I had the opportunity to interview Elyse Douglas about her latest book, SPEAKEASY, published by Broadback. I appreciate that she gave so generously of her time when she could be working on the sequel!
SPEAKEASY, by Elyse Douglass
Roxie Raines is a girl out of time in 1925s New York City. So how did someone from 2019 end up in a speakeasy, anyway?
Maybe a corner is turned
I’ve been hard at work with my lessons in kreyòl on Duolingo, and on paper it looks good—Level 21 /…
The case of the missing person
Today’s lesson brought up what I’d seen in the past in a few lessons here and there. Let me show…
Let’s talk about what, exactly
Let’s talk about what, exactly. So kreyòl has a whole interesting way to form words of interrogation/asking in ways that…
Not Your Place, Not Your Time
White people, do not go into Black spaces to help change the conversation or add your very important opinion. It is just not the time and place for that.
The mystery of the “the”
There has been a couple of things I’ve been keeping notes on as I’m learning, and one of them is…
Making Good in Trouble
“Making good trouble” means stirring things up so that we do not become complacent about our situation and resigned to injustice
Wyte Innocence
Wyte people can’t be accused of bias or wrong unless there is exceedingly overwhelming “proof,” and even then we will go down fighting and insisting that we were not wrong
What’s mine is mine, I guess
Week 4 of learning Haitian Creole and things are kicking up a notch. Now it’s getting into “ownership” (how to…
Jesus as Emperor
The vision of Jesus for empire Christianity in our Sunday Schools and sermons and theologies is really an irrelevant Jesus who does not match the Jesus of the texts.
Starting point
About three weeks ago I was encouraged by some Haitian friends to start using Duolingo. They knew of my interest…
On Deconstruction
For the vast, vast majority of people, “deconstruction” is a good thing. Deconstruction can result in something far different and, in my opinion, far better than, white Evangelical Christianity.
When Our Bibles Get It Wrong
The history of the church is our confidence in rightly understanding until we realize how terribly wrong we’ve misunderstood everything.
The journey begins . . .
Today I started my first lessons in Haitian Creole (“kreyòl ayisyen”) using Duolingo. Wish me luck!
To Be Human Again
Sometimes the arts can entertain us. Disney has surely figured out that formula. But sometimes . . . the arts can open something up to us that we didn’t ever think we needed to see and learn.
REVIEW: Anxious to Talk About It
You will not find this to be the “answer book.” It’s not designed for that. This is a book that invites us to join in the community, in the discussion, in the journey.
Be Like Betty White
Betty White, a white woman in an industry that empowered only white men, stood up for what’s right. It cost her the job that she loved. But she did it, not “anyway,” but “because.” She did it because of her own moral integrity.
REVIEW: Subversive Witness: Scripture’s Call to Leverage Privilege
The book’s subtitle hints at what’s to come: we are all granted some level of privilege in life that others do have; those who have the most privilege are called to use that privilege
When the Good News Isn’t So Good
We have to face the fact that Christians often pick up odious behavior traits and exhibit them while singing songs of love and praise to Jesus of Nazareth.
The Cross and the Gun
A lot of what passes for discipleship and church membership in America is lacking in this demand to lay down our lives before Jesus and to cast aside the devil and all his works.
REVIEW: Shoutin’ in the Fire
I had to read this slowly, thoughtfully, with many pauses and breaks. There have been books I’ve read through in…
When You See Their Truth
Whatever your beliefs are about redemption and salvation and even universalism—Jesus was always with those who are most despised and feared by Evangelicals. They’re the people he had meals with. Their homes were his resting place. They were whom he wept for.
REVIEW: The Secret Lives of Church Ladies
These are the stories of Black women living lives as Black women with no one else as their betters, let alone their equals.
Which Way?
Your faith is about your personal relationship with your values, and it should not matter in the slightest whether anyone knows why you behave as you do when you behave better because of your faith.
The White Voice in Black Conversations
There seems always to be that moment when the white participant says something that is simply too much to handle.
REVIEW: Punch Me Up to the Gods
We learn, slowly, how to gather the people around us who will care for us and who will give us some space in their own lives.