Every autumn I am reminded of this poem by lucille clifton: This year the language of letting go is much more fraught. Accepting the toll of this disaster (and others across the globe) feels impossible. My soul screams in resistance … Continue reading i agree with the leaves
Ancestors surround us. Their constant presence is more pronounced this time of year, as we approach Samhain and Día de Los Muertos. An invitation to pause to ritualize the beloved dead. To honor and grieve lost loved ones with gratitude … Continue reading Ancestors All Around
NOTE: These reflections on reparations are not meant to distract from the immediate response still needed to assist those most impacted by the storm (please check this list of Community based organizations to support with donations now and in the … Continue reading Systemic Storms and a Just Recovery
[cw: slavery, war, execution] The dogwoods are blooming, reminding me that it is almost Asheville’s Emancipation Anniversary. I first learned this fact in 2015. That spring, I supported Date My City and the Center for Diversity Education in organizing an … Continue reading Asheville’s Emancipation Anniversary
We are water. We are water. We are water. Not exclusively, of course, yet essentially so. As Indigenous people continually remind us, water is life. Before anything else, I offer unceasing prayers of gratitude for the sustenance of water. While … Continue reading We are water
“Another turn of the wheel,” a friend recently noted as we discussed loss and love and the brilliance of a red fall leaf. Life presents reasons to feel grief and gratitude over and over. And so we keep taking care … Continue reading Onward in October
Anti-Blackness permeates the soul of our society. And while many are actively eradicating and healing from it, the fact remains that it continues to shape every area of our lives. As a writer, I am particularly aware of the ways … Continue reading Anti-Blackness and Media Reparations
Friends, as I’ve mentioned, I’ve been using my personal writing time for a long-term project, and have not had space to write for this site. In lieu of an essay, here are two recently released treasures to fortify your heart, … Continue reading Nourish Hope
What is crime? Today I am considering this question. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines crime as: 1. an illegal act for which someone can be punished by the government 2. a grave offense especially against morality 3. criminal activity 4. something reprehensible, foolish, or disgraceful. While … Continue reading What is crime?
As we untangle and examine the pieces of policy and practice that led us to racial inequities today, here are two very informative locally relevant videos to watch, and a timely call to action related to (you guessed it) the … Continue reading Policy, Practice, Praxis
Ami Worthen 