Archived Radio Show

February 27, 2023

Original Radio Show  ID:
WSA230227

Listen to the Show on the Mp3 Player below

Duration 57 minutes

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Featuring

Click the Name to access the Segment below

1. Commentary by Elaine B. Holtz,  Host of Women's Spaces

2. Guest Dr. Catherine Meeks, Educator, Author, Executive Director of the Absalom Jones Center for Racial Healing in Atlanta, GA. 

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1. Commentary by Elaine B. Holtz:  I am so excited. Joining me on the phone will be Catherine Weeks. Catherine Meeks, PhD, a 2022 recipient of the President Joseph R. Biden Lifetime Achievement Award for Service, is Executive Director of the Absalom Jones Center for Racial Healing. She is a sought-after teacher and workshop leader. Catherine brings four decades of experience to the work of transforming the dismantling racism work in Atlanta. We are going to be talking about her latest book, The Night is Long but Light Comes in the Morning - Meditations for Racial Healing and co-author of Passionate for Justice: Ida B Wells as Prophet for Our Times.

Be sure and see the Herstory Event section below on Black Suffragettes.

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2. Guest Dr. Catherine Meeks reflects on her early influences of her parents growing up in rural Arkansas that inspired her to strive to be educated, understanding that she could be someone. Early on she asked how she could be free. Her deep faith was strengthened by her awe for Nature that for her was a sign of God's existence. Dr. Meeks co-authored the book, Passionate for Justice: Ida B Wells as Prophet for Our Times. Her study of this Black journalist who covered the racist atrocities in the deep South and was an early suffragette, who at the early death of her parents took on the responsibility of raising her younger siblings, helped Dr. Meeks in front of her students and in her book to convey Wells' courage as a muscle, that the more it was used the stronger it became. Ida B. Wells always resisted sexism and racism. The suffragette Susan B. Anthony, from a white and richer household, did not understand the pain of racism and snubbed Ida B. Wells. She demonstrated a healthy self-esteem, that kept her on track with a chosen goal without regard to what others thought. Dr. Meeks holds Ida B. Wells as a normal person, even a woman with eccentricities and a passion for being well-dressed but rose through her courage to doing extraordinary things.

In Catherine Meeks' latest book, The Night is Long but Light Comes in the Morning - Meditations for Racial Healing, she notes that it has been a long night for racism, but searching for the light does bring change. That is the hope, not optimism, but hope in keeping going toward the light. To gain courage, Catherine says we must get past our comfort zone. We can do this with little steps. If we are a White person, we can start by driving up to a Starbucks to order a coffee in a Black neighborhood and experience not being attacked as is sometimes portrayed in media new accounts. This step of courage then leads to more ventures into meeting Black people. Strengthening one's courage is a process of steps daring to take a chance and creating more relationships with those of different skin color or from another culture. Discrimination is in all of us through our upbringing and from the media that sells with fear. It does take time to change, therefore the process of increasing our courage. It is not just Blacks are wounded by racism; we all are wounded through the limitations of opportunities imposed by racism. We need to name it, or we live in an illusion. Doing this work helps us become the best human we can be, and society then benefits. Be sure and listen to Dr. Meeks interview for yourself and not rely just on this report, for her voice conveys much more.

About our Guest: Catherine Meeks is the retired Clara Carter Acree Distinguished Professor of Socio-Cultural Studies from Wesleyan College and Founding Executive Director of the Lane Center for Community Engagement and Service. She characterizes herself as a midwife to the soul of her students and workshop participants. She has spent many years sharing the insights that she gained from her pursuit of the truth. She has had many great teachers including her sons, the Bible, Jungian psychology, cross cultural stories and other books of wisdom. But her greatest teacher is rheumatoid arthritis because it has forced her to learn many new ways to listen to her body and to pay attention to the messages from her heart. She is frequently asked to present commentaries on Georgia Public Radio and other radio and television programs. She is the author of six books and one inspirational CD and is the editor of the bestselling book, Living Into God’s Dream: Dismantling Racism in America and co-author of Passionate for Justice: Ida B Wells as Prophet for Our Times.. Her recent book is The Night is Long but Light Comes in the Morning - Meditations on Racial Healing .She holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Clark Atlanta University and PhD from Emory University.

Source: https://www.centerforracialhealing.org/about

Guest LInks:

 The Absalom Jones Center for Racial Healing, website: www.centerforracialhealing.org

Email: centerforracialhealing (at) episcopalatlanta.org

Reference Links:

View the NOW Special Zoom Event of 3/20/2023 with author and educator Dr. Catherine Meeks on Racial Healing.
Click Here for video recording on YouTube.

 Sonoma County groups host author Catherine Meeks who discusses fight against racism, by Colin Atagi, Press Democrat, August 20, 2023:
Click Here for Article.

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Book Review by Jon M. Sweeney, at Spirituality and Practice - Resources for Spiritual Journeys: www.spiritualityandpractice.com/book-reviews/view/29281/the-night-is-long-but-light-comes-in-the-morning

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And Racial Healing is needed in Sonoma County:

Sonoma County leaders of color say they’ve shared  [Mayor] Natalie Rogers’ experience of racism, by Paulina Pineda and Andrew Graham, The Press Democrat, 2/27/2023: https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news/sonoma-county-leaders-of-color-say-theyve-shared-rogers-experience-of-rac/

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Speaking Truth While in Power, by Kirstyne Lange, President NAACP Santa Rosa – Sonoma County Branch, 2/28/2023: https://naacpsantarosasonomaco.org/speakingtruth/

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 Herstory

Our history is our strength. Check out important dates to remember in herstory at the National Women's History Alliance,, where the date descriptions were sourced unless otherwise indicated.

Herstory Event:

February 27, 1922, the Supreme Court unanimously dismissed a challenge to the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which declares that “the right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any state on account of sex.” The female suffrage amendment was a result of 70 years’ worth of petitions, meetings and protests.   Source: www.politico.com/story/2016/02/supreme-court-upholds-voting-rights-for-women-feb-27-1922-219689

Since it is Black History Month, it is important, I believe, to note, in light of all that has taken place to get the right to vote, that not all suffragists were white middle-class women. Five prominent Black women fought for the 19th Amendment. These women had the double challenge of fighting both gender and racial stereotypes:

1 Frances Ellen Watkins Harper (1825–1911)
2 Mary Ann Shadd Cary (1823–1893)
3 Mary Church Terrell (1863–1954)
4 Nannie Helen Burroughs (1879–1961)
5 Ida B. Wells (1862–1931)

Source: https://www.history.com/news/black-suffragists-19th-amendment

It was not until The Civil Rights Act of 1964 a landmark civil rights and labor law in the United States that outlaws discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin that all Black women were able to vote.

Herstory Birthday: 

February 27, 1897 (1993) – Marian Anderson, opera singer, first African American member of the New York Metropolitan Opera (1955). 

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Announcements  

Monday, March 6, 2023, 11 AM PT # repeats 11 PM PT, features Molly Murphy MacGregor on Women's History Month.  Radio KBBF 89.1 FM, North SF Bay or live streaming at https://kbbf.org/live

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Wednesday March 8, 2023, 11 AM PT, repeat of Monday's show, features Molly Murphy MacGregor on Women's History Month.  Radio KPCA 103.3 FM, Petaluma, CA. https://petalumacommunityaccess.org/kpca 

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Monday, March 13, 2023, 11 AM PT # repeats 11 PM PT, features Women's Music for Women's History Month.  Radio KBBF 89.1 FM, North SF Bay or live streaming at https://kbbf.org/live

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Wednesday March 15, 2023, 11 AM PT, repeat of Monday's show, features Women's Music for Women's History Month.  Radio KPCA 103.3 FM, Petaluma, CA. https://petalumacommunityaccess.org/kpca 

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Music Selections

The Opening and Closing Theme song The Woman in Your Life is You is done with permission of the Composer and Singer Alix Dobkin ((August 16, 1940 – May 19, 2021) Alix Dobkin death was just announced - Thank you for all you did for Lesbians to be recognized and Women to be honored. May you rest in peace. See our Interview with Alix Dobkin on 12/1/2014 and our Memorial to Alix Dobkin on 5/24/2021

The Woman in Your Life is You by Alix Dobkin from the album Living with Lavender Jane (2010 Women's Wax Works) - www.alixdobkin.com

Ella’s Song, sung by Emily Ebert, sung by Aniya Davenport from the album We Who Believe in Freedom  (2018 Emily Ebert).   

If I Can Dream, sung by Kina Carina Jaarnek from the album Kina Carina Jaarnek and Elvis Presley Band (2005 Winterland Records).

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Link:  Spinitron.com Playlist for Women's Spaces Show