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
Tag Archives: Atlanta
19 August 2024
Filed under Antiracism, Exercise, Friends, Human Rights, Music, playlist
Reflections on March 16 – Elisabeth Sophie Lee
Grateful to my friend Elisabeth Sophie Lee for this important post. Here are a couple quotes:
“It is heartbreaking to know that people have to be murdered in order for attention to be brought on anti-Asian racism.”
and
“To my non-AAPI friends: I ask that you educate yourselves by listening to our stories and donating and supporting our businesses, publications and organizations. Share resources on your platforms no matter how small or large your audience is. Call out racist remarks and microaggressions because when you fail to stand up, it is only further normalized. Check up on your Asian American friends — ask us what you can do, how we are feeling, but also give us space if we need it. It is one thing to see your outward support on social media, but it is another to really feel it through a text, a call or a meeting”
Read and heed her whole reflection:
Filed under Antiracism, Current Events, Human Rights
Virtual prayer vigil
Joining, from afar, the ecumenical prayer vigil held on Sunday, March 21 in the parking lot of the Gold Massage Spa to honor the victims of the Atlanta shooting. This vigil was organized by Korean Central Presbyterian Church of Atlanta, St. Andrew Kim Catholic Church, Emmanuel Korean United Methodist Church, and Lutheran Church of Incarnation. Here are some prayers for the moment.
Christ have mercy.
We thank you for your beloved children whose
lives were taken too soon, too violently in Georgia.
Draw us together to work
against racism and racist violence against Asian Americans.
Christ have mercy.
Inspire us to see each person
in the wholeness you create;
inspire us to see each person
with your gaze of love;
inspire us to see and honor
your image in each person.
Christ have mercy.
Provide love and courage for those who fear
for their safety because of who they are.
Guide us to disrupt systems and practices
that lead to fear and to create a society
in which no one need be afraid.
Christ have mercy.
Grant rest and comfort and strength
to your children who are wearied
by resisting white supremacy.
Sear the consciences of
those who have accepted privilege without interrogation
those who responded with apathy,
those who have expected people who endure racism
to provide the answers and to do the work.
Move us to care for one another
by dismantling systems that wound and drain
your children, our family
and deny your justice and love to all.
Christ have mercy.
Lead us to learn our history –
the history of Asians in America and of Asian Americans –
the history of the violence too often
inflicted by white supremacy
on Asian nations and on Asians in this nation.
May our learning lead us to recognize wrongs done,
repent, and begin the journey to repair.
Christ have mercy.
Move us to demand that
elected representatives in our nation,
in each state and in every community
speak and work to end hate and violence
directed at the Asian American community.
Christ have mercy.
We have work to do.
So much work to do.
Search our hearts,
guide our feet,
hold our hands,
stand by us
as we do the needed work
to disrupt white supremacy
and dismantle the systemic racism
that impacts Asian Americans
and Black, Indigenous, and people of color.
Filed under Antiracism, Current Events, Prayer
Say their names
Soon C. (Julie) Park, 74
Suncha Kim, 69
Yong A. Yue, 63
Paul Andre Michels, 54
Hyun Jung Park Grant, 51
Xiaojie (Emily) Tan, 49
Daoyou Feng, 44
Delaina Ashley Yaun, 33
Elcias Hernandez-Ortiz, 30 (injured)
Each a child of God.
Filed under Antiracism, Current Events
Praying with action after the shooting in Atlanta
Sometimes we pray with words. Sometimes we pray with actions. After the horrific shootings that left eight people, six of whom were Asian Americans and seven of whom were women, dead; today, in a time when hate and violence against Asian Americans is increasing; today seems a time for actions and words both. Here are some action ideas. What would you add?
Contact the President by email or on the contact line at 202-456-1111 and contact your Senators and Representative with the simple message: “What will you do to end anti-Asian hate and violence?” Additional asks could be:
Investigate and prosecute instances of hate crime and hate speech against Asian-Americans;
Increase the level of security and safety for Asian American individuals and communities;
Educate people about Asian history and the significant contributions Asians and Asian-Americans have made to this country.
With thanks to So Jung Kim who suggested a number of these advocacy points in a Facebook post.
Support the work of organizations such as:
Asian-Americans Advancing Justice – Atlanta
National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum
Asian American Christian Collaborative
CAAAV (Committee Against Anti-Asian Violence)
Asian Americans for Equality in New York.
Take part in a bystander intervention training offered by Asian-Americans Advancing Justice – Chicago.
Learn about the history of Asians in America. Here are some places to start. What else would you add?
Strangers from a Different Shore: A History of Asian Americans – Ronald Takaki
The Chinese in America – Iris Chang
Everything You Need to Know about Asian-American History – Himilce Novas and Lan Cao
COVID at the Margins: Anti-Asian Racism in the wake of COVID-19 – a Presentation by the Rev. Laura Mariko Cheifetz, organized by the Presbyterian Self-Development of People Committee
The Chinese Exclusion Act – A special video presentation of American Experience
Asian Americans – a PBS documentary that focuses on discrimination experienced by Asian Americans, the perseverance of Asian Americans, and the roles Asian Americans have played in shaping the nations’ story
With thanks to the Rev. Phil Tom and the Rev. Samson Tso for assembling this beginning list
Filed under Antiracism, Current Events, Prayer
Words fail and tears flow
A prayer poem in the aftermath of the killing of 8 people of whom 7 were were women and 6 were women of Asian descent
Words fail and tears flow.
They squeeze out of the corners of my eyes,
roll down to tangle in the underbrush of beard
until they break free and splatter on the keyboard.
Words fail and tears flow
for Asian and Asian American women
killed in Atlanta; lives violently taken;
your beloved children too soon gone.
Words fail and tears flow
for mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers
partners, lovers, children,
family and friend
who bear this unspeakable horror tonight
and who carry this unbearable pain into the future.
Words fail and tears flow
for communities terrorized and intimidated
by this and countless other violent acts of hate.
Words fail and tears flow
tears of grief; tears of rage.
As words fail, tears
become prayers for
those who were killed,
those who bear wounds,
those who mourn,
those who know fear,
those who would honor your image in all your precious people
and who would work for a better world.
In the name of the one whose tears flowed
at the death of a friend and for the people of Jerusalem. Amen.
With thanks to the Rev. Dr. Christine Hong for the reminder to pray for the families of the women who were killed.
Filed under Antiracism, Current Events, Poem, Prayer
Along the Graybeard Trail 