, other, romanticism, racism and did I mention power. I am honored to have been apart of that discussion. NOW… if only I could find an actually church community that wrestles and questions ideas of this nature. I guess I find it in my friends, family and teachers. I experience church within discussion and communion with others. Until later…
thanksgiving on a sunday? November 20, 2007
date:
novermber 18, 2007
place:
wendy’s home
friends:
wendy
erin
jason
wendy
erik
sunitha
cathy
meal:
chicken curry
coconut rice
mixed veggies
yogurt
bread
wine
chocolate
coversation:
god
twitter
friends
politics
dating
rubber ducks
life
robin
intimacy chart
family
adoption
india
future
laughter
memories
Revolution October 28, 2007
Revolution
-2006
The discovery that you are wrong
You accept it, change it, and move on
It begins with that discovery
Without it ignorance and confidence will blind you
To the discovery of what is wrong in the World
It begins in the personal, within you
And than translate to the system, the impersonal, the Man
It doesn’t start with blame or pointing fingers
Blame yourself, point inwards
We all need a revolution
Human dignity
Now there’s a righteous cause
Up hold that
Defend that
Rise up against that which holds it down.
Remember the part of the iceberg you cannot see
The tip is small and it did not sink that mighty ship
Dig deep and don’t rely on surface solutions or conclusions
We all need a revolution
Maybe tomorrow we will all take to the streets
to protest some worthy cause
Or maybe we will start a student group
that is cleverly named “Tranarchy”
What if we simply started a dialogue
A dialogue revolving around
Love
Truth
Openness
And in that dialogue we find answers
We discovery together what is wrong
And together we accept it, change it, and move on
We all need a revolution
