By: Leroy Barber & Jess Bielman

Even before Covid-19, retail sales at brick-and-mortar stores had been changing. The marked decline was due in large part to the industry-changing increase in online shopping. But Covid-19 has accelerated the rate of closures of traditional in-store shopping companies. Department stores are closing – some we may know and love, that have been anchor businesses[…]

By: Leroy Barber

For the past 17 years I have had the pleasure of serving as Black Santa, taking pictures with kids and handing out candy canes.  I have been Black Santa for churches and often one of the first at major department stores.  This year, in light of the pandemic and safety concerns, rather than canceling events,[…]

By: Leroy Barber & Jess Bielman

Since election Tuesday, we have heard a lot of rhetoric about people of color, Black people, and Black women delivering the election for Biden-Harris.  Looking back on this election will show that the events of November 6th was the second time black voters pushed the country in Biden’s direction. The first was the lead-up to[…]

By: Leroy Barber & Jess Bielman

In the era of Trump, social and political maladies that were once said and done behind closed doors are now open for all to see.  The subtext is now the text.  Voter suppression is one of many of these maladies.  It is clearly working hand in hand with its partner gerrymandering to suppress the votes[…]

By: Leroy Barber

Throughout the history of movements inspired by Jesus, there are complicated theologies and philosophies around civic engagement, participation in government, voting, etc. In some eras, the church has found itself a tool of the state. During other eras, faithful Christians found solace in prophetic disengagement. The believing community has always had to faithfully navigate their[…]

By: Leroy Barber

Recently, I jumped off of a four-story cliff… and lived to tell the story. It has been a dream of mine since I was in my 20’s to cliff jump into a body of water. On a recent trip, I finally had the opportunity. It was terrifying and exhilarating, and I was unprepared even after[…]

By: Leroy Barber and Jess Bielman

Baseball has never been more of America’s pastime than right now. Not because it provides entertainment value in a time that needs it. Not because the intrigue of a game can transcend any moment.  Not because is it pulling the US together like post-9/11. Baseball has never been more of America’s pastime than right now[…]

By: Leroy Barber

While the world is protesting Black Lives Matter, I have had my own Amy Cooper experience on my block. A neighbor threatened to call the police on my family because of the music we play.  The experience has underscored the lack of awareness around what racism is, and specifically what constitutes anti-blackness. My neighbor decries[…]

By: Leroy Barber

James Baldwin said, “To be a Negro in this country and to be relatively conscious is to be in a rage almost all of the time.” Though I try to temper and channel that rage, sometimes it is impossible to keep in. The events of Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, Christian Cooper, and the Covid-19 virus[…]

By: By Leroy Barber

I like many others was stunned on Sunday morning January 26th when I heard the news that Kobe Bryant his daughter and 7 other people were killed in a helicopter crash. I am a huge sports fan and the name Kobe Bryant was extremely familiar although even those who are not sports fans were also[…]