Belonging and Community Archives

Racialized Social Systems: How American Racial History Looks Different in Every Generation

August 18, 2026

A concise sociological framework that helps connect four centuries of American racial history into one coherent story. Dr. Gerardo Martí – August 18, 2026 (re-printed with permission) A history teacher once asked me a question that has stayed with me. “Why,” she wondered, “does every generation think it has finally solved America’s racial problems, only to discover that another set of conflicts

When Compassion Crosses the Road

August 12, 2026

Dan Berry • August 11, 2026 Scripture: Luke 10:25–37 The story of the Good Samaritan is probably known by most people, it is often remembered as a lesson about kindness and compassion. It certainly is that—but I would like to submit that Jesus intended it to be much more. It is also a harsh critique of religious passivity. The priest and

Teaching Students to Read the World—and Reimagine What’s Possible

August 4, 2026

Lucretia Carter Berry, PhD • August 4, 2026 One of the questions that quietly shapes my teaching is this: What expands a child’s imagination for what is possible? It’s a question I’ve been asking students for years. Sometimes through history. Sometimes through stories. Sometimes through maps, photographs, and primary sources that reveal what a place remembers—and what it has tried

When a Community Invests in Children’s Humanity

July 14, 2026

Lucretia Carter Berry, PhD • July 14, 2026 “If we don’t keep them in the dark, our children will light up the world.” I say those words often. Not because they sound hopeful, but because I have watched them become true. This summer, I watched children ask courageous questions. I watched them discover language for who they are. I watched

Carpe Diem

July 7, 2026

Lance Phillips • July 07, 2026 I recently returned from a week at the North Carolina coast. Having unstructured time to recognize the small place each of our lives occupies within the larger movements of life around us is essential to a stable and balanced worldview. This kind of unfettered contemplation can lead to feelings of doubt or, even, disappointment

Happy Birthday, America. Now Let’s Talk About Humanity.

July 1, 2026

Jameka Haynes • June 30, 2026 Two hundred and fifty years. That’s a lot of candles. It’s America’s Semiquincentennial (thankfully, “250th birthday” is much easier to say). And before the fireworks start going off, I’d like to ask a different kind of question. Somewhere, “This Land Is Your Land” is playing on repeat, grills are heating up, and flags are already

The Gift of Being Wrong

June 23, 2026

Is “accepting but not affirming” enough? Dan Berry • June 23, 2026 For much of my life, I believed same-sex relationships were outside of God’s original design and therefore outside of His blessing. I wasn’t angry about it. I wasn’t hateful. In fact, I would have described myself as accepting. As a conservative pastor with relatively moderate views, I believed God

Is Juneteenth a Lie? The Contested End of American Slavery

June 19, 2026

Dr. Gerardo Martí – June 19, 2026 (Reprinted with permission from American Blindspot) This blunt claim not only misreads how emancipation actually unfolded but also dismisses a tradition through which Black Americans have written themselves into our national history for over 150 years. In Concord, North Carolina, last Monday night, Cabarrus County Commissioner Larry Pittman opposed a resolution recognizing Juneteenth and

Did Octavia Butler Predict our Present?

June 17, 2026

Laura Marti – June 17, 2026 Every morning I tell myself I’m only going to spend a few minutes checking the news. It’s become one of those “enter at your own risk” endeavors. Every day is another reminder that the things many of us assumed were settled parts of American life are, in fact, not settled at all. I’ve found myself

Immigrants: Red or Blue?

June 3, 2026

Research shows Americans increasingly evaluate immigrants based on whether they are a “political threat.” Partisan sorting is reshaping the boundaries of American belonging. Dr. Gerardo Martí – June 03, 2026 (re-printed with permission) May 19, 2026 Back in Spring 2024, a group of right-wing activists traveled to the Darién Gap in Central America, one of the most punishing stretches of jungle

The Cloud of Unknowing

May 19, 2026

Lance Phillips • May 19, 2026 I’m not a religious person but sometimes the language of religiosity is useful to reframe approaches to difficult ideas. We live in dark times, ethically dark, often emotionally dark, and, certainly, dark with regard to prospects for better days. The college students I teach, while valiantly going through the machinations of getting educated and

Visible to Everyone. Invisible to Most. The Reality of Being “The Only”

May 12, 2026

Jameka Haynes • May 12, 2026 To the person who doesn’t see themselves reflected in the room — you belong there anyway. Fully. Unapologetically. Exactly as you are. May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and I want to talk about the person who looks strong, unbothered, and completely at ease, but carries a quiet weight with them. The one who walks

Courage to Face What’s Real

May 5, 2026

Real change doesn’t begin with perfection—it begins with honesty. Reflecting on the words of James Baldwin, this post explores why facing truth—both personally and collectively—is the first step toward growth, healing, and change.

Children Need More Than a Story—They Need Space to Discover Their Own

April 29, 2026

Lucretia Carter Berry, PhD • April 29, 2026 Most books hand children a narrative. Hues of You hands them a pencil. The learning happens in the doing — tracing, naming, drawing, imagining. Every activity was designed to meet children where child development research says they already are: curious, concrete, sensory, and actively building their sense of who they are in

Who Gets a Pedestal: Race, Gender, and the Commemorative Tradition in Contemporary Public Sculpture

April 23, 2026

Dr. Gerardo Martí – April 21, 2026 Imagine walking through a city square and stopping short because a bronze statue is looking at her phone. She is eighteen feet tall. She is wearing a hoodie and tracksuit bottoms. She is a young Black woman, and she is paying absolutely no attention to you. That last detail, the inattention, might be the

Following the Breadcrumbs: From an Antique Store to the Librarian of Congress

April 17, 2026

Laura Marti – April 17, 2026 There’s something about antique stores for me. Maybe it’s the thrill of the hunt. Maybe it’s the possibility that something forgotten is waiting to be found again. Or maybe it’s just wanting to find something that’s one-of-a-kind. Whatever it is, my family always seems to find one—no matter where we are. New Hampshire. Arkansas. North

Finding home – One relationship at a time

April 9, 2026

Maveah Griffith – April 8, 2026 Recently, I sat on my bed in my college dorm. My friend sat across from me, spooning up the raspberry sorbet we’d just gotten from the dining hall. To my left, hanging over my bed, is a collage of pictures of the people I hold closest to me. As I lay here typing this, I

You Can Learn Something from Everything

March 31, 2026

Lance Phillips • March 31, 2026 The other day I was looking over the books on my bookshelves. I wasn’t looking for a specific title, necessarily, but I was looking for something. Sometimes, I’ll glance over the shelves simply to see what jumps out, what I forgot I had, or what stories the books themselves have to tell me. Two

Bold Joy Is Resistance: Celebrating the Brilliance of Black Women

March 24, 2026

Jameka Haynes • March 24, 2026 “Our softness is not a liability. Our depth is not too much. Our light does not need permission to shine. We belong in every room we walk into. Our voices matter, and our dreams deserve space.” — Teyana Taylor When the World Feels Heavy If I’m honest, some days lately have felt like a prank.

I Can See Clearly Now, The Rain Is Gone

March 18, 2026

Dan Berry • March 18, 2026 It started when I was 40. My eyesight began to change drastically, and I started wearing glasses. Even though I didn’t like it, what they did for me was amazing. What I didn’t realize was that for the next several years, regular eye exams and multiple lens changes would become a normal part of my

The Dream We Must Dare to Imagine

March 10, 2026

Lucretia Carter Berry, PhD • March 10, 2026 One of the most magical moments happens in classrooms with children. After we’ve spent time wondering together—reading stories, naming the beautiful hues of our skin, learning language for what we see and experience—I’ll hear a small voice ask a question that stops the room: “If we’re all shades of brown… why are

Reclaiming a Racially Conscious Theology of Immigration

March 3, 2026

What we lose when we detach immigration from racial justice Dr. Gerardo Martí – March 03, 2026 (re-printed with permission) Immigration is one of the most morally charged and politically weaponized issues of our time. Christians are told, often in the same breath, to “welcome the stranger” and to “respect the rule of law.” For many believers — especially those trying

[New Year, More Me]

February 26, 2026

Nadira Martin– February 24, 2026 Ah, a new year has arrived. Time to refresh, renew and reinvent–right? We all know the popular adage “New Year, New Me.” Though, I often think there are important questions formed from a simple statement. First of all, who is “me?” Rather, who am I currently compared to who I was–at some point in the

When the Hero Isn’t White: Reading N.K. Jemisin

February 19, 2026

“Speculative fiction, at its best, makes the familiar strange so we can see it clearly. Jemisin does this masterfully.“ Laura Marti – February 19, 2026 A while back, my husband handed me a fantasy novel and said, “You might like this.” He is an avid reader (an understatement), and I am not—but I love science fiction and fantasy, and I trust

Where Change Starts

February 10, 2026

Maveah Griffith – February 10, 2026 Information overload is the perfect way to maintain a distracted public. Between the recent ICE killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good as well as the sickening release of thousands of Epstein files – there is way too much going on to focus on just one thing. Not only are there multiple alarming news

What is about to happen in your life?

February 3, 2026

Lance Phillips • February 03, 2026 How do I lean into adventure at a moment in history when the most vulnerable humans in my orbit are targeted? Maybe the answer is not to lean but to stand strong. The only way to face down an authority based on fear is with patience and kindness. I’m not an expert on ways

The Lies We Inherit, the Healing We Choose

January 27, 2026

Lucretia Carter Berry, PhD • January 27, 2026 There are moments when I’m reminded why What LIES Between Us exists — not as a curriculum pulled from theory, but as a living offering shaped by years of my own healing. I designed this course from my personal journey: from education to revelation to transformation, and liberation. And I mean years

Ignorance Is Bliss

January 20, 2026

Dan Berry • January 20, 2026 Finding myself in the latter season of my life, I have had time to do a great deal of reflecting. If you take the time to look, it is amazing what you can see. One of my many observations is that even though we are living in what some call the information age—with instant access

When Hard Gives Way to EASE

January 13, 2026

Lucretia Carter Berry, PhD • January 13, 2026 EASE.That is the word resonating in this season of my life. May we be people of peaceWith voices of hopeDoing the hard work of love. Nathan offered these words as a benediction for each session of the What LIES Between Us course—not only as a closing, but as an intention meant to

A Joyful Holiday Gift Guide for Families Who Love to Learn & Connect

December 19, 2025

Lucretia Carter Berry, PhD • December 19, 2025 Looking for meaningful gifts that bring the whole family together this holiday season? Brownicity’s family-centered offerings are designed to spark curiosity, creativity, and connection—without overwhelm. These gifts invite children and adults to explore identity, culture, and humanity through play, stories, and art. 🎨 The Hues of You Activity Book More than a

With Gratitude — Join Us Tomorrow for Giving Tuesday

December 1, 2025

Lucretia Carter Berry, PhD • December 2, 2025 Dear Beloved Community, As we step into Giving Tuesday, I want to pause and simply say THANK YOU! Your support—your presence, your participation, your belief in our mission—has helped Brownicity continue to grow deep roots of understanding, connection, and justice. This year has been marked by division, fear-mongering, and attempts to write

The Changing Church in a Partisan Age

November 18, 2025

Dr. Gerardo Martí – November 18, 2025 Churches function as vital social hubs, fostering close relationships and reinforcing shared values among members. While these social networks are generally positive, they inadvertently create echo chambers, limiting exposure to diverse viewpoints, and strengthening existing political bias. Consequently, churches have become key sites of partisan sorting and ideological reinforcement even more so in recent

Love is Greater than Money

October 28, 2025

Lance Phillips • October 28, 2025 Do you believe in the power of democracy? Do you believe in the power of love? Do you believe in the power of money? Odds are that most people would say “yes” to each of the previous questions. If many people can, and do, agree on some of the fundamental principles of civic and

Global Diversity Awareness Month: Humanity in Full Color

October 23, 2025

Jameka Haynes • October 23, 2025 Every October, Global Diversity Awareness Month invites us to celebrate the fullness of humanity. But here’s the challenge: many people don’t see themselves in that celebration. They think, “That’s not about me.” So let’s pause and get real about what diversity actually means and why everyone is included. Let’s tell the truth: the word diversity

Why Do You Call Me Lord, Lord, and Do Not Do What I Say?

October 14, 2025

Dan Berry • October 14, 2025 My wife, Anne, and I pioneered two churches and pastored for 40 years. During that time, whenever I was confronted with the question Jesus asked, it was easy for me to put it off on others—deflecting any responsibility I might have in answering the question myself. Throughout my ministry life, I found it so easy

When Possibility Meets a Closed Door

October 7, 2025

Lucretia Carter Berry, PhD • October 7, 2025 As I presented, I noticed him shifting in his seat — squirming, dodging, almost as if he were trying to escape the joy and possibility emanating from my words. I didn’t know what was going on with him. Maybe I was talking too long. Maybe he needed a potty break. In my

United States of the Mark

September 30, 2025

Lance Phillips • September 30, 2025 I have been trying to come up with something to say about the present moment in time that does not seem completely obvious to most of us. Yes, the levels of bigotry and hatred, divisiveness and blind faith, and cruelty and disregard are toxic, for everyone. Yes, things seem bleak. But, ultimately, to restate

Toxic Legacies: How Environmental Racism Took Root—and What We Can Do Now

September 25, 2025

Laura Marti – September 25, 2025 I can’t remember when I first heard the terms “environmental racism” and “environmental justice,” but it was as an adult and within the last decade. Generally, the idea of “environmentalism” makes me think of conservation, climate change, or protecting endangered species. Go back a few decades and I would have associated it with Greenpeace activists.

When Diversity Isn’t Enough: How White Comfort Shapes Church Leadership

September 16, 2025

Dr. Gerardo Marti – September 15, 2025 [Reposted with permission] On Sunday mornings, pulpits across America are filled by pastors of color. Yet in white-majority denominations, their success depends less on theology or personal conviction than on the organizational boundaries of comfort and belonging. Antiracist rhetoric may be loud, diversity initiatives plentiful, but subtle mechanisms still determine whose voices are amplified and

If you choose not to pay attention, it’s not going to disappear

September 9, 2025

Maveah Griffith – September 09, 2025 I am afraid of how many people are not paying attention to what is happening. I know we all see the statistics that young people no longer watch or read news and instead get the information from social media, but it isn’t just a percentage, it’s actually true. A lot of my peers often call

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