Coming off of Jazz Appreciation Month, we carry with us the inspiration to become better listeners. Dayramir Gonzalez encouraged us to listen to music that is complex and rich, while John McKnight and Greg Jarrell tied that into how we listen to our neighbor. This week, we collected pieces that reinforced the art of listening as a critical step in building strong and thriving communities.
“Cinco de Mayo”
May 5th is the a day to remember the trials of Indigenous peoples on both sides of the border. One, the Battle of Puebla that ended the Franco-Mexican War in 1862, ended victoriously. The other, the national day of awareness for missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit people, is a battle still raging on. Luis J. Rodriguez expresses this tension within the Indigenous experience beautiful in his poem, “Cinco de Mayo”
Cinco de Mayo
by Luis J. Rodriguez
Cinco de Mayo celebrates a burning people,
those whose land is starved of blood,
civilizations which are no longer
holders of the night. We reconquer with our feet,
with our tongues, that dangerous language,
saying more of this world than the volumes
of textured and controlled words on a page.
We are the gentle rage; our hands hold
the stream of the earth, the flowers
of dead cities, the green of butterfly wings.
God Is With the Gaslighted
Theologian Walter Brueggemann weighs in on how God responds to those who are victimized by gaslighting, a method of sowing doubt in the minds of those who are being abused. In this time where many are debating the lived experience of Black and brown Americans (and marginalized people all over the world), this is a convicting message that causes us to pause and reflect on the stories we tell ourselves about God and each other.
Discriminatory Gaslighting
by Walter Brueggemann
I watched the interview of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry by Oprah Winfrey. I read about the reaction of the royal family to the interview in which members of the royal family attempted to undermine or deconstruct the memory of Harry and Meghan about how they had been treated. And then I learned what was for me a new phrase, “discriminatory gaslighting,” as it has been exposited by Christy Pichichero, “Meghan and Harry Experienced Discriminatory Gaslighting. Here’s how you can tell.” The term “gaslighting” is a new phrase to me:
Consolidating one’s power by causing individuals to question their own judgments, perceptions of reality and memories, has a name; gaslighting. It is a form of psychological manipulation by which abusers build their authority — and ability to continue to abuse — by breaking down their victim’s or victims’ sense of self and their confidence in their grip on reality (Christy Pichichero).
A Prayer of Lament in This Moment
While the difficulties of last year have begun to dissipate for some communities, for others the storm has strengthened. In this prayer shared by author and activist Jamar Tisby, we mourn with those who are currently in mourning all over the world. Please also consider giving to Give India, The North Carolina Community Bail Fund, or other community networks in your neighborhood for the purpose of sharing our abundance on the behalf of the common good.
A Prayer of Lament for This Moment
by Jamar Tisby
On May 30th, after a raw and real-time of sharing pain, strategy, and hope for change, our president, Jemar Tisby, closed out our special live event time with these words. Feel free to share them with others or pray them yourself. Thank you to Dr. Luke Stamps for transcribing the words.
Read moreComing Out of Isolation
In my home state of North Carolina, our governor has lifted the mandate for mask wearing outdoors, a sign that, for better or for worse, society is slowly return to a more recognizable pattern. At Common Good, status quo is not the goal. Instead, we seek liberation and abundance. Tonight, we will approach coming out of isolation with ease, beauty, and rich conversation. At 9PM EST, we will host a Jazz Listening Party with pianist Dayramir Rodriguez, writer and saxophonist Greg Jarrell, and community builder John McKnight. Please join us as we celebrate jazz, community, and the power of storytelling.
You must be logged in to post a comment.