We're on Black Catholic Messenger!

About losing track of time- please forgive the lack of a post here last month. There is some news that happened in the meanwhile:

Your humble blogger made it to Black Catholic Messenger! BCM is a nonprofit media outlet uplifting the voices of Black Catholics. Here's the link to my article:

https://www.blackcatholicmessenger.com/black-catholic-history-books/?s=01

Food for thought: Mike Drop Edition

 Once again. your humble blogger had a moment of happening upon a quote just begging to be shared- especially in this moment in time. Presenting without comment because nothing will do it justice:

On "Black Saints in Early Modern Catholicism"

Recently, your humble blogger became aware of Erin Kathleen Rowe's Black Saints in Early Modern Catholicism through a social media post.  It was intriguing in that as someone who is Black and Catholic, it isn't common to see discussion of Black people, including saints who were Black, in light of the history of the universal Church. Thankfully, there are strides being made to change that, including Professor Shannen Dee Williams' #BlackHistoryisCatholicHistory work and Dr. Tia Noelle Pratt's Black Catholic Syllabus.  If memory serves correctly, the aforementioned social media post was a response to Professor Williams ' commentary. All in all, it was serendipitous that this led to reading Rowe's tome.

Black Saints deftly explores the veneration of Black saints in the early modern period,  from the 16th to 18th centuries. Through extensive research and analysis of images from religious sites in the Iberian peninsula that went long unstudied, Rowe illustrates how devotion to these holy figures, promulgated by enslaved Africans in the region at the time provided a different blueprint for looking at holiness,  blackness, and cultural power.  This blueprint,  she demonstrates, had a impact on the societies where these devotions occurred and eventually made its way to the New World.

It goes without saying that the history of Catholicism is deep and rich- so much so, there is much that has gone undiscovered. This is especially true in terms of the history and traditions of Black people in the Church and their impact on the Church globally. For those interested in this part of Catholic history,  Black Saints in Early Modern Catholicism and the work of Professor Williams and Dr. Pratt are definitely worthwhile engagements.

What is Enough?

(Inspired by Nikki Giovanni's writing game for her students)

That we all-

Whoever we are-

live, love, and are loved

in the dignity and truth

accorded to us

as human beings 

from the Most High 

That is enough,

at least for me.

Why "Why We Can't Wait" is a necessary read for these times

As anti-racism work has come to the fore over the past few months, many great books have been shared as sources to turn to. For your humble blogger,  one book has shown itself as necessary to add to the list, if it hasn't already- Dr. Martin Luther King's Why We Can't Wait. An illustrative reflection on the events leading to the civil rights movement becoming the force that it was (and is) in American society,  one can find many parallels between Dr. King's time and now. Given these parallels,  Dr. King's insights provide an essential blueprint on understanding and working in the fight for Black lives 

Focusing on Birmingham, Alabama in 1963, each of the book's eight chapters eloquently probe the mindset and strategies at the heart of the movement. While steeped in historical context,  it conveyed to your humble blogger the sense of applicability for out time. Many of the issues Dr. King and his contemporaries faced are still with us today. This is recognized and often mentioned in the current work for Black lives. It also goes without saying that the civil rights movement has provided a blueprint for the justice work seen today. Thus, it would seem essential to explore the forces behind the movement that laid the foundation for what's being done now. 

Current events have shown it necessary to understand the connection between circumstances of the past and now. Many voices are saying, "If you're wondering what you would have done in the Civil Rights Era, look at what you're doing now".  Why We Can't Wait shows us the mentality and strategy of that time.  Thus, it demonstrates itself necessary and useful today.

A Reiteration of Why Voting has to be Part of the Strategy for Change

Earlier today,  in conversation with an acquaintance from outside the U.S. the subject came up about voting.  While it's been said a million times before,  it seems worthwhile to reiterate that voting can't be overestimated. This is especially true for local politics. In Camden, NJ, the Mayor set up a plan to overhaul the city's police department.  A notorious congressional representative from Iowa lost the Republican primary yesterday.  Ferguson, MO, where the killing of Michael Brown sparked national protests and the Black Lives Matter Movement, elected its first Black and female mayor.   While these are just a few examples,  it goes to show that elections matter. They can lead to substantial change, as seen in the scenarios above.

As recent events have reiterated, systemic changes necessary. Who gets into office can determine whether or not such change can be implemented. Exercising the ballot can thus not be overlooked.

Yours in Solidarity,
Msranadee

P.S. here's the calendar for this year's primaries. Check to see if yours is coming up.

Words

I wish there were more words,
Then again I don't.
It shouldn't have to be said
I'm tired.
We're tired.
Stop killing us.
Let us breathe.
If that's not enough,
I don't know what to tell you.

On wands and free will

This recent post your humble blogger came across has been on your humble blogger's mind as of late. It's quite an intriguing topic.

What came to mind is it's hard to say if yours truly would want a magic wand. It made me think of Langston Hughes' "Mother to Son", where despite the Mother's life not being a "crystal stair", she kept going. That's not to say that problems shouldn't be acknowledged or suffering shouldn't be alleviated whenever possible, but that sometimes reality can't always be fixed with a "magic wand ".  Even if it could,  it would seem to be up to the individual to take that wand.  That goes to another insight that came up when pondering this subject.

A wand doesn't work by itself.  There's someone else holding it. Wiping away problems,  while the choice of the individual,  seems to be also a community effort.  No man is an island, as the saying goes, and the sentiment gleaned from thinking about this is the "magic" happens when the wand and an other come together in purpose.

What's your take?

The "Werk from Home " Playlist

Your humble blogger decided to get on the curating tip and make a playlist to get you going in these current times.  This is for when you need a pick-me-up, get some chores done, or just have a good old dance party while home. Enjoy!

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7CxrDfHYsHQ4E1N3pfkl56?si=c-d4qBFCRh6AS-Q_mIMI9Q

"Dinner with 5 People, Living or Dead "- Women's History Month Edition

In honor of Women's History Month, your humble blogger figures it would be cool to give her answer to the question "If you were to have dinner with five people,  living or dead, who would it be and why?", featuring some unsung women who made history in their own way. This particular list isn't comprehensive, but a shout to those you probably wouldn't expect yours truly to mention

Ven. Henriette Delille

Venerable Henriette Delille was the founder of the Sisters of the Holy Family,  a Catholic women's religious congregation for free women of color in antebellum New Orleans. The congregation served among the sick poor in the city's black community in addition to founding a school for girls and an orphanage (1). Delille is declared Venerable, a step in the Catholic  Church's sainthood process.  Check out M. Shawn Copeland's The Subversive Power of Love for an intriguing look at her life and impact. (More on M. Shawn Copeland later)

Dorothy Day

Co-creator of the Catholic Worker movement, Day dedicated her life to those on the margins and to social justice. It's hard to say anything that hasn't already been said about her, so here's a great profile of her from the Sheen Center.

Thea Bowman 

(Picture courtesy of National Catholic Reporter)

Educator, evangelist and activist, Thea Bowman was the first Black sister in her Catholic religious congregation and the first black woman to address the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. She died 30 years ago today and is also on the road to sainthood in the Catholic Church (along with Delille and Day). Here's a nice profile on her and Claire Swinarski's fantastic interview on The with someone who knew her here

Mathilda Beasley

(Photo courtesy of Aleteia)

Like Henriette Delille, Mother Mathilda Beasley was a Black religious sister in the 19th Century South. Pre Civil War, she taught Black children, despite it being illegal in her hometown of Savannah, Georgia. That fact ialone was enough to put her on you humble blogger's list. Beasley went on to found the first Black Catholic women's religious order in Georgia.  Aleteia's article on her is one to check out.

M. Shawn Copeland 

(Picture courtesy of America Magazine)

Theologian and scholar M. Shawn Copeland's book Enfleshing Freedom was a game changer for your humble blogger when reading it. Thus, the list is rounded out with this former president of the Catholic Theological Society of America, the first Black woman to hold the position. It's easier to show rather  than explain why yours truly would love to have a dinner with this phenomenal figure,  so check out this.

On "Making our Way Home"

Your humble blogger just got through historian and activist Blair Imani's latest book, Making our Way Home: The Great Migration and the Black American Dream for Black History Month, and it's indeed worth to be on the shelves of every home in the country. Imani expertly weaves history and culture to present a necessary part of America's story.  Taut and comprehensive, it's an accessible exploration of over 60 years of not just Black history, but American history. Rachelle Baker's illustrations are gallery worthy.  Put together,  it is a work that deserves to be spread far and wide. In fact,  at her book signing I attended, Imani signed my copy to "share [the work] far and wide ", my hope is this does justice to her commission.

Inner G, or playing around with creativity

Thus far into 2020 your humble blogger decided to take an online course called Using Creative Problem Solving. One of the assignments inspired me to do tap into my playful side and come up with this

It's a "self portrait" I dub "Inner G" (Shout out to Janelle Monàe for the word play).