✍🏽 I just signed the petition for a Presidential #Pardon for Ravi Ragbir!
Ravi has spent decades fighting for justice and keeping families together—now he needs our support.
Join me in urging President Biden to do the right thing. Sign the petition today! 🖊️✨
👉🏽 Sign here: https://bit.ly/raviragbir
#istandwithravi
#keepravihome
Filed under Antiracism, Friends, Human Rights
(nspired by the Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac; words in quotations are his.
Great Spirit, Immanuel,
in this Advent season,
we prepare to celebrate anew
the birth of Christ.
As we sing the songs
that tell us Christ will be bornin a manager,
remind us that again this year,
we will find “Christ in the rubble” of Gaza.
For Christ comes to the margins of life.
Not to the imperial palace
but to the humble people
Christ comes.
Not to the seat of powerbut to Bethlehem, little and insignificant
Christ comes.
Not to those enthroned
but to the disinherited and dispossesed
Christ comes.
For Christmas is your act of solidarity
with your beloved children who are oppressed.
Christmas provides a ray of hope
amid the “heart of pain and suffering.”
“Christmas is the radiance of life
from the heart of destruction and death.”
Inspire us, God, to seek Christ under the rubble.
Inspire us, God, to see Christ on the margins.
Inspire us, God, to follow Christ by working for
liberation and justice.
Amen.
Last year, the Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac and the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church in Bethlehem introduced the concept of Christ in the Rubble in solidarity with the people of Gaza. Their advent creche showed the Christ child surrounded by broken stones and concreate and other representations of destruction.
This prayer, built on that image, focuses on the rubble of Gaza. Rubble, in many forms—physical, psychological, social, and more, exists around. May we seek Christ in all the rubble of the world and respond.
Filed under Advent, Current Events, Human Rights
5K walk. Louisville.
Supporting Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women.
And We Can Love – Mary Youngblood
Blackbird – Emma Stevens
Calling All Warriors – Leela Gilday
I Am the Beginning and the End – Dorothy Tsatoke
The Unforgotten – Iskwē acākosīk, feat. Tanya Tagaq
Mother’s Rain Annie Humphrey
Some How – Nizhóní Girls
Through the Eyes of a Woman – Jana
Gentle Warrior – Kalolin Johnson
Indigenous – J25
Honor Song for an Older Sister – Poldine Carlo
Sinnatuumait – Elisapie
Resisto y Ya – Lido Pimienta
Fear – Joy Harjo
Strong Women’s Song – Ode’min Kwe Singers
Broken – Bear Fox
Roots And Wings – Joanne Shenandoah
For Me – Shawnee Kish
One Woman – Teagan Littlechief
Fight for the Rights – Kelly Fraser
God Created Woman – Martha Redbone
No More – Fawn Wood
Tongues – Tanya Tagaq
Grandmother’s Ways – Sharon Burch
The Warrior – Walela
Women’s Fancy Shawl – Shannon Thunderbird & Sandy Horne
One Woman: A Song for UN Women – Ana Bacalhau, Angélique Kidjo, Anoushka Shankar, Bassekou Kouyate, Bebel Gilberto, Beth Blatt, Brian Finnegan, Buika, Charice, Cherine Amr, Debi Nova, Emeline Michel, Fahan Hassan, Jane Zhang, Jim Diamond, Keith Murrell, Lance Ellington, Marta Gómez, Mari
Eagle When She Flies – Thunder Bird Sisters
Filed under Antiracism, Current Events, Human Rights, Louisville, Music, playlist
16th Street Baptist Church, Birmingham, AL, bombed 1963.
Roberto Clemente Day in Major League Baseball.
4 Little Girls – Wendell Morrison
Birmingham Sunday – Tom Paxton & Anne Hills
Two Black Churches: No. 1, Ballad of Birmingham – Will Liverman & Paul Sánchez
Birmingham Sunday – Rhiannon Giddens
Alabama – John Coltrane Quartet
Roberto – Ismael Miranda
Te Recuerdo – John McCutcheon
Sueño De Un Niño – Tito Allen
Somos La Fuerza Latina – Varios artistas
Roberto Y Tirabala 6:32 Andy Montañez
Orgullo De Borinquen – Lefty Pérez
Clemente (Estrella 21) – Edel Borrero
Jugando La Pelota – Jesús “Chocolate” Coombs
Jardinero Del Amor – Wichi Camacho
Lo Mejor Que Dios Ha Hecho – Ángel Ramírez
Roberto Clemente – Bill Tiberio Band
Roberto Clemente – Nelson Feliciano and His Orchestra, feat. Junior Cordova
Roberto Clemente – Phil Coley
Roberto Clemente – Franck Junior Flores
Roberto Clemente – Moe D
Filed under Baseball, Current Events, Exercise, Human Rights, Music, Pittsburgh Pirates, playlist
Labor Day. Check out a mini concert for Labor Day by my friend Eric Law.
Walking. Albuquerque.
9 To 5 – Dolly Parton
Workin’ At The Carwash Blues – Jim Croce
The Hands That Built America (Theme from “Gangs of New York”) – U2
She Works Hard For the Money – Donna Summer
Worker’s Song – Dropkick Murphys
Livin’ On a Prayer – Bon Jovi
Mr. President (Have Pity On The Working Man) – Randy Newman
Working Class Hero – Green Day
Working Man – Imagine Dragons
Working On The Highway – Bruce Springsteen
Joe Hill – Paul Robeson
There Is Power in a Union – John McCutcheon
Las Madres Cansadas – Joan Baez
We’Re Still Here – Si Kahn
Which Side Are You On – Natalie Merchant
Bread and Roses – Judy Collins
Three Miles Down – Gil Scott-Heron
More Than a Paycheck – Sweet Honey In the Rock
Ship In The Sky – Woody Guthrie
Solidarity Forever – Pete Seeger
Filed under Current Events, Friends, Human Rights, Music, New Mexico, playlist
Anniversary of killing of Fred Hampton.
Walking. Albuquerque. ABQ BioPark Aquarium.
Dear Daddy – Chairman Fred Hampton, Jr.
Panther – The Last Poets
Mississippi Goddam – Nina Simone
Fight For You – H.E.R.
Oakland Stroke – Tower Of Power
Everyday People – Sly & The Family Stone
Say It Loud – I’m Black and I’m Proud, Pt. 1 – James Brown
Oakland – Too $hort
Black Is the Color of My True Love’s Hair – Lauryn Hill
Black Enough – Steel Pulse
Better Off Dead – Bill Withers
Home Is Where the Hatred Is – Gil Scott-Heron
Be Thankful for What You Got – William DeVaughn
Fight the Power – Public Enemy
Attica Blues – Archie Shepp & Romulus Franceschini
Am I Black Enough for You? – Billy Paul
2000 Blacks Got to Be Free – Fela Kuti, feat. Roy Ayers
Panther Power – Paris
Black Man – Stevie Wonder
Panther Power – 2Pac
Be Real Black for Me – Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway
Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler) – Marvin Gaye
Filed under Antiracism, Exercise, Human Rights, Music, New Mexico, playlist
Hurricane Katrina.
Walking. Albuquerque.
Thanks to Tricia and Kim for suggestions.
Walking to New Orleans – Fats Domino
Shelter in the Rain – Irma Thomas]
Cry for New Orleans – Jude Johnstone, Susan Cowsill, John Cowsill, Rodney Crowell, Maxayn Lewis, Vicki Peterson & David Mansfield
All Hands Together – Mika Nakashima
All These People – Harry Connick, Jr.
The River In Reverse – Elvis Costello & Allen Toussaint
Where Were You? – Jackson Browne
Hell No, We Aint Alright (Krush Groove Remix) – Public Enemy Remix of a Nation (feat. Paris)
City That Care Forgot – Dr. John
Wading Through – Terence Blanchard
Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans? – Louis Armstrong
In New Orleans (House Of The Rising Sun) – Lead Belly
Going Back To New Orleans – Deacon John
I Hope – The Chicks
Pontchartrain – Vienna Teng
The Saints Are Coming – U2 & Green Day
When The Saints Go Marching In – Louis Armstrong K
They All Ask’d For You – The Meters
New Orleans Ladies – Le Roux
Halftime (Stand Up and Get Crunk!) – Ying Yang Twins & Homebwoi
Way Down Yonder in New Orleans – Freddy Cannon
What A Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong
Just a Closer Walk With Thee – Pete Fountain
Filed under Antiracism, Exercise, Human Rights, Music, New Mexico, playlist
Emmett Till.
March for Jobs and Freedom.
Walking Albuquerque.
The Death of Emmett Till – Bob Dylan
My Name Is Emmett Till – Emmylou Harris
Emmett’s Ghost – Eric Bibb feat. Ron Carter
The Ballad of Emmett Till – Red River Dave McEnery
The Death of Emmett Till, Pt. 1 – The Ramparts
The Death of Emmett Till, Pt. 2 – The Ramparts
The Death of Emmett Till – Ben Williams
Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen – Bayard Rustin
God Will Take Care of You – Aretha Franklin
Many Rivers To Cross – The Blind Boys Of Alabama
You’ll Never Walk Alone – Brittany Howard
Someday We’ll All Be Free – Donny Hathaway
(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding – Keb’ Mo’
Too Many Martyrs – Kim & Reggie Harris
Freedom Time – Lauryn Hill
Keep Your Hand On the Plow – Mahalia Jackson
Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody – Mary D Williams
We’ll Never Turn Back – Mavis Staples
Com’ By H’Yere Good Lord – Nina Simone
Hold On – Odetta
Been in the Storm – Ranky Tanky
We Shall Overcome – The Staple Singers
We Shall Overcome – Joan Baez
We Shall Overcome – Toots & The Maytals C
We Shall Overcome – Workers in Selma
Filed under Antiracism, Exercise, Human Rights, Music, New Mexico, playlist
Caressed by the wind,
the flames dance
above the candles,
each flame to its own rhythm:
each flame representing
God’s beloved children,
gone too soon,
taken too suddenly
by hot metal speeding from a metal tube,
after a trigger was pulled.
Back pressed into the wall,
I sat vigil,
watching the dancing flames
in horror,
in pain,
in remembrance,
in silent witness.
No more could I do.
More is needed.
24 August 2024
Ghost Ranch
Abiquiu, New Mexico
Filed under Gun Violence, Human Rights, New Mexico, Poem
In memory of the Rev. Dr. Otis Turner
Pacing. Hotel in Albany.
Pacing. Hotel in Atlanta.
You Don’t Have to Ride Jim Crow! – Bayard Rustin
Oh Freedom – Mary D Williams
Freedom – Richie Havens
What a Friend – Aretha Franklin
Harriet Tubman/Steal Away – Kim&Reggie Harris
Glory – Common & John Legend
Woke Up This Morning – Fannie Lou Hamer
If You Miss Me from the Back of the Bus – Bettie Mae Fikes
Lord Hold My Hand While I Run This Race – Various Artists
Leaning On the Everlasting Arms – Various Artists
Come Bah Ya (Kumbaya) – Willie Peacock
Don’t You Think It’s About Time That We All Be Free – Mabel Hillary
We’re Marching On to Freedom Land – Carlton Reese
We Shall Overcome – Various Artists
Get Your Rights, Jack – The CORE Freedom Singers
Which Side Are You On? – The Freedom Singers
Been In the Storm So Long – Bernice Johnson Reagon
I’m On My Way – The Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights Choir
Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Round – The Freedom Singers
Wade In the Water – The Fisk Jubilee Singers
Deep River – The Howard University Chamber Choir
Everytime I Feel the Spirit – The Florida A&M University Concert Choir
Precious Memories – Sister Rosetta Tharpe
My Lord, What a Morning Marian Anderson, feat. Franz Rupp
Stand by Me – Mavis Staples
Freedom Train – Sweet Honey In The Rock
Take My Hand, Precious Lord – Mahalia Jackson
Mississippi Goddam – Nina Simone
What’s Going On – Marvin Gaye
Say It Loud – I’m Black and I’m Proud, Pt. 1 – james Brown
A Change Is Gonna Come – Sam Cooke
Filed under Antiracism, Exercise, Friends, Human Rights, Music, playlist
Along the Graybeard Trail 