Young, Gifted and Black --- 2017 Edition

Yesterday I was on the treadmill preparing to walk a half marathon in April and the TV screen in the distance was broadcasting a news program which had nothing but stories of violence. After the third story with the usual looping of the horrible video footage and mind numbing commentary, my mind jumped to the conclusion that the system is doing what it does best --- putting out what it wants more of.

And I remembered that I could do the same.

So this Black History Month, I will loop my social media feed with what I want to see more of ---- Young, Gifted and Black humans.

Black History Month has traditionally focused on people who have gone from this world to the next. I want to give space and energy to some of the young people who are currently making the world go round.

I have 56 people who I am so excited to introduce and uplift over the next 28 days. I have asked them all the same three questions:

What do you do with your days?

What brings you joy?

What is liberation to you?

This project has given me a powerful opportunity to gather wisdom as well as engage in that wonderful spiritual practice of radical listening. I hope it does the same for you.

Also, check out Nina Simone singing Young, Gifted and Black,

Comments

be like water | erev rosh hashana d'var 5785

🎶 Be easy, take your time, you are coming home to yourself, coming home to yourself. 🎶 We have gathered at the appointed time to bless the creation of this world. Yet as we gather, we continue to witness the devastation and despair that hurricane helene has left in its wake. And the Israeli govt is expanding its war, destroying homes and families and so many lives that represent entire worlds. and here we are. Some of us feel rage, anxiety, or fear. Some of us are feeling discouraged, lonely or even uncertain what to feel. And some of us are feeling grateful for this opportunity to gather with beloveds or excited for the possibilities that can come as the new year is finally upon us. And i am sure that there is a mixture of some or all of these feelings. whatever and however you feel is just right and is welcome here. may it be so that this ritual, this spiritual technology that we have been gifted with, gives you just what you need right here and right now. 🎶Be easy, take your t

Hope and Change

We live in a dangerous time. It continues to be unsafe to walk in this world and hold any of the identities I have. We can try on the fact that while I drove to Mizzou a few weeks ago, I drove under the speed limit as my friend and I half jokingly said, "we don't want to become road kill on the way." What a sick thought to hold. But it was in my brain and it is because I and many others like me have been absolutely terrorized by the state violence that continues every few hours here in america. As a Jew, I can catch hell from all sides. You got the folks who just hate Jews on GP. Then you have those who can seem well meaning in their attempts to disagree with what is happening in Israel but are indeed anti-Semitic. Then you have the Jews who consider themselves to be white who act like Jews of Color don't and have never existed and shouldn't have a voice. I think they tick me off the most. As a Trans person, I have yet to remotely find a safe place outsid

28 days --- 56 ways to be Young, Gifted and Black: Mimi Borders

How do you spend your days? I love days that give me room to breathe and reflect. Typically, I am really busy with school work, research and extra-curricular activities. But this semester I am studying at the University of Ghana and I have more flexibility and control over my time. I do mindfulness meditations in the morning, yoga, write and daydream. Daydreaming is one of my favorite things to do - and it doesn't always have to be a solitary activity. I love dreaming out loud with my friends talking about how we want (WILL) to change the world, the places we will travel, the books we will write, how we will liberate ourselves and our communities. I drink a lot of water during the day and usually get sad at some point thinking about what is currently happening in the USA but I try and write myself out of the dark cloud. What brings you joy? My family is profoundly incredible. My parents are compassionate, emotionally intelligent people that always have uplifted an

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