Be the Bridge Podcast with Latasha Morrison
LATASHA MORRISON is a best-selling and award winning author, bridge-builder, reconciler, and a compelling voice in the fight for racial justice. In 2016, she founded Be the Bridge, a non-profit organization equipping more than 1,000 sub-groups across five countries to serve as ambassadors of racial reconciliation. This podcast is another step is cultivating conversations that will hopefully lead to real change.
Description: In this episode, Latasha talks with writer and speaker Dante Stewart about his experiences with assimilation in predominantly white institutions, including his time as a cornerback at Clemson University and his journey in ministry at a white evangelical church. Latasha guides listeners by adding context to the conversation, and Dante gives encouragement to Black Christians and white churches to spur them on in the pursuit of racial justice and healing.
Host & Executive Producer - Latasha Morrison
Senior Producer - Lauren C. Brown
Producer, Editor & Music By - Travon Potts
Transcriber - Brittany Prescott
Quotes:
“People say, ‘Hey, I'm adaptable in many environments.’ Oftentimes adaptable means you gotta lose a serious part of yourself.” - Dante
“In order for you to make it you can't be too Black going into these spaces. You keep your head down, you do your work, and you handle your business...our parents knew that to be really Black in these white spaces oftentimes would work against us.” - Dante
“I'm not someone who says, you know, ‘My first identity is Christian.’ That's just not the case. I mean, it's a meaningful identity. But when I walk outside into the world, the first thing people ain't seeing is ‘Christian.’ The first thing people see is Black. And that means I need to make sense of that somehow.” - Dante
“None of us are walking into a neutral story. There is no such thing as a neutral kind of religious environment. There's no such thing as a neutral story. There's always a story here before I got here that's inviting me to see myself as a certain type of person and kind of embody a certain type of action.” - Dante
“If we want to get free, there is no freedom without literature and critical engagement with literature.” - Dante
“Even if the demographic makeup of one's church doesn't change, the kind of spiritual, political, religious, and moral bent and framework of one's heart, and the heart of one's congregation, can show that congregation is a just church.” - Dante
Podcast link: https://podlink.to/BeTheBridgeSocial handles/links: Instagram: @LatashaMorrisonTwitter: @LatashaMorrisonFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/LatashaMMorrison/Official Hashtag: #bethebridge
--- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/appDescription:
In this continuation of our “She’s the Bridge’' series, guest host Faitth Brooks talks with artist Morgan Harper Nichols about the intersection of Black womanhood, art, community, and passion. Morgan is a renowned digital artist, poet, new mom, and upcoming author! Listen as Morgan and Faitth dissect common stereotypes of Black women, explore what it’s like to have a hyper-visible platform, and give tips on building each other up even during a pandemic.
Host & Executive Producer - Latasha Morrison
Senior Producer - Lauren C. Brown
Producer, Editor & Music By - Travon Potts
Transcriber - Brittany Prescott
Quotes:
“Passion and righteous indignation are often misread as irrational anger, and are used to degenerate and disarm Black women who dare to challenge social inequalities and question the validity of circumstances—and get this—have the temerity to demand and expect fair treatment.” - Faitth Brooks
“I don’t know how to fix this—how to fix the portrayals, how to fix how other people see me. But I am going to put me out there.” - Morgan Harper Nichols
“I am only here because of the people who paved the way for me to be here today. I can’t talk about the future without talking about them—whether that’s people in my own ancestry or authors like Toni Morrison and James Baldwin. Who am I without what they’ve already written and what they’ve already done? They paved the way.” - Morgan Harper Nichols
“You have to dig to find people that look like us in these fields. They’re there, but again, they’re not pushed to the front as others are. So it’s a lot of work to even find your people. I wish I didn’t have to dig so much to find references. I wish I didn’t have to dig so much to find other Black people who’ve been in similar situations. I shouldn’t have to dig so much.” - Morgan Harper Nichols
“Give yourself permission to start small.” - Morgan Harper Nichols
“Will people in the world actually even be able to see me as an artist or is my Blackness all people see? I know a lot of other Black artists feel that way: did they only just pick me because they needed a Black artist? Or do they actually like my work too? But I have been so pleasantly surprised by people who are willing and able and have the capacity to hold me in terms of what I do and what I share, and not just divide it into categories.” - Morgan Harper Nichols
“Black women literally feel the pressure to carry the weight of everything...to be the educator, to be the encourager, to be the old wise soul, to be young and hip, to be all these things, which is literally impossible. We cannot be all of that. But as we see, historically, that pressure has been put on us. So I have to give myself permission to say, ‘Hey, today, I’m going to be the artist who is speaking from a Black woman’s perspective about joy. I don’t always have to educate about joy.’” - Morgan Harper Nichols
Podcast link: https://podlink.to/BeTheBridgeSocial handles/links: Instagram: @LatashaMorrisonTwitter: @LatashaMorrisonFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/LatashaMMorrison/Official Hashtag: #bethebridge
--- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/appOften discussions on race in America are limited to a black and white binary. Since the rise of the Covid-19 virus, hate crimes have been on the rise against the AAPI (Asian American Pacific Islander) community. If you truly understand the heart and calling of the Be The Bridge organization then you understand that bridge-building doesn’t stop with two groups. Today’s guest Vivian Mabuni helps us unpack the tensions, opportunities, and solutions for bridge-building, especially as it relates to those in and outside of the AAPI family and or body politic.
“...and in the same way, you and I, as women of color, we can't walk away from the conversation, because it is our lived experience day in and day out.” - Vivian Mabuni
“ When leaders don't use proper terminology, like COVID, and instead use a term like Chinese virus or Kung Flu, that hurts my community.” -Vivian Mabuni
“ I, of course, have felt silenced, you know, all along. And what's interesting is my culture, the foundation of a lot of Asian culture is based in Confucian teaching.” - Vivian Mabuni
“ I am so grateful for the leadership of the black community in civil rights that have made way for injustices to be exposed, that Asian Americans AAPI, people can have a different life because we stand on the shoulders of the leadership of the black community.” - Vivian Mabuni
Podcast link: https://podlink.to/BeTheBridgeSocial handles/links: Instagram: @LatashaMorrisonTwitter: @LatashaMorrisonFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/LatashaMMorrison/Official Hashtag: #bethebridge
--- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/appWe’re back for a new season! In this episode of the Be the Bridge podcast, our Director of Programs and Innovation, Faitth Brooks, discusses the impacts of the pandemic with Debbie Stevens, a registered psychiatric nurse practitioner and close friend of our founder, Latasha Morrison, who lost her father to COVID-19 earlier this year. In this much-needed discussion, Faitth and Debbie acknowledge the legacy of medical racism in the U.S., talk about the hope they’ve had amidst the pandemic, and give listeners tips on loving others well through periods of grief.
“Grief is just highly individualized. The way one person grieves is not necessarily the way that you may grieve.” –Debbie Stevens
“It’s really easy to see what somebody else is going through, and then try to relate it back to something you’ve experienced. But the reality is, it’s a time for you to just sit and listen, lending a hand in whatever way possible, and being willing to serve.” –Faitth Brooks
“Because of the legacy of the research and medical community really betraying the Black community—in terms of all the disgraceful things that the medical professional community has done to Black people and taken advantage of them—there’s a lot of distrust.” –Debbie Stevens
“This is a time for us to think collectively and not individually about our wants, about what we desire, and to think about ‘How can I love my neighbor?’” –Faitth Brooks
“I love my patients so I continue to show up for them, and they offer me hope because they haven’t given up. They continue to push forward, and even if they’re losing loved ones and family members, they continue to make their mental health a priority. So that offers me hope that I’m doing something that’s making a difference.” –Debbie Stevens
Podcast link: https://podlink.to/BeTheBridgeSocial handles/links: Instagram: @LatashaMorrisonTwitter: @LatashaMorrisonFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/LatashaMMorrison/Official Hashtag: #bethebridge
--- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/appDescription: Our Be The Bridge Podcast team curated highlights from some of our most popular Be The Bridge Podcasts of 2020. These highlights will come from our founder and podcast host Latasha Morrison, as well as from various guests. Enjoy!
Host & Executive Producer - Latasha Morrison
Senior Producer - Lauren C. Brown
Producer, Editor & Music By - Travon Potts
Podcast link: https://podlink.to/BeTheBridgeSocial handles/links: Instagram: @LatashaMorrisonTwitter: @LatashaMorrisonFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/LatashaMMorrison/Official Hashtag: #bethebridge
--- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/appDescription: Our Be The Bridge Podcast team curated highlights from some of our most popular Be The Bridge Podcasts of 2020. These highlights will come from our founder and podcast host Latasha Morrison, as well as from guests Beth Moore, Jemar Tisby, and Christina Edmonson. Enjoy!
Host & Executive Producer - Latasha Morrison
Senior Producer - Lauren C. Brown
Producer, Editor & Music By - Travon Potts
Podcast link: https://podlink.to/BeTheBridgeSocial handles/links: Instagram: @LatashaMorrisonTwitter: @LatashaMorrisonFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/LatashaMMorrison/Official Hashtag: #bethebridge
--- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/appDescription: When it comes to Christmas Classics Jimmy Stewart’s “It’s A Wonderful Life” and “Home Alone” starring Macaulay Culkin may come to mind. With that said, movies like “The Preacher’s Wife” starring Whitney Houston and Denzel Washington or “The Last Holiday” starring Queen Latifah are often not mentioned by some. Well our founder, podcast host, and Christmas enthusiast, Latasha Morrison tackles this subject with Actor / Director / Producer and fellow Christmas enthusiast, Kim Fields. Kim is not only one of the stars of the new Netflix comedy The Upshaws but she too has added to the legacy of multicultural Christmas offerings with her own holiday movie, Lifetime’s “You Light Up My Christmas”. Join us in this discussion covering elements of Kim’s iconic career, her push to create projects that diversify Hollywood’s holiday cheer, and Kim and Latasha’s love of the Holiday season. As a bonus, Latasha chats with Netflix's "Jingle Jangle" producer and author of the Jingle Jangle book series Lyn Sisson-Talbert.
Quotes:
"I still feel like there's a lot of unchartered waters for me to explore on either side of the camera." - Kim Fields
"I'm so grateful to God for the blessing of longevity. I still have the fire in my belly for my industry. I still love what I do." - Kim Fields
"I think it's an old, old way of thinking, to be honest, it's an old game, and it's time to come into the new it's time to look at how the world really looks, you know, we are very powerful in our buying dollars." - Lyn Sisson-Talbert
"...our goal is to open a door for other artists and creators to be able to do more like this to break more new talent..." Lyn Sisson-Talbert
Podcast link: https://podlink.to/BeTheBridgeSocial handles/links: Instagram: @LatashaMorrisonTwitter: @LatashaMorrisonFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/LatashaMMorrison/Official Hashtag: #bethebridge
--- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/appDescription: If you’ve heard the party anthem “This Is How We Do It” then you know something about the popular artist, singer, songwriter, and producer Montell Jordan. But what you may not know is that after leaving the music industry, he became the Praise and Worship Pastor at one of the most diverse churches not just in the state of Georgia but in the country: Victory World Church. His most recent ministry venture in partnership with his manager and wife of 26 years, Kristin, is a couples’ ministry called Marriage Masterpeace. Together, the power couple hosts and speaks at conferences encouraging marital harmony through biblical principles. Be the Bridge founder Latasha Morrison talks with the Jordans about navigating all of these spaces together and the impact of injustice on their roles in ministry.
Host & Executive Producer - Latasha Morrison
Senior Producer - Lauren C. Brown
Producer, Editor & Music By - Travon Potts
Transcriber - Brittany Prescott
Quotes:
“Praise is what we do because of what He’s done. But worship is because of what He does and who He is.” - Kristin Jordan
“When we lost ourselves, God was able to find us through marriage. It was in the safety of marriage that we were both able to be put back together again.” - Montell Jordan
“Our messes become our ministry. We take the places where we were broken, where we were a mess, and where God was gracious enough to see us through—and try and help people walk through things that they feel like they can’t. And the idea is that we’re hope on the other side of the mountain.” - Kristin Jordan
“I get an opportunity to minister in my shows, saying that “Get It On Tonite” was about adultery, but God saved me from that. “Let’s Ride” was about fornication, but God saved me from that. And so I use those negative musical moments that are attached to people’s lives to tell the story of God’s redemption.” - Montell Jordan
Podcast link: https://podlink.to/BeTheBridgeSocial handles/links: Instagram: @LatashaMorrisonTwitter: @LatashaMorrisonFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/LatashaMMorrison/Official Hashtag: #bethebridge
--- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/appDescription: In the volatile year of 2020 we’ve seen uprisings that have spurred tense feelings and emotions causing Christians to be split on issues related to social justice. But, this is also a year where athletes have used their platform in ways that are reminiscent of the civil rights era. Fists in the air are coupled with kneeling during the national anthem and sporting events by sports professionals in every sport from basketball to tennis, NASCAR to Formula racing, and everywhere in between. Be the Bridge Founder Latasha Morrison was able to have a conversation with a Christian athlete who not only has a heart for rectifying social and economic inequities but has placed himself on the frontlines of the fight for social justice. His name is Justin Holiday, the shooting guard / small forward for the Indiana Pacers.
Quotes:
“We didn’t grow up watching the news. When things happened we knew how to get in the word. We knew how to pray and that’s what we did.” - Justin Holiday
“As much as I wanted to be away from the news and not see certain things, one, with social media it’s gonna happen but two I needed to see that, I needed to not keep myself away from that.” - Justin Holiday
“I don’t have my children on social media. I wanna protect my children from nasty comments” - Justin Holiday
“Don’t make yourself less worthy than you should be. You’re a child of God.” - Justin Holiday
Podcast link: https://podlink.to/BeTheBridgeSocial handles/links: Instagram: @LatashaMorrisonTwitter: @LatashaMorrisonFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/LatashaMMorrison/Official Hashtag: #bethebridge
--- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/appDescription: This episode brings together Be the Bridge founder Latasha Morrison with Pastor, Author, and thought leader Rich Villodas. Rich is the Brooklyn-born lead pastor of New Life Fellowship Church, which happens to be a large multiracial church with more than seventy-five countries represented in the Elmhurst neighborhood of Queens, New York. In this episode, the conversations will center around the topic of Racial Reconciliation through the lens of Diversity. As our country grows more diverse it has become a reflection of the multi-ethnic and multi-cultural community groups that we call churches. Latasha’s discussion with Rich will guide us through what true diversity looks like in The Body of Christ, and the intersectionality of Christianity and race here in the American Church.
Host & Executive Producer - Latasha Morrison
Senior Producer - Lauren C. Brown
Producer, Editor, Transcriber & Music By - Travon Potts
“It’s often White people who have written about spiritual formations…” - Rich Villodas
“...the church is to be more than a sanctified subway car we are the new family of God...” - Rich Villodas
“...with all of that diversity, I’ve learned that the Gospel is for all people, that’s the first thing I’ve learned in preaching in this setting…” - Rich Villodas
“There is no one normative expression of worship, bring who you are.” - Rich Villodas
Podcast link: https://podlink.to/BeTheBridgeSocial handles/links: Instagram: @LatashaMorrisonTwitter: @LatashaMorrisonFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/LatashaMMorrison/Official Hashtag: #bethebridge
--- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/appDescription: This episode brings together faith leaders Kathryn Freeman, Jenny Yang, and Michael Wear to Discuss a hot button issue-civic engagement for American Christians. We'll hear from each of them about what it means for followers of Christ to love their neighbors through politics, voting, and the "third space." How do we move from awareness to action, and action to advocacy? Our amazing guests help us understand the challenges and rewards of participation in the political sphere as people of faith.
Host & Executive Producer - Latasha Morrison
Senior Producer - Lauren C. Brown
Producer, Editor & Music By - Travon Potts
Transcriber - Brittnay Prescott
Quotes:
"Ther's nothing wrong with being political. All of us are political being, all of us live in structures and governments, and communities in which all of us need to come together to make important decisions that impact the common good." - Jenny Yang
“The fine line is between being political and being partisan because oftentimes, partisanship can mean blind allegiance to a specific political party or candidate without realizing that there are faults with specific candidates and parties. And not a single political party or person will ever encompass the fully, perfectly balanced agenda that I believe we’re supposed to pursue in our society.” - Jenny Yang
“Faithful political engagement means that you’re willing to put faithfulness over short term political gain. It also means that you’re not just in politics for your own self-interest, that you’re not just going to politics to get your own needs met.” - Michael Wear
“I’m convinced people are going to politics a lot these days for spiritual and emotional needs. We find those needs met in Christ, and so we’re freed up to go into politics to affirm human dignity and advance justice.” - Michael Wear
“There has to be a separation of who I am as an American and a citizen of this democracy, and who I am as a citizen of the kingdom of heaven. And I think oftentimes we blend those two things together as if America is a Christian nation, and it doesn’t matter that we’ve made an idol or that we live in a way where those identities are blended.” - Kathryn Freeman
“The reality is, whether you’re liberal or conservative, you should feel like, ‘I can’t go with that, because my first identity is a citizen of the kingdom of heaven.’ And if you never feel that tension, if the country is always doing what you feel like aligns with God, then I would say that the God that you’re worshipping is not the God of the Bible. It’s not the Jesus of the red letters.” - Kathryn Freeman
Podcast link: https://podlink.to/BeTheBridgeSocial handles/links: Instagram: @LatashaMorrisonTwitter: @LatashaMorrisonFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/LatashaMMorrison/Official Hashtag: #bethebridge
--- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/appDescription: This episode brings together Be the Bridge founder Latasha Morrison with two scholars, Dr. Christina Edmondson Ph.D., and Doctoral candidate Jemar Tisby. Both are thought leaders in the push for racial equity in ecclesiastical spaces. In this episode, the conversations will center around the topic of CRT which is short for Critical Race Theory. We strive, as a podcast, to give you, our listeners and supporters, foundational tools to help you develop a clear historical and biblical perspective as it relates to race. LaTasha’s discussions with Christina and Jemar guides us through critiques of inequities and misrepresentations found anywhere, even in academia, that creates racial disharmony.
Host & Executive Producer - Latasha Morrison
Senior Producer - Lauren C. Brown
Producer, Editor & Music By - Travon Potts
Transcriber - Brittany Prescott
Quotes: “We need to be critically discerning everything that comes before us and submitting it to the Word of God...” - Dr. Christina Edmondson
“Folks always have tried to label people as a way to disempower them and that’s especially true when it comes to black people.” - Jemar Tisby
“Whereas there are other church traditions that would say like, well, of course, this church racism is baked in, in this country…” - Dr. Christina Edmondson
“There’s a popular phrase that says history repeats itself...more accurately history doesn’t repeat itself, history rhymes.” - Jemar Tisby
Podcast link: https://podlink.to/BeTheBridgeSocial handles/links: Instagram: @LatashaMorrisonTwitter: @LatashaMorrisonFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/LatashaMMorrison/Official Hashtag: #bethebridge
--- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/appDescription: This episode brings together Be the Bridge founder Latasha Morrison and bestselling author, evangelist, and Bible teacher Beth Moore as they talk about racial reconciliation in the Christian faith. Beth details her own experiences speaking against injustice, dealing with the backlash, and waking up to her responsibilities as a faith leader. She also gives some insight into how Christians can become bold reconcilers who move beyond a head knowledge of Christ into heart knowledge and action.
Quotes: “There’s a calling we have to be bold, which leads us as reconcilers, or bridge builders, to speak up.” - Latasha
“There was not a single time that I have been really outspoken that I would have told you that I was going back on whether or not I should say it. It would have been that I could not have kept from saying it. And if that’s the case, then I can be at peace there.” - Beth
“We have a whole politic that is pro-Christian, that has been separated entirely from what is actually Christlike.” - Beth
“When we are going to do what lifts us up, instead of what puts the cross in our hands to carry, we have upset the entire thing. We traded our prophetic witness for power, we have exploited the scriptures to serve our camp’s interests, we have confused divine favor with being on top. We’ve got an idolatry problem! We’ve got nationalism, we’ve got misogyny...I mean it just goes on and on.” - Beth
“Our mouth cannot overshoot our heart, or our duplicity is going to be exposed.” - Beth“We want to know when we have finished up, all that’s gonna matter when we’re in front of God, is that we did the will of Christ Jesus—that we were courageous in it and bold in it.” - Beth
“I believe that our relief would be in our repentance. Our rest would be in our repentance. And just to be willing to do what it takes to just own up and admit we have moved so far from Christlikeness in the Church. The only reason we’re recognizing this is because of the mercy and grace of God showing us. So why can’t we say, ‘Glory hallelujah, we are beginning to see it.’” - Beth
Listen to the full episode and subscribe to the Be the Bridge podcast for more conversations on racial healing, equity, and reconciliation!
Podcast link: https://podlink.to/BeTheBridge
Social handles/links: Instagram: @LatashaMorrison
Twitter: @LatashaMorrison
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LatashaMMorrison/
Official Hashtag: #bethebridge
--- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/appIn this episode of the Be the Bridge podcast, founder Latasha Morrison speaks with TV Producer and “Mixed Life ATL” podcast host Shannon Doyle Bell, as well as author LeTesha Wheeler, about their experiences as biracial women in America—exploring their personal histories and upbringings, the process of embracing cultural differences in their own families, and what it’s like raising biracial children in a label-driven world.
About Shannon Doyle Bell
Shannon is a creative producer of story-telling and any art form that brings light and inspiration. She had a very loving childhood that was packed full of questions for her black/African-American father and her white/Caucasian mother. This spear-headed her passion for understanding any and everyone’s stories, the sociology of race and ethnic studies, and supporting the hard faith-work of racial reconciliation. Her career in the entertainment industry has taken her to producing television for both reality TV and talk shows. In fact, she and Tarana met over ten years ago while producing together for BET. Shannon has also produced satellite radio shows for Jamie Foxx while working at his production company. She grew up in the midwest by way of Brooklyn, NY, and later lived in Los Angeles, CA, eventually making her way to Atlanta where she lives with her husband, three children, and their goldendoodle. She is the owner of her company, SDB-360, LLC, and piloted the podcast, Mixed Life ATL.
About LeTesha Wheeler
LeTesha Wheeler is a passionate influencer, author, and speaker whose greatest desire is to motivate others to walk in the fullness of their purpose, overcome fear, and stand strong in their faith despite life’s biggest obstacles. LeTesha’s life experiences and family heritage have fueled her voice for reconciliation within her local community and the nation. She has been married to James since 2003 and has two amazing teenage boys. LeTesha enjoys spending quality time cheering on their sons in their various sports, coaching track, serving in various roles in their home church and leading life-changing events.
Listen to the full episode and subscribe to the Be the Bridge podcast for more conversations on racial healing, equity, and reconciliation!
Podcast link: https://podlink.to/BeTheBridge
Social handles/links: Instagram: @LatashaMorrison
Twitter: @LatashaMorrison
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LatashaMMorrison/
Official Hashtag: #bethebridge
In this episode of the Be the Bridge podcast, founder Latasha Morrison talks with minister, writer, speaker, and consultant Dr. Elizabeth Rios. They share an open, honest conversation about racial solidarity within church planting, leadership as a Latina woman, centering marginalized voices in a world of colorism, and envisioning a future where justice is built into churches’ DNA.
“Justice is a God idea. It’s not a liberal idea, it’s not a political idea, it’s a God idea.” –Dr. Rios
“A lot of churches don’t talk about heritage. They basically tell you to leave it at the door because once we’re ‘under the blood,’ everything goes away. But in reality, once we’re ‘under the blood,’ our heritage should be even richer! We should celebrate even more.” –Dr. Rios
“Every community is dealing with colorism, especially brown and Black communities, which is really a product of white supremacy—and we don’t realize that and how we can perpetuate the problem. When we start talking about the basis of racism and disunity, we start looking at this anti-Blackness, because no one wants to be on the bottom. No one wants to appear to be like the group that is being oppressed.” –Latasha Morrison
“We have to pay close attention to that development of our souls if we want to live out God’s justice in the world. There’s a direct correlation between our relationship with God and our acts of kindness, and our acts of mercy, and compassion, and justice. Even this desire even to have racial solidarity comes from a place of having that understanding of what God wants for all of us.” –Dr. Rios
About Dr. Elizabeth Rios
Dr. Rios has been in ministry for over 30 years serving in a variety of roles including pastor (Executive Pastor and Co-Pastor). She now is the Founder of The Passion Center that is dedicated to educating people who have a passion for justice, advocacy, and change in the South Florida area. She’s worked most of her life in nonprofits and in higher education. She has also been an entrepreneur and has consulted schools, faith-based organizations, small businesses, and non-profits since 1996. As an Afro-Latina, Puerto Rican American she considers herself to be a writer/activist and advocate for women in ministry, faith-based civic activism, and biblical justice.
Listen to the full episode and subscribe to the Be the Bridge podcast for more conversations on racial healing, equity, and reconciliation!
Podcast link: https://podlink.to/BeTheBridge
Social handles/links: Instagram: @LatashaMorrison
Twitter: @LatashaMorrison
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LatashaMMorrison/
Official Hashtag: #bethebridge
In this episode, Latasha and Jo Saxton talk about barriers to leadership for women of color, the importance of leveraging opportunities for the sake of others, the power of representation, and the restorative benefits of intentional self-care. A Londoner born to Nigerian immigrants, now living in Minnesota, Jo Saxton is an author, speaker, podcast host, and a leadership coach helping women grow in leadership. She has written books on leadership, identity, and legacy, the newest of which is called "Ready to Rise: Own Your Voice, Gather Your Community, and Step Into Your Influence."
Podcast link: https://podlink.to/BeTheBridge
Social handles/links: Instagram: @LatashaMorrisonTwitter: @LatashaMorrisonFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/LatashaMMorrison/
Official Hashtag: #bethebridge
In this episode of the Be the Bridge podcast, Latasha speaks with Andrea Smith, author and co-founder of INCITE! about solidarity among people of color, the consequences of colonialism in limiting our connectedness, the intersections of violence in gender and race, and what it might look like to reimagine a world where all people groups can thrive.
“People of color are not a monolithic group. We are very different with different cultural expressions and different lived experiences.” –Latasha Morrison
“We’re doing things to hurt each other. And if we recognize that as a starting ground and we make a political commitment to do otherwise, we say ‘I’m going to learn how to be different with you, I’m going to start to learn history, I’m going to start to receive critique that I’m hurting you.'” –Andrea Smith
“We must always be critical of not settling for what seems to be the best we can get, and instead say, ‘What’s the best governance system where we can all live that’s not dependent on some peoples’ death?'” –Andrea Smith
About Andrea
Andrea Smith is the coordinator of Evangelicals 4 Justice and board member of the North American Institute for Indigenous Theological Studies. She is the co-editor with Mae Cannon of Evangelical Theologies of Liberation and Justice (IVP), and author of Unreconciled: From Racial Reconciliation to Racial Justice in Christian Evangelicalism (Duke), Conquest: Sexual Violence and American Indian Genocide; and editor of The Revolution Will Not Be Funded: Beyond the Nonprofit Industrial Complex. She is the co-founder of Incite: Women of Color Against Violence and the Boarding School Healing Project.
Listen to the full episode and subscribe to the Be the Bridge podcast for more conversations on racial healing, equity and reconciliation!
Podcast link: https://podlink.to/BeTheBridge
Social handles/links:
Instagram: @LatashaMorrison
Twitter: @LatashaMorrison
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LatashaMMorrison/
Official Hashtag: #bethebridge
In this episode of the Be the Bridge podcast, founder Latasha Morrison and public theologian Lisa Sharon Harper discuss the implications of America’s historical narrative gap, Lisa’s journey to discover the stories of her ancestors, and how we can build bridges from our nation’s past to become more present.
“Scripture itself, particularly the biblical concept of shalom, is not about domination but rather about servanthood of the other—service, protection, and cultivation of all.” –Lisa Sharon Harper
“Race as a construct was created to determine one thing on this land that we call America: Who has the divine call and the capacity to exercise dominion on this land.” –Lisa Sharon Harper
“In order to understand where we are today, we have to look at where we were yesterday.” –Latasha Morrison
About Lisa
Lisa Sharon Harper is the founder and president of Freedom Road, a groundbreaking consulting group that crafts experiences that bring common understanding and common commitments that lead to common action toward a more just world. Lisa is a public theologian whose writing, speaking, activism and training has sparked and fed the fires of re-formation in the church from Ferguson and Charlottesville to South Africa, Brazil, Australia and Ireland. Lisa’s book, The Very Good Gospel was named 2016 “Book of the Year” and the Huffington Post identified Lisa as one of 50 Women Religious Leaders to Celebrate on International Women’s Day.
Podcast link: https://podlink.to/BeTheBridge
Social handles/links:
Instagram: @LatashaMorrison
Twitter: @LatashaMorrison
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LatashaMMorrison/
Official Hashtag: #bethebridge
In Part 2 of "How It All Began!", Latasha Morrison and Susan Seay talk about the beginning of their BTB and how Susan played a part in its formation.
To learn more about how the bridge started, purchase the Be the Bridge Book. Be the Bridge Book
You can find a full transcript of this episode on our website: Be The Bridge Blog
Latasha Morrison and Jennie Allen talk about the beginning of their friendship journey.
To learn more about how the bridge started, purchase the Be the Bridge Book. Be the Bridge Book
You can find a full transcript of this episode on our website: Be The Bridge Blog
Latasha Morrison, founder of Be the Bridge, interviews activist and author Kathy Khang about practical ways to raise your voice in real life, the difference between disruption and discernment, and troublemaking for the sake of the Gospel. Kathy also explores making authentic justice-minded friends in white evangelical spaces and especially the intersection of race and gender within a ministry vocation.
First published on Facebook Live - August 14, 2018
Resources mentioned:
BOOK: Kathy Khang, Raise Your Voice: Why We Stay Silent and How to Speak Up
MOVIE: Warner Brothers, Crazy Rich Asians
Be The Bridge Podcast (Special Message)
Podcast link: https://podlink.to/BeTheBridgeSocial handles/links: Instagram: @LatashaMorrisonTwitter: @LatashaMorrisonFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/LatashaMMorrison/Official Hashtag: #bethebridge
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