My Black Book Journal

Picture this: growing up in the Boston busing era in the 70s, grappling with the struggle of identity, place, and racial trauma. That's the reality Sheila Wise-Rowe, author of 'Young, Gifted, and Black: A Journey of Lament and Celebration,' faced. In a candid conversation, she takes us on an eye-opening journey through the struggles of gifted Black millennials and Gen Zs. Sheila shares insights on how organizations, churches, and institutions can better recognize and serve this demographic. 

Ever thought about how leadership transition can affect the emotional health of those involved? Together with Sheila, we explore the challenges and the importance of nurturing the next generation of leaders. We also discuss the necessity of creating intentional relationships and safe spaces for those struggling emotionally. Transitioning the baton of leadership is no easy task. But with the right approach, it can be a smooth and fruitful journey.

What happens when we overlook grief and loss? Drawing from the teachings of Pete Scazzaro and the life of Chadwick Boseman, we probe the importance of acknowledging grief as part of our personal growth and healing. We also touch on the essence of waiting on the Lord and maintaining an authentic faith through our experiences. As the episode concludes, we highlight the joy and healing of hearing diverse voices, as depicted in Natasha Robinson's book 'Voices of Lament.' Tune in for insightful discussions and stories that will leave you enlightened and inspired.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.actjustlylovemercy.org

Have you ever found yourself wrestling with feelings of unworthiness, struggling to comprehend self-worth amidst societal systems that promote white supremacy? This is what we unpack with the insightful Caroline J. Sumlin, who's not just a guest, but a beacon of light guiding us through her profound journey. Caroline, the author of We'll All Be Free: How a Culture of White Supremacy Devalues Us and How We Can Reclaim Our True Worth, eloquently narrates how she shattered her conditioning, realizing that it wasn't about her inadequacies but rather the flawed system we operate in. This hit home for me as we explored how white supremacy isn't just about power dynamics but can infiltrate every facet of our lives - from education to healthcare and even the fashion industry.

We peel back the layers of how white supremacy impacts us on a daily basis, often in ways we're not even consciously aware of. Caroline's analysis of how this pervasive culture of whiteness is subtly accepted and internalized is a stark eye-opener. But along with this revelation comes a powerful message - embracing the power of choice in reacting to cultural ideals. 

Wrapping up our conversation, we touch on the importance of self-care in the face of isolation and the crucial role of reformers in deconstructing white supremacy. We conclude with a spotlight on Caroline's exciting work toward reclaiming our true value within a culture of white supremacy. So, get ready for an enlightening discussion that's guaranteed to leave you contemplating your own life experiences and the role you play in shaping the narrative for future generations.

Follow Danny at https://dannybjr.substack.com/

Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!
Start for FREE

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.



This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.actjustlylovemercy.org

As our host, Danny Brister, Jr., takes a much-needed break during the summer, we wanted to bring you three sermons he preached. Please enjoy the second sermon in our summer preaching series and stay tuned for new interviews starting in September. 

Follow our host on Substack: https://dannybjr.substack.com/

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.actjustlylovemercy.org

As our host, Danny, takes a much-needed break throughout the summer, we are sharing this sermon that he preached this summer. We hope you enjoy this episode, and we look forward to bringing you new interviews starting this Fall. 

Follow Danny on his substack: https://dannybjr.substack.com/

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.actjustlylovemercy.org

In our newest episode, our host, Danny Brister, Jr. interviews Ally Henny about her new book I Won't Shut Up: Finding Your Voice When The World Tries to Silence You.

To follow my work, go to: https://dannybjr.substack.com/

More about today's guest:

Ally Henny is a writer, speaker, advocate-minister, and vice president of The Witness: A Black Christian Collective, an organization committed to encouraging, engaging, and empowering Black Christians toward liberation from racism. She completed her MDiv from Fuller Seminary with an emphasis in race, cultural identity, and reconciliation, and she hopes to lead a church someday. Ally has been leading conversations about race on her social media and blog, The Armchair Commentary, since 2014, and her posts reach millions each month. She is a proud Chicago Southsider.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.actjustlylovemercy.org

Join our host Danny Brister, Jr., as he interviews Craig Lamar Brown about his new movie Between Mercy and Me.

Between Mercy and Me will have a one-day premiere on June 20th at 7 pm. To find a showtime in your area, please visit: https://www.fathomevents.com/events/Between-Mercy-and-Me

The film centers around Hugo, a talented musician and worship leader in a Cincinnati community grappling with the impact of gentrification and tragedy. When his pastor challenges him to produce more inspirational music for the congregation, Hugo struggles with writer's block. In his search for inspiration, he meets Mercy, a jubilant and outgoing fellow musician, at a neighborhood coffee shop. As they join forces in their songwriting efforts, their relationship blossoms romantically, but they soon face challenges from friends, family, and their own communities. Determined not to let hard conversations or tension tear them apart, Hugo and Mercy set out to create space for honest conversations and work toward unification in their community. They courageously challenge biases, both seen and unseen, often left unspoken. However, one fateful evening, their relationship is rocked by a routine traffic stop that forces them to confront their own internal narratives and beliefs. Will they choose to embrace vulnerability with each other or let their relationship crumble under the weight of biases they worked so hard to overcome?

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.actjustlylovemercy.org

In this episode, our host Danny Brister, Jr., interviews Fox and Rob Richardson about their book Time: The Untold Story of the Love That Held Us Together When Incarceration Kept Us Apart.
 
Follow our host Danny at his new substack: https://dannybjr.substack.com/

Follow Fox and Rob Richardson at their website: https://foxandrob.com/

More info about our guest:

 "Twenty-one years of love and commitment is the sign of a great relationship by most standards. But twenty-one years of love and commitment, separated by America's most violent maximum-security prison while raising six boys as a single mom and relentlessly advocating against a system designed to keep her husband in prison, can only be described as radical love.

In his early twenties, Rob Richardson was fighting to get his business off the ground to provide for his growing family, yet was turned down by every bank for a loan. So, in the heat of desperation, he attempted to rob one, and was sentenced to 61 years in prison due to an overzealous prosecution. This was his first offense. Rob ended up serving more than two decades in America's bloodiest penitentiary, Angola, until receiving clemency in 2018. In their new book, Time: The Untold Story of the Love That Held Us Together When Incarceration Kept Us Apart (Baker Books, February 7, 2023), high school sweethearts Fox & Rob share how they defied all odds and kept their family together through years of challenges. "

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.actjustlylovemercy.org

Check out the newest episode of My Black Book Journal as our host, Danny Brister, Jr., interviews Ian V. Rowe about his book Agency: The Four Point Plan (F.R.E.E.) for All Children to Overcome the Victimhood narrative and discover their pathway to power.

Danny's Substack:
https://dannybjr.substack.com/

Ian Rowe's Bio:

Ian Rowe is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, where he focuses on education and upward mobility, family formation, and adoption. Mr. Rowe is also the co-founder of Vertex Partnership Academies, a new network of character-based International Baccalaureate high schools opening in the Bronx in 2022; the chairman of the board of Spence-Chapin, a nonprofit adoption services organization; and the cofounder of the National Summer School Initiative. He concurrently serves as a senior visiting fellow at the Woodson Center, and a writer for the 1776 Unites Campaign.

Until July 1, 2020, Mr. Rowe was CEO of Public Prep, a nonprofit network of public charter schools based in the South Bronx and Lower East Side of Manhattan. Before joining Public Prep, he was deputy director of postsecondary success at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, senior vice president of strategic partnerships and public affairs at MTV, director of strategy and performance measurement at the USA Freedom Corps office in the White House, and cofounder and president of Third Millennium Media. Mr. Rowe also joined Teach for America in its early days.

Mr. Rowe has been widely published in the popular press, including in the New York Post, The Wall Street Journal, and the Washington Examiner. He is often interviewed on talk radio programs. With his forthcoming book “Agency” (Templeton Press, May 2022), Ian Rowe seeks to inspire young people of all races to build strong families and become masters of their own destiny.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.actjustlylovemercy.org

Join our host Danny Brister as he interviews Dr. Kwasi Kena, Associate Professor of Ethnic and Multicultural Ministry at Wesley Seminary at Indiana Wesleyan University. They discuss the book Building A City On A Hill: African American Communities of Purpose.

Danny's new substack: https://dannybjr.substack.com/
Website: https://www.actjustlylovemercy.org/

Dr. Kena and his wife Safiyah's wearable art website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/SankofaNSilk

Dr. Kwasi Kena's bio:
Kwasi Kena is married to Rev. Dr. Safiyah Fosua, who also serves as an Associate Professor of Spiritual Formation at Wesley Seminary at IWU.  The couple has two adult children and two grandchildren. Kwasi and Safiyah are fiber artists who spin and weave “wearable art.” The couple co-founded Sankofa N Silk, an online store that warehouses their woven goods. He spends his spare time playing piano and creating new arrangements of familiar hymns and sacred music. He also enjoys photography, creative writing, and collaborating with imaginative performing artists in worship. 
Prior to coming to the Wesley Seminary, Kwasi Kena served in various
national and conference positions in the United Methodist Church:
Director of Evangelism Ministries, Director of Field Services and the
General Editor of UMMen Magazine, and Congregational Development
Coordinator. Kena and his wife, Rev. Dr. Safiyah Fosua, also served as
missionaries to Ghana, West Africa, assisting the Methodist Church
Ghana in curriculum writing, clergy and lay leadership development, and local pastor’s education.  Kena has taught at several colleges and universities.  He is an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church and has served as a pastor in Iowa. Kena is a published author of various devotional and Bible study curricular works. He has been in frequent demand as a preacher, workshop leader, and guest musician for national events.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.actjustlylovemercy.org

Welcome to Season 3 of My Black Book Journal. This episode features an interview with David L. Dada and his new book Many Happy Returns. You don't want to miss this new episode as we kick off a new season filled with exciting interviews of authors telling our stories in creative and imaginative ways.

Follow our host Danny Brister, Jr, on IG @myblackbookjournal, and go to our home website at www.actjustlylovemercy.org to learn more and stay connected.

Bio on our guest - David Dada is a native of Birmingham, Alabama, and a lifelong lover of stories and the ways that they connect us. He currently resides in the Birmingham area with his wife and two children. You can stay in touch with him at his website, www.daviddadabhm.com. You can also follow him on IG @daviddada_bhm. 

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.actjustlylovemercy.org