BLACK FRIDAY SPEAKERS
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2021 @8PM EST
GEOFF EWING
The subject and title will be "The Importance of being Earnest...NOW!" That title comes from a famous play by Oscar Wilde. I just added the word NOW.
What does Shoghi Effendi say about the importance of being Earnest? "There is no time to lose. There is no room for vacillation. Multitudes hunger for the bread of life. The stage is set. The firm and irrevocable promise is given. God's own plan has been set in motion. It is gathering momentum with every passing day. The powers of heaven mysteriously assist in its execution. Such an opportunity is irreplaceable. Let the doubter arise and himself verify the truth of such assertions. To try, to persevere, is to insure ultimate and complete victory."
Of course Shoghi Effendi is addressing all Baha'i's, but how do Black Baha'is, specifically, "try and persevere", How do we activate the power of "The Pupil of the EYE" in the midst of these American communities that are considered by so many of us to be "white Spaces". How do we enter those white spaces energized with the indomitable strength bestowed upon us by Baha'u'llah, so that the inevitable negative energy we will encounter empowers us instead of dissuades us, the result of our efforts being the unity and the oneness of humankind.
Special Presentation Today by James Williams
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SPECIAL PROGRAM TONIGHT!!!!!!!!
HATRED DOESN'T SLEEP, NEITHER SHALL WE!!!
TERRORIST GROUPS ARE REASSERTING THEMSELVES! WE MUST BE READY WITH A SPIRITUAL RESPONSE TO A SPIRITUAL DISEASE!
I charge you all that each one of you concentrate all the thoughts of your heart on love and unity. When a thought of war comes, oppose it by a stronger thought of peace.
A thought of hatred must be destroyed by a more powerful thought of love.
Thoughts of war bring destruction to all harmony, well-being, restfulness and content.
(Abdu'l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 29)
BILLIE MAYO SPEAKS DECEMBER 11, 2020 ON BLACK FRIDAY
An Evening with Dr. Billie Mayo- Co-Author of 'Becoming a Social Justice Leader: Using Head, Heart, and Hands to Dismantle Oppression'
ABOUT DR. BILLIE MAYO
Billie will share in her presentation information on how the oppression of internalized racism limits us from accessing our flexible and brilliant thinking, how it impedes us from having loving and trusting relationships with people who look like us, and how it can hinder us from fully embracing our nobility. We will explore ways in which the Baha’i writings and other information clearly delineate the path that we as POTES can tread as we live into our knowledge of who we are as described by Baháu’lláh when He “compared the colored people to the black pupil of the eye surrounded by the white. In this black pupil is seen the reflection of that which is before it, and through it the light of the spirit shineth forth.” (“Abdu’l’Bahá, Advent of Divine Justice, p.31
Dr. Billie Mayo, a retired educator, is a Senior Consultant and former co- owner of Educational Equity Consultants, an organization committed to dismantling the oppression of racism in public education and to building the capacity of individuals, schools and other organizations to address racism in ways that enable all people to reclaim their inherent intelligence and nobility. Dr. Mayo spent twenty-three years as a middle school educator before moving to central level administration where she worked until retiring from Saint Louis Public Schools after 38 years of dedicated service to that District.
While working in the Saint Louis Public School District, Billie conducted a number of in-services for personnel on a wide range of topics such as teambuilding, effective communication, improving discipline with dignity, conflict mediation and stress management. She has shared her expertise and insight on how to dismantle racism and build multicultural alliances among people in a number of places both internationally such as the Virgin Islands and South Africa and nationally in school districts in Portland Oregon, Wichita and Winfield Kansas, Santa Barbara, San Diego, and Long Beach California.
Dr. Mayo who is the co-author of the book, Becoming a Social Justice Leader: Using Head, Heart, and Hands to Dismantle Oppression.
YOU MAY INVITE YOUR FRIENDS, BUT REMEMBER THIS IS FOR PUPIL OF THE EYE ONLY! THEY CAN STILL REGISTER AT THE LINK BELOW. MAKE SURE THEY SAVE THE LINK.
KATHLEEN CROSS SPEAKS DECEMBER 4, 2020 ON BLACK FRIDAY
I AM SO EXCITED TO HAVE KATHLEEN CROSS JOIN US THIS FRIDAY NIGHT IN OUR POTE-SAFE SPACE!!!! SHE WILL SHARE SOME INSIGHTS ON COLORISM!
Kathleen Cross is an author, educator and speaker who has been a guest on numerous television and radio shows including Oprah, Montel and Dr. Phil to discuss ethnic identity and cross-cultural communication. Kathleen is the author of Skin Deep (Avon, 1999) an award-winning novel that has been required reading in several U.S. colleges and universities, and Schooling Carmen (Avon, 2004) the story of an East L.A. high school counselor whose survival depends on her ability to embrace change.
If you are a POTE (person of African descent) and have not registered, you can still register at Sign up for POTE Black Friday and Receive Log-in Lin .The zoom link will pop-up, please be sure to copy it.
What's New on FHU
COUNSELOR NWANDI LAWSON TO JOIN US ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2020.
We have just completed a month of Wednesday studies on the Purpose of the Ruhi Institute as a framework for Justice. Nwandi will join us to discuss the remaining cycles of the 5-year plan and the coming 1-Year plan. You won't want to miss it.
POTE-SAFE Friday Firesides Schedule
Have you been wanting a safe space to learn, consult, heal, worship, and to bring your seekers that is focused on the station of the "Pupil of the Eye"? Well, this is it!
SPEAKER LINEUP FOR THE REST OF 2020 BELOW FOR POTE SAFE-SPACE FIRESIDES. INVITE YOUR POTE FRIENDS AND FAMILY.
INVITATION TO ROBERT TURNER COMMEMORATION
ROBERT TURNER WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN BAHAI. DERIK SMITH HAS INVITED US ALL TO A FIRST EVER ZOOM COMMEMORATION CEREMONY.
Education Initiative: Home Schooling Resources
The Education Initiative has completed the assembly of resources for the home schooling of children from PreK-8 Grade. Alice Nightingale, Cynthia Phillips, Elaine Montgomery, Laura Hossein McLuckie-Khandan, Gene Marie Kennedy, Jennifer Treadwell, Karima White, Lee Moavenzadeh, Mary McGregor, Sharon Jayakumar-Becker, Tahirih Hanson, Taeisha Talley (Pope), and Whelma Thompson and Willis Burris.
September 8, 2020-Added New Protection Prayer on Prayer Call Menu
James Williams shared a prayer written by Baha'u'llah to be used in times disease.
September 7, 2020- NEW SPEAKER MENU
Now, you can be kept abreast of when we will have special speakers. A new SPEAKERS menu option has been added.
September 7, 2020- NEW ZOOM MEETINGS MENU
A New Zoom Meetings Menu Option by Day has been added. Now you can find a zoom meeting under the new Zoom mention option. You can now select the day you are interested in from the drop-down menu. Items that were previously under Invitation are now under this menu. Invitations will now be those presentations that are one-time only for which we want to patronize.
August 24, 2020: Make Sadie Oglesby's Remarks Available to Everyone
To sign the letter to the NSA written by Mrs. Sateh Bayat and edited by Mrs. Barbara Talley about making the letter(s) from Sadie Oglesby available to everyone.
August 18, 2020: Feast of Asma Letter
EXCERPT: "In its landmark July 22 message addressed expressly to this Bahá’í community, the Universal House of Justice characterized this time as “a moment of historic portent” which “holds significance not only for the destiny of America anticipated in the Sacred Writings, but also for the mission entrusted to your community by the hand of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.” A significant element of that mission is to play a decisive role―in the fullness of time and as a result of determined and sustained effort―in eradicating the stain of racial prejudice from the fabric of our nation." THIS LETTER SHARES A SUCCESS STORY OF THE DC LOCAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY, HOW IT ATTRACTED 8 NEW AFRICAN AMERICAN BELIEVERS IN ONE YEAR, AND HOW IT HAS MADE FOCUSING ON RACE A PRIORITY.
August 18, 2020: Added 'Power of Unity' Compilation
This compilation compiled by Bonnie Taylor for the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'i's of the United States in 2019 discusses: 1) The Oneness of Humanity 2) Spiritual Transformation 3) Service for Spiritual Transformation 4) The Promise of the Future
August 18, 2020: Addressing Race, Class, and Culture in DC- Submitted by the LSA of DC
EXCERPT: "Several years ago, the DC Assembly decided to make freedom from racial prejudice the watchword in all of its meetings, agreeing that every matter would include consideration of the question: “What are the racial, cultural, class, and gender implications of this decision?” The Assembly also began regularly asking itself how its decisions promote the nobility of African Americans and draw on their experience. In the years since, the Assembly has applied these questions to virtually all facets of the life of the community.
“These questions,” the report states, “are placed at the top of the Assembly’s agenda, and asking them has definitely influenced decisions in many different situations."
August 15, 2020: Poetry and Discussion on Race with the Talley's
Poet Barbara and Radiance Talley will share some of their original poetry as they discuss race. Register at zoom and share with your friends. Everyone must register to attend.