Across this country, an uprising has been ignited by the murder of George Floyd -- one in a long line of unarmed Black people killed by police officers. And yet the tinder for this fire comes from so many sources -- the legal, educational, health, and financial systems that marginalize Black people in this country…
Valuing liberation over comfort
Update 06/30/2020: I just finished watching the Netflix documentary Disclosure, and it was transformative. Seeing the full lives and perspectives of trans individuals had such an impact on me. I do not want to claim that I am totally different now than I was before I saw this film, but it really brought home what…
My history can fuel me
Carl Schwarz, my great-great-grandfather In 1848, eighteen-year-old Carl Schwarz set out from Pomerania, Germany. He and his family crossed the Atlantic, settling in Lebanon, Wisconsin. They purchased 40 acres of land and built the house that eventually 5 generations of Carl’s family would inhabit. He and his family spoke German at home and in their…
White fear
What are we afraid of? I want every white relative, friend, and acquaintance to really wrestle with that question. When we see Black people protesting, resisting the violence of white supremacy, what causes us fear? Are we really worried about our own physical safety? The safety of the things we own? Or are we worried…
From 100,000 to 1
Sometimes it feels to me as if the spirit of the world has darkened, and sometimes it feels as if I am just more aware of the darkness that was here all along. In the past week, three stories have intersected to reinforce my perception of this darkness. The United States of America has just…
The unbroken circle
Will the circle be unbroken By and by Lord, by and by There's a better home awaiting In the sky Lord, in the sky. Is there a better home awaiting us in the sky? Under our feet? In some alternate dimension we can’t comprehend? There has always been this debate -- is heaven a place…
Unmasking our intentions
The coronavirus has altered life dramatically for all of us in a short time. In Illinois, as in many other states, we are required to wear masks in public indoor spaces -- grocery shopping, purchasing from other stores, picking up food from a restaurant. Outside, we are asked to maintain 6 feet of distance from…
Fellow white people
Fellow white people -- Did you listen? Did you listen when they told you about Dontre Hamilton? When they told you about Eric Garner? Michael Brown? Tamir Rice? Did you read the stories they wrote about Freddie Gray, Philando Castile, Alton Stirling? Did you sit silently by when you heard of Stephon Clark, Rekia Boyd?…
Another year
I received an email from a high school friend recently, and he described us as “decidedly middle age”. It’s quite an apt description, although one that really makes me feel my years. Today is my 44th birthday, and I would feel fortunate to make 88. My grandparents passed when they were 76, 77, 86, and…
Claustrophobia
I had just boarded a flight from Hawaii back to the mainland, taking my window seat. I am not a prolific flyer, but I have been on plenty of flights throughout my life, so I was accustomed to the routine. I settled in and had a brief chat with the man next to me. I…
