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On January 17, 2022 we commemorated the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day holiday. After launching a book and doing some traveling, I didn’t think I’d have the energy to make much of the day. It turned out to be not just a day but a week packed with enlightening content, and I was blessed to be part of several events related to the life and work of MLK Jr.
I share the following links with you, and I make you this guarantee: You will learn something new about racial justice.
You will learn a bit of history, a fact, or about another perspective. You will come away with a deeper understanding of racial justice, both past and present. You will have your mind stretched in new directions based on what you read or hear. That’s my guarantee.
If not, let me know in the comments and I’ll try to change your mind. :-)
Here are some resources from the week of the MLK day holiday that I think will enliven your understanding of racial justice and motivate you to act.
In Good Faith podcast with Judah and Chelsea Smith
If you only have time for one piece of content from this message, listen to this brief podcast I did with my new friends Judah and Chelsea Smith. We talk about some of the history of racism in the United States and the ARC of Racial Justice. But they also let me geek out about the Delta and what makes this place so special. Stay tuned for more collaboration with them and their ministry at Churchome.
“Until I Am Free”: An Interview with Dr. Keisha Blain
Dr. Keisha Blain released her acclaimed book, Until I Am Free: Fannie Lou Hamer's Enduring Message to America in 2021 and brought lessons from the life of civil rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer to bear on our current social and political situation. She shares her wisdom about Black history and the way faith interacts with justice in Hamer's life as well as her own work. Everyone who has listened to this interview raves about it.
Culture Night with All Nations Worship Assembly Pensacola with Tyler Burns
I always have a great conversation with my Pass The Mic co-host Tyler Burns. What people may not realize is that Tyler is first and foremost a pastor. His church is All Nations Worship Assembly in Pensacola. He graciously invited me to their online Culture Night to talk about MLK. We end up talking about how we not only avoid King’s more progressive social and economic views, but we also downplay how his faith shaped his beliefs and motivated his actions.
National Day of Racial Healing: A Family Conversation with Gigi Khanyezi
I absolutely loved this Instagram Live conversation with my friend Gigi. We met in a leadership cohort and instantly connected. I appreciate her passion and brain for racial justice. You’ll be blown away in this talk when she talks about generational trauma as well as the psychology and biology behind how we transmit racial trauma throughout our family lines. You’ll also want to join the groups she leads periodically about how to comprehensively address racial trauma in your life and the world.
When the spit hits the fan: Mike Todd and the trap of gospel gimmicks
Did you hear about “spit gate” with pastor Mike Todd? If not, count your blessings. If you’re curious, I wrote this article for The Witness, a Black Christian Collective. It’s about what happens when we don’t believe God’s word will do its work and we have to resort to gimmicks to get the message across.