Music News: August 2020

August 6, 2020.Reading time 3 minutes.

Hi Friends,It’s been quite a while since I’ve written a music update. In this time of pandemic, there’s not a lot of live music happening out there. A few reminders of things I’m doing in the online world, to help keep us connected in this unusual time. New Website! First, my music website has a […]

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 […]

Faith, Not Fear, Is Calling us to Close

March 14, 2020.Reading time 8 minutes.

I’m gonna push back against churches boldly proclaiming that they intend to meet tomorrow and, by insinuation, calling the rest of us chicken or “afraid.” Because of the lack of wide-spread testing, because we don’t *scientifically* know just how widespread this pandemic goes, churches, schools, community groups, etc…are making the decision to close to the […]