In Your Hands: Sunday Morning Podcast October 13, 2009

Because it takes a whole month to prepare for the day of the dead.  Because some of us have to create eclectic Sunday morning rituals to hear our own truth.  Because I want you to have this for when you need it.  This podcast is based on letters from my black feminist ancestors and features [...]

In Your Hands March 25, 2009

for the full letters, see below

June Jordan January 22, 2009

For Alexis: Kiss the corners of your face for me. Curlicue the edges of your hair. Your heart is a place for writing the word yes, and you will say no outloud for yourself and this planet when you must. I will be the bravery, okay let’s be real, the righteous outrage, of waking up [...]

Audre Lorde January 22, 2009

Dearest Alexis, In your hands sit the loving embers of a fire for justice of which my life and the lives of so many have been a part, are a part. No wonder you move those hands so swiftly and incessantly. I speak to you slowly, deliberately, teaching you that speed is not the only [...]

Nayo Watkins January 22, 2009

Alexis, Spirit Daughter, Child you didn’t even have to do anything for me to see myself in your wild hair, your open heart, your questioning spirit.  But you did, try to turn the world over with your art and your teaching and I had been waiting.  Please know that I kept myself alive for this, [...]

Toni Cade Bambara January 22, 2009

photo credit: Susan J Ross, ©1994 Sister Warrior, You called me up without knowing. Through repetition, through attraction. I saw people putting my name on your door. Saw you holding onto that old copy of the The Black Woman. Saw you mis-spelling “irresistable” everywhere you went. What asha says about you and Audre is true [...]

Ella Baker January 22, 2009

Big little sister, Get your guard up against the traps that would seduce you away from your purpose and steer you towards convenience and charisma. Set yourself in the hard work of accountability and sharing. Sharing the work, sharing the skills, sharing the connections, sharing the insight. Like everyone else, I am talking about your [...]

Fannie Lou Hamer January 22, 2009

Child, And they didn’t want me to have any.   I need you to stay awake.  This life is not the only one, but you are here for a reason.  I feel you holding your chest, pressing down on your heart in fear and memory of how I was taken, how June was taken, how so [...]

Pat Parker January 22, 2009

Alexis, girl, There is nothing like being at home, huh? In your skin, with your work, in the universe, with us. Nothing like it. You have this question of finding, needing your own space while valuing radical socialization. You need other people somehow. But sometimes you really need your solitude (so you can socialize with [...]

Claudia Jones January 22, 2009

Okay Alexis, There are things I have been trying to tell you already. Maybe you misrecognize my voice. You should go ahead and finish Carole’s book about me, it’s been sitting on your table for some time now. Anyway Alexis, It matters what you make your life out of. As my own demonstrates, you never [...]