Season 1, Episode 13: Michael Thornhill and Maggie Hemphill chat on Racial Reconciliation, Black History Month and the Superbowl Halftime Show

In this episode Maggie chats with Michael Thornhill, Associate Director of Cross-Cultural Ministry at the Coalition for Christian Outreach, about his work navigating race, class, cultural and generational dynamics.

Michael and Maggie talk about Latasha Morrison's Be the Bridge foundation, which empower people and culture towards racial conciliation and unity. Morrison at the IF:Gathering this past weekend mentioned four things that someone can do as they begin to engage in conversations around racial reconciliation: 

1. Start with educating yourself. Research and study history, and read. 
2. Listening to others, being in proximity to those who are different than you. 
3. Lamenting: carrying each others sorrows and burdens
4. Leveraging your privilege and using your voice to come alongside.  

Michael talks about how lamenting helps us as a culture to move forward. Despair is rich with disbelief, but lamenting is rich with belief and hope. 
 

We also discuss Black History Month and why Black History needs to be a conversation all year long. Black history is American History, and Black History Month is really meant to highlight Black History but instead it's become the only time of year that it's talked about. We need to talk about both the trauma and the glory. 

Michael believes that these conversations are not exclusively for people of color but he asks us how can we be inviting white people to engage their own stories. "You have to be curious about your own story, not just about the story of the person of color you know."  

"Curiosity invites us to ask questions without judgement."

Discussion about the Superbowl halftime show, acknowledging outrage as well as the beauty. There was entertainment/performance, cultural expression, political statements... Michael thinks there is a lack of how male culture navigates their own arousal structures. 

Michael is reading:

Unwanted: Sexual Brokenness Reveals Our Way to Healing by Jay Stringer 

My Grandmother's Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies by Reesma Menakem

Michael is listening to:

4 your Eyez Only - Album by J. Cole

Michael is Inspired by:

Ruth Chou Simons' Instagram post on "When disappointment is God's deliberate design for my good." 
@ruthchousimons 
"God doesn't waste anything, He uses even the crud"

Reach out to Michael Thornhill if you're interested in exploring your own ethnic identity with kindness and curiosity, or if you would like to invite him to consult, teach or speak on diversity, equity and inclusion, email him at: [email protected]

Well, first I guess I would have to believe that there was or is an actual political dialogue taking place that I could potentially be a part of. And honestly, I'm not sure that I believe that.