There is something to learn about the spirit of G*d by exploring the legacy and influence of Heȟáka Sápa, also known as Black Elk, a wičháša wakȟáŋa (holy man) and prominent figure for the Oglala Lakota people. Damian Costello, in his book, Black Elk Colonialism and Lakota Catholicism, cites the work of postcolonial scholar Eduaurd Glissant in reference to the blend of both Catholic and Lakotan practice: “we must return to the point from which we started.” Cosetello uses this to argue on how, like many cultures – but the Lakota in this case – found their nuances and space within the word of G*d. 

Much like in the Bible, where so often grave mistakes are made, G*d still has the patience to deal with the people, and forces them to learn, if not for themselves, for the future generations. At the same time, we cannot create our own narratives that forget the historical and ongoing reality of colonialism and the decimation of Indigenous peoples of America. The Word, and Costello, ask us to think about the impact that our physical bodies have made in the world, and seek redemption to begin again. What is not known, or what we are being willfully ignorant of, will eventually come back to haunt us. 

Let us look at a piece from the Responsorial Psalm: “If you, O LORD, mark iniquities/ LORD, who can stand?/ But with you is forgiveness/ that you may be revered/ With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption.” Forgiveness does not omit you, or others, from wrongdoing: instead, it is the process of healing from an offense. Costello takes accounts from Lucy Looks Twice, Black Elks’ daughter, who recites a prayer her father always said for G*d to unite and give strength to the Laokta people. Black Elk himself was a survivor of the Wounded Knee Massacre in present-day South Dakota, and often referred in his dream that G*d showed love to his people despite the things that had happened to them. Before, he had prayed for both personal power for his tribe, and his tribe alone, not realizing that the settlers were going after everyone. Through this revelation, the movement began to unite all Indigenous peoples, despite colonialism’s divisions. The priority was to keep their identities by any means necessary. This priority is mentioned by Native Leaders Franks Fool Crow and Emerson Spider, (Teton Sioux and Oglala Lakota, respectively). Both men saw Christianity as a way of reclaiming, and as a tool of resistance to the Americanization of their people, especially looking back on the readings where the prophet Ezekial relays the message that G*d will put Their spirit into the Hebrews, to help them and settle upon their land. 

Black Elk had a concept of universality, Hanblecheyapi, where he asked Wakan Tanka (G*d) for people of the world to not live in “the Darkness of Ignorance.” Colonialism, here in the U.S., did not come and go, but instead took a new form. Much interest of Indigenous American heritage and the story of Black Elk has been for the sake of spiritualism, and/or New Age tourism. There is a chance, however just like today’s reading says, for redemption. Despite the many times in which the Hebrews mess up and lose Israel, there is a chance for them to adhere to G*d’s words, and get it back. Despite the many attempts of colonial projects of the past and today, Indigenous people are still here, which includes the legacy of Black Elk in all of his forms. This, again, relates to Costello’s points, as he points out that the impact and influence of colonialism not only matters in the way we as individual people understand our reality, but how our visions and future decisions come to be. It asks much of us because we can be the change that our ancestors refused to be, like the Hebrews we can beg G*d for mercy on ourselves, and go into the path of forgiveness. 

Power map yourself – write your name in the middle, and draw a circle. Make webs of those who influence you, or those who you influence. See if any of the people are connected. Write out the relations and the groups they are categorized in. Don’t be afraid to include names you don’t remember, like, “the guy from the deli-supermarket who knows how to slice my cold cuts right.” From there, pick a random person in your map and do a deep thought of your interactions with them. Were they always positive? Negative? Is there anything you have done to add on to this relationship? Is this a relationship you see lasting, or will remember years later? Do you think your interactions with them will have a lasting impact? 

This exercise is a useful tool especially in organizing, not only because it shows first steps in getting to know the world and people around us, but shows how everything is relational. 

I would like to highlight two of my mentors who really helped me put things into perspective. I met them in really pivotal parts of my life, that I do not believe I would have survived without them. Although both their professions and backgrounds differ (one a social justice director from Chicago, the other is a social worker from Harlem) they drew me to the same conclusion of life: that life is mine, and every accomplishment and mistake I make I own, because every moment is a lesson for someone else to see and learn from. 

This ownership allowed me to figure out what my contribution to society is for the better. So, Ray and Tarvatta, thank you for seeing the person who I am, and will be, before I knew she existed.  

Just want to give love to all the urban farming communities, such as Urban Tree Connection in Philadelphia or La Finca del Sur in The Bronx, to name a few. I want to give love for all their efforts to make the world green, and for using their knowledge of Afro/Indigenous cultures and ecology to bring about life in communities that are either deeply food insecure or are not the best environmentally for physical health. While these urban farming communities are not the end all solution, it does bring a form of healing and a bit of peace that the world needs. These communities are created purely for the common good, and are operated by a collective who continually learn and use their skills to make their environment more decent than when they leave it.

Image description: Against blue waves and a beach, the sun rises, golden and orange, lighting up clouds above it. Above the golden line of the sun on the horizon, the sky is a deep blue. The waves below the sunrise are deep blue, and reflect the golden sun.

My Uncle sent me this picture from Miami, and it made me think about how days actually work. It made me realize how everything in the universe has a duty and job to do without knowing who it is going to affect. How often you think what you do has no impact on yourself and others. It made me think about my impact, and if I am actually doing anything. But then I see the sun every morning, and I realize it’s a new day to try and find out.