Acts 13:32-33 And we bring you the good news that what God promised to our ancestors he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising Jesus; as also it is written in the second psalm, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you.“
I first encountered visual artist Brandan Odums when I saw his mural of a young black woman wearing a shirt that proclaimed, “I am my ancestors’ wildest dreams.” Lately, I’ve been compelled by women and men who are writing about the ways in which white supremacy cuts people off from their family histories and ancestors, replacing deep, ancestral stories with ones that align more closely with skin colour.
The kind of anti-racism work that inspires me most is that of relearning our own identities and stories—and then sharing these stories with our communities. Odums’ work inspires his community in New Orleans to look backward and to look forward, drawing strength from identities rooted in generational, ancestral strength.
The Bible is full of this kind of ancestral work—may our lives today honour our ancestors’ dreams for and in us.
MOVING FORWARD: What are some ways you can help connect your family and friends to the wild and holy dreams of the ancestors in your family and community?
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