Author: ericfolkerth

Eric Folkerth is a minister, musician, author and blogger. He is Senior Pastor of Kessler Park UMC United Methodist Church in Dallas, Texas. Previously, he was pastor at Northaven UMC in Dallas for seventeen years. Eric loves to write on topics of spirituality, social justice, music/art and politics. The entries on this blog reflect that diversity of interests. His passion for social justice goes beyond mere words. He’s been arrested at the White House, defending immigrants and “The Dreamers,” and he’s officiated at same sex weddings in his churches, in defiance of what some believe is Methodist teaching. Eric is an avid blogger and published author, and 2017 recipient of the prestigeous Kuchling Humanitarian Award from Dallas’ Black Tie Dinner. (Human Rights Campaign) Eric has led or co-led hundreds of persons on mission trips around the globe, to places such as Mexico, Haiti, Russia, and Nepal. He has worked with lay persons to build ten homes, and one Community Center, in partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Dallas. He’s a popular preacher, and often tackles challenging issues of social justice in his writings and sermons. His wife, Judge Dennise Garcia, is a State District Judge for Dallas, County. As judge of the 303rd Family District Court, she consistently gets high ratings from area lawyers, and was named “best judge” by The Dallas Observer. First elected in 2004, she was the first Latina ever elected to a county-wide bench in Dallas County, and is currently the longest service district judge in that district. She was re-elected for a fourth term in 2018. They have the world’s best daughter, Maria, and an incredible dog, Daisy. Find links to Eric’s music-related websites, at the top of this site’s navigation menu.

White Privilege Illustrated: The HOLC Maps

June 26, 2020.Reading time 27 minutes.

Far too many times, I hear White people say White Privilege is a myth or a creation of the Left. But there are ways to VISUALIZE it…to illustrate it…show show its pernicious effects beyond shadow of dout. Exhibit A: The HOLC Maps. This is a long blog. I can’t apologize for that, because you need […]

Juneteenth and the “Power of Power”

June 19, 2020.Reading time 15 minutes.

Two thousand Federal troops. I keep coming back to that number. That’s the number of Union soldiers that accompanied General Gordon Granger into Galveston on the day Juneteenth was proclaimed in 1865. We White people barely understand Juneteenth to begin with, and what we do understand is often whitewashed. Yes, General Granger read that proclamation […]

$20 Bill (For George Floyd)

June 9, 2020.Reading time 2 minutes.

On this day of George Floyd’s memorial service in Houston, a repost of my version of Tom Prasada-Rao’s powerful tribute song. Tom’s song has now been covered 20-30 times by a beautiful assortment of musicians. This version was a part of my “Coffee On the Porch” Livestream on June 4th, 2020. (Lyrics below. Thanks again […]

Yes to Lake Cliff. No to Margaret Hunt Hill

June 8, 2020.Reading time 11 minutes.

“Yes to Lake Cliff Park. No to the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge.” I offer this as a metaphor for what we need in Dallas from our police. This week, the serious conversation on needed police reform will continue. It’s an ongoing conversation, in case you are not aware. All kudos to our friends at “Mother’s […]

What We Value

June 6, 2020.Reading time 8 minutes.

One thing is certain about the year 2020; it’s a year where all of us are being asked: “What do we truly value?” The picture of the left is a graphic that ran on Fox News this week, and I’m going to ask you not to move straight to your outrage. Even though I’m confident […]

Hearts CAN Change

June 5, 2020.Reading time 7 minutes.

This post is primarily for all of my activists friends out there who get discouraged. I want to tell you a little story. I know that most of you already know that if we are really going to dismantle White Supremacy, it will not only take changing law and policy, but also “hearts and minds.” […]

Don’t Look Away

June 3, 2020.Reading time 4 minutes.

White Siblings, Don’t look away. Don’t avert your eyes. Yes, there is a danger even in reposting these because of the moral license they may give other racists who see them. But you….dear White sibling… You who are still more concerned about property damage and protesting “the right way”… You who every time there is […]

Jesus Is Lord, Caesar Is Not (Part II)

June 2, 2020.Reading time 16 minutes.

“I don’t know about that…” Do you even remember when Donald Trump said this? I know. It’s a big ask to recall one line. He says so many things, and one day’s horror is “trumped” by the next. But it’s important to remember this specific line this morning, as we try to process Donald Trump’s […]

White Privilege

May 28, 2020.Reading time 13 minutes.

My struggle to adequately describe the murder of George Floyd ended when I saw this picture late last night. Take a hard look at this picture, because if you let it sink in deeply it will help you see much of what is wrong with America today. One frame: Armed protestors, effectively taking over the […]

A Time to Refrain

April 14, 2020.Reading time 1 minute.

Here’s a new song I wrote last night, about our collective “sheltering in place.” Debuted it this morning on “Coffee on the Porch,” and spent later afternoon recording a better version. Hope you enjoy it….feel free to share. A TIME TO REFRAIN Sheltered in our home Dread outside our door We move through this alone […]