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We repeat the mistake continuously in this country of trying to address our racial animus and the violence it fosters as though it were a virus that occasionally attacks our social body, rather than seeing the truth: that racial animus is a constituting reality of our social body.” —Willie James Jennings, Theologian “Overcoming Racial Faith.” […]
Read MoreThe year was 1989, and I was a freshman in high school. In fact, I was in high school this one particular day, only I was sitting at a lone desk in an empty hallway because, once again, my behavior had gotten me kicked out of class—but on purpose, actually. Because though I was attending […]
Read More“Forgive me for being so ordinary while claiming to know so extraordinary a God.” —Jim Elliot (1927-1956), martyred for sharing the love of Christ. In the next article, I will tell you about when a heavy jug of aged, North Philly [homeless-and-possibly-heroin-addicted] urine splashed onto my bare feet and flip flops, how fast I dashed […]
Read More“The antidote to feel-good history is not feel-bad history, but honest and inclusive history.” – James Loewen, University of Vermont professor, bestselling author. Salt or pepper? Onion or garlic? On your Thanksgiving turkey, which one from each of these savory combos would you give up? Rather tough choice for the “true foodie.” In fact, if […]
Read More“With all thy getting, get understanding” (Proverbs 4:7). Last Saturday, smartphones around the world buzzed and brimmed with newsflashes surrounding all that unfolded at a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. Leading this rally were those under the banner, “Unite the Right”—a movement seeking to unite all white supremacists from different groups, including the Alt […]
Read MoreI sat there, frustrated and bitter, in a poorly lit, dank smelling classroom. Another Sunday wasted sitting through Sunday School just to please my Roman Catholic mother. I wondered what the point to it really was, besides avoiding being disowned by my off-the-boat Italian family. In my mind this was the turning point for me […]
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