~I had a dream so I made a move
Believe it or not I didn’t plan for my summer workshops to be about reconciliation. I originally didn’t want to be part of that work for the church in general. Black Americans shouldn’t be burdened alone with the task of uprooting systems, designed to keep us oppressed. Nor should any oppressed group that America has stepped on. Under the guidance of making this “great” nation. I actually wanted my workshops to be about my grandmothers yellow table. As Disciples as it sounds.
My grandmother has a yellow table in her dinning room. It’s been there my whole life. 4 chairs slightly different shades from holding the weight of kitchen conversations. Generations of divorce talks, graduation plans, pregnancy reveals, hopes for the future, and so forth. It is where I landed after 6 weeks of travel this summer exhausted but smiling, for a debrief of my summer so far, as my grandmother busied her self preparing my favorite meal. Later she would be baking a pound cake for me using her grandmother’s recipe. Humming as she informed me she’s been watching my travels.
I was reminded of the dignity in serving food. The intentional act of saying you are worthy of having a hot meal. Of remembering your favorite meals or allergies. I wanted to teach about the importance of that.
So you might be wondering how instead I ended up spending the summer teaching youth how to plan a block party. And the answer would be 5 words: All power to the people. In a time where we increasingly see the isolation of people, the dehumanization of people, the genociding of people, the most powerful thing we can do is still gather. The most important thing we can still do is gather. The most revolutionary thing we can do is.still.gather.
Jesus did his best work at block parties; people, food, music, justice. He also showed us how scared that combination makes the oppressors. That’s why he had to die after the last supper. That’s why the FBI had to systematically deconstruct the black panther party, and the civil rights movement. Or any other people focused growing movement. When the people gather there is power.
So no I didn’t spend the summer teaching about my grandmothers yellow table. But Its okay because now that you all have the recipe — people, food, music, justice work — I can formally invite all those I have not met and re-invite all those I have met to the block party. Where my grandmothers yellow table will be the where spades are played and marches planned. The pound cake will be served with wisdom of the past, and the only requirement is that you deposit watermelon seeds at the door. In both honor of the ancestors who learned how to grow watermelon in soil of a foreign land. And in solidarity with our Palestine siblings who did the same.
This invite is signed from “the Eternally, gratefully and blessed from this experience” peace intern #180.