"Truth is powerful and it prevails.” - Sojourner Truth
August 14, 2020
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[…]
August 7, 2020
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[…]
June 11, 2020
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[…]
May 28, 2020
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[…]
January 29, 2020
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[…]
December 19, 2019
In working together on church, justice, and cultural work, Jess and I (Leroy) have had many conversations in airports and walks as we travel and do conferences. I asked him to write a letter specifically to his demographic of middle-aged white men about their work in these spaces. Here is our blog: Dear Middle-Aged White[…]
December 3, 2019
For leaders of color, as you grow in leadership you will be asked to speak at and into white initiates in the form of conferences, article contributions, or “conversations”. As you do, there are plenty of problematic dynamics to identify. These are unique moments of pressure to join in and tell the stories of your[…]
November 14, 2019
Be on the lookout for white heroes. Trust your instincts that these leaders are not as impressive as white folks think they are. White Hero – (n) – A charismatic leader of an organization who can captivate a white audience that builds their hero worship. White heroes are usually the top leaders in industries designed[…]
October 24, 2019
When personal or professional relationships are mediated by a system they cannot be built upon the necessary authentic, reciprocal, and vulnerable foundations. Take the hit television show Survivor, for instance. Relationships are built within the system of the game. People may have similar backgrounds or interests, but their interactions with one another are fully guided[…]
October 14, 2019
For the work with young leaders of color within the Greater Northwest Area of the United Methodist Church we have adopted the language of “leadership identification” rather than “leadership development”. This is a strategic move. Any large predominantly white institution cannot do leadership development with young leaders of color and make the necessary changes[…]
Join the Voices mailing list
© 2020 The Voices Project
Site by 