Showing posts with label equality. Show all posts
Showing posts with label equality. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Linda Bellos: The Change Agent

"Let's not worship power for power's sake. There are many people who do good by being quiet, loving, helpful, generous. I happen to think that is more important than powerful and loud."

Linda Bellos


I can't remember when I came across Linda Bellos, but what struck me most about her was that she seemed to have lived two life times by the age of 30. Let me explain a bit. 

1) She was born in 1950 to a Jewish woman and a Nigerian man, both of which seem worlds apart. 

2) While noted as strong political advocate and lesbian feminist, she's also a mother and grandmother, who found love as well as herself after a divorce.

3) She rejects the term "mixed race" because attempts at defining it often leads to statutes of skin color, which in essence defeats the purpose of establishing true equality.

4) She's a thoughtful business woman, who has successfully turned her passions into a consulting agency where she educates modern workforces about equality and diversity.

5) Inclusivity is her mission. Let's celebrate hidden histories of each other.

6) Her openness about her her childhood as well as personal journeys is warming in such a way that it opens the door to talk about race, culture, sex, war, oppression and spirit.

Most importantly, the shear fact that she took time to acknowledge her person, and continues to do so, is by far inspirational to me--it's genuine

Thursday, May 19, 2016

Yuri Kochiyama

“An injury or injustice to one is an injury and injustice to all.”


Yuri Kochiyama




 Yuri Kochivama

One of the most striking things about Yuri Kochiyama (河内山 百合)is that she was born in America and is a survivor of post Pearl Harbor Japanese-American internment camps. I can't imagine what it was like live that era of America and to survive with a voice of strength for not only her heritage, but of those of black, Latino and Native Americans. Read and listen to more about her at NPR.