It is time for another installment of Headlines and History.
In an article titled “Civil Rights Groups Sue Florida over 'Poll Tax' Law to Restore Felon Voter Rights” from June 28, 2019 by Doha Madani, you can read about a current lawsuit against the state of Florida. The civil rights organizations that filed the suit did so in response to Gov. Ron DeSantis signing a bill that conjures up memories of poll taxes. The bill would make it mandatory for those convicted of felonies to fulfill monetary obligations ordered by the court in order to have their right to vote restored, even though Florida residents voted last year to reinstate voting rights to those who completed their sentences.
In the report “Racism & Felony Disenfranchisement: An Intertwined History,” Erin Kelley for The Brennan Center for Justice details the racist roots of a criminal justice system that actively revokes voting rights. These laws historically and currently disproportionately affect the poor and people of color.
Our present is intertwined with and informed by our past. We must face the past so we can heal the future.
*Edited to add: On June 17, 2020, I came across The Redemption Project with Van Jones for CNN. I read the words, “Face the past. Heal the future.” I will no longer use this phrase for my Headlines and History posts beginning in June 2020.
#thehistoryoffelonydisenfranchisement #votersuppression #loveyourneighbor #seekjustice #restorativejustice #lovemercy #walkhumbly #facethepast #healthefuture #headlinesandhistory #historyandheadlines #broadeningthenarrative
Podcast Rec - July 23, 2019
Podcast Rec - July 23, 2019
It’s podcast rec day!
Current Listen- That Sounds Fun Podcast Episode 65: Jo Saxton (released March 1, 2018)
"We talk about being salt and light, and light illuminates things. What are you illuminating about race in your community? What are you illuminating about God’s view of all these things?...What are the pockets of darkness you need to shine a light on in the hearts in your community? Salt is distinctive. It preserves, it protects, it flavors. What flavor do you bring?" - Jo Saxton
“I don’t think we are very good at allowing women to be angry...We attribute anger to dominance or aggression and forget that anger is a secondary emotion to do with fear or pain.” - Jo Saxton
Jo Saxton’s wisdom permeated throughout the episode. I wanted to include five additional quotes, but I narrowed down to two. I am thankful for a friend sharing this with me recently.
What podcasts do you recommend?
#thatsoundsfunpodcast #anniefdowns #josaxton #podcast #podcastrecommendation #saltandlight #illuminate #honestconversations #conversationsaboutrace #conversationsaboutgender #conversationsaboutemotions #broadeningthenarrative
Account to Follow - July 24, 2019
Account to Follow - July 24, 2019
It’s Wednesday, so I will highlight an account I follow.
Be the Bridge is an organization founded by Latasha Morrison to foster healthy conversations about race. In May 2017, I attended a Be the Bridge gathering for the first time. This one meeting resulted in a domino effect where I devoured every recommended resource. More importantly, empathy was cultivated and nurtured, and I was able to enter diverse relationships better equipped to truly love my neighbors in word and deed.
Follow @beabridgebuilder if you aren’t already, and support the important work of Latasha Morrison and this organization.
Be the Bridge is an organization founded by Latasha Morrison to foster healthy conversations about race. In May 2017, I attended a Be the Bridge gathering for the first time. This one meeting resulted in a domino effect where I devoured every recommended resource. More importantly, empathy was cultivated and nurtured, and I was able to enter diverse relationships better equipped to truly love my neighbors in word and deed.
Follow @beabridgebuilder if you aren’t already, and support the important work of Latasha Morrison and this organization.
#bethebridge #beabridgebuilder #graceandtruth #challengethenarrative #tellthetruth #thefulltruth #andnothingbutthetruth #healthydialogue #conversationsaboutrace #empathy #healing #broadeningthenarrative
Additional Rec - July 25, 2019
Book Rec - July 27, 2019
Additional Rec - July 25, 2019
Since it is Thursday, this post will be about an additional recommendation I found beneficial on my journey in broadening the narrative.
In 2014, Mellody Hobson delivered a Ted Talk titled “Color Blind or Color Brave?” With personal narrative, statistics, and an abundant amount of grace, Mellody Hobson addresses race and the problems associated with “color blindness.” She offers solutions and is compelling in her call to being “color brave.”
Mellody Hobson’s words are just as persuasive and applicable today, which indicates the presence of work that still needs to be done. It takes less than 15 minutes to listen to this Ted Talk but being color brave is a lifetime commitment.
#colorbrave #notcolorblind #seeandcelebrate #beautyindiversity #diversityinhiring #bettertogether #tedtalk #mellodyhobson #conversationsaboutrace #broadeningthenarrative
It’s book post day!
Past Read- Stamped from the Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi
"But no racial group has ever had a monopoly on any type of human trait or gene-not now, not ever. Under our different-looking hair and skin, doctors cannot tell the difference between our bodies, our brains, or the blood that runs in our veins...Black Americans' history of oppression has made Black opportunities-not Black people-inferior. When you truly believe that the racial groups are equal, then you also believe that racial disparities must be the result of racial discrimination...I know that readers truly committed to racial equality will join me on this journey of interrogating and shedding our racist ideas. But if there is anything I have learned during my research, it's that principal producers and defenders of racist ideas will not join us. And no logic or fact or history book can change them, because logic and facts and scholarship have little to do with why they are expressing racist ideas in the first place. Stamped from the Beginning is about these close-minded, cunning, and captivating producers of racist ideas. But it is not for them. My open mind was liberated in writing this story. I am hoping that other open minds can be liberated in reading this story” (Kendi, 2016, p.11).
Stamped from the Beginning is the first book I read on my journey broadening the narrative in August 2017. I checked it out from the local library and had to renew it several times. It is comprehensive and packed with information I wanted to share with Stephen. I continually read multiple pages to him, which hindered my ability to read quickly but enhanced my digesting of this essential work. I highly recommend this book.
What are you reading?
#pastread #stampedfromthebeginning #ibramxkendi #stamped #essentialreading #bookrecommendation #highlyrecommend #history #reading #learning #broadeningthenarrative
