From the introduction of DO the WORK! An Antiracist Activity Book (2022) By W. Kamau Bell (African American man) and Kate Schatz (European American woman): “One, we can’t leave things up to someone else. It’s life or death right now, and that’s really not a joke. Democracy is crumbling before our eyes, the planet is on fire, our communities don’t have what we need to live well, and the gap between those who have and…
As I’ve been wrapping Christmas presents and sending cards this year, I am reminded that the images of Santas, the Holy Family and other people are primarily white. Occasionally there is a dark-skinned Wise Man or child playing in snow. . . (I have been glad to see some emojis in e-communication that have different skin colors, though.) One year a long time ago I bought some wrapping paper with Black Santas. No one objected,…
Over the past several months, your concern and participation in strengthening our democracy has been vital. Through your individual or Quaker Meeting endorsement of the Urgent Call and through your involvement as a poll worker, poll chaplain, election official, volunteer for candidates, and through prayer—you have helped protect our democracy and counter authoritarianism. Thank you! We are encouraged that democracy prevailed in the recent midterm elections, that election violence has not occurred, and with few…
Honor cards are a different way for you to give a present to your friends, neighbors or loved ones. Instead of a physical object, you give a card that reflects a gift to a nonprofit of your choice. The gift to the non-profit is in the name of your friend or loved one, so they know that a local organization has been supported in their honor. At New Garden Friends Meeting, we have selected multiple…
The Carolina Peacemaker, Greensboro’s African American newspaper, recommended the book DO the WORK! An Antiracist Activity Book (2022) By W. Kamau Bell (African American man) and Kate Schatz (European American woman). It’s a good one! From the Cover: “For all the people overwhelmed by racial injustice and white supremacy in America, who’ve taken some action and know they can do more, but don’t always know what to do or how to do it, or are…
“New Garden’s Little Free Antiracist Library has been a great success and is getting a lot of traffic! Thanks to all of you who have contributed to the wonderful collection of books, promoting antiracist themes! We need to replace books that have been taken, so please check your bookshelves at home for titles by black authors, books that teach about racism, biographies of people in under-represented populations, etc. The books may be placed in the…
Last week we celebrated Thanksgiving. Unless we had someone else prepare the food, we certainly were highly dependent on both a stove and a refrigerator to cook and store the makings of our feasts. We can be thankful for the work of African American John Standard: “[His] improvements to kitchen appliances eventually led to more innovations in both refrigerator and stove designs that would change the way people around the world stored and cooked their…
The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together by Heather McGhee, mentioned in this space earlier, is a big book, which I am still reading, in advance of placing it in our Little Free Anti-racist Library. I am led to share this quotation from page 205 in the chapter entitled The Same Sky today: Perhaps it makes sense, if you’ve spent a lifetime seeing yourself as the winner of…
These FCNL Legislative Priorities for the 2023-24 Congress were approved by the General Committee of FCNL on November 19, 2020. They provide the framework for FCNL advocacy in 2023 and 2024. The order in which they are presented here does not represent a priority order. Each priority provides a framework for lobbying as way opens. ● Promote peace building and confront the paradigm of global militarism at home and abroad. ● Work towards nuclear disarmament…
Every year, on the Thursday before Thanksgiving, the Greensboro community comes together to fight hunger by participating in the Feast of Caring. During the holiday season, many face hunger and cannot sit down to a holiday feast. They will be alone, hungry, and in crisis. At the Fest of Caring, guests can make a donation and enjoy a simple meal of soup and bread. All donations will support Greensboro Urban Ministry programs that fight hunger,…