UU Church Today, Society & Culture, Practice & Voice

All Souls’ Work for Racial Justice Continues




This month, All Souls was honored to host two events around issues of racial justice in the days leading up to the Centennial of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. On Monday, May 10, in partnership with Tulsa Metropolitan Ministry Rev. Dr. Robert Turner of Vernon AME and Aliye Shimi of TMM joined Rev. Marlin Lavanhar.

The following evening, Dr. Tiffany Crutcher joined us for In Her Honor, presented by the Women of All Souls. In Her Honor is a series of events celebrating the contributions Ruth Bader Ginsburg had on women’s rights. The monthly presentations by notable women, from our community and beyond, celebrate and inform us of the progress women have made toward equality, equity, and justice. In Her Honor takes place the second Tuesday of each month starting at 7 p.m. at allsouls.me/ihh.

One Hundred Years Later: Reparations

Our reparations discussion looked at the need to fully address the damage done to the Greenwood community in the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre.

“Politics always asks, “Do I have enough votes?” The courts always ask, “Is it legal?” Morality simply asks, “Is it right?”

Rev. Dr. Robert Turner

A Life Devoted to Justice

Dr. Tiffany Crutcher shared an honest and powerful discussion about her work for racial justice following the murder of her twin brother, Terence Crutcher, by a Tulsa police officer.

“I always say, if your “why” doesn’t make you cry, it’s not strong enough. I started to look at Terence’s children, and at the other children in this community, and I saw the gaps, and I saw the needs, and I said, “This is my ‘why.'”

Dr. Tiffany Crutcher

The mission of In Her Honor is to grow a community of diverse, multi-generational women that value each member’s histories and life experiences, to celebrate the progress made in women’s empowerment and equality and to honor RBG’s role in that progress. Upcoming events include a panel discussion with representatives from Oklahomans for Equality on June 8, and on July 13 we are proud to welcome National Poet Laureate and Tulsa native, Joy Harjo. In Her Honor takes place the second Tuesday of each month starting at 7 p.m. at allsouls.me/ihh. Join us!

Continue to commemorate and lean into the Centennial of the Massacre and the work of racial justice with us. Follow The Black Wall Street Times to see cartoons telling a different narrative of Tulsa’s darkest days 100 years ago, created by Rev. Marlin Lavanhar. Plan to volunteer and participate in the many commemorative events through the Black Wall Street Legacy Fest.

Learn more about All Souls’ call for reparations in this blog post.

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