The Role of Faith Communities in Criminal Justice Reform

March 16, 2017.Reading time 1 minute.

April 8, 2017 marks the 153rd anniversary of the United States Senate passing the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery in America, except in instances of criminal punishment. Join Gethsemane United Methodist Church for a film viewing of Ava Duvernay’s award-winning documentary 13th, which explores slavery, Jim Crow, and criminalization as links in a chain of […]

The Inauguration

January 19, 2017.Reading time 1 minute.

#ThrowBackThursday #inauguration2009 #MyPresidentIsBlack Flashback 8 years ago. Gary Brown, Valawnda Valovin Drakeford and I drive home to attend The Inauguration. Because in reality there is only one inauguration that black people recognize. We’re driving along 301 near Fredericksburg, VA. We stopped for breakfast and gas. Valawnda decides to drive. She’s all of Nineteen. I tell […]