sandhyarjha

What if Oakland is one of the thin places?*

*thin places: a Celtic term for those places where the division between earth and heaven collapse, where we can contemplate and experience the divine in the midst of our lived experiences. and so is this. I went to college in Baltimore, and some of my friends still live there. My friends seeContinue reading “What if Oakland is one of the thin places?*”

A Family Divided: the hard part of the immigrant story (a reflection on seeing “Documented”)

I was making small talk with one of my cousins on a visit to India maybe 10 years ago. “Did you ever think about moving to the West?” I asked him. He’s a doctor in a very remote, very poor village where snakebites are the most common cause of death. “Never,” he answered promptly andContinue reading “A Family Divided: the hard part of the immigrant story (a reflection on seeing “Documented”)”

To the guy who told me to “loose weight” before he would “make out on the porch swing” with me

Dear “Nice Guy” (Your name choice; I’m glad irony is not dead on craigslist): I received your response to my craigslist ad last night (posted below), responding to my ad, in which I sought a “nerdy radical with great race analysis.” I assumed this title would draw people who had an interest in politics and alsoContinue reading “To the guy who told me to “loose weight” before he would “make out on the porch swing” with me”

One More Frog Down–dating and the type a preacher girl

I shared an awesome story on facebook recently about a really classy guy I dated once who told me if he was going to buy me another meal on our next date, I’d better “wear less clothes.” Two things: I’ve been criticized for wearing too few clothes already as a pastor, and I got aContinue reading “One More Frog Down–dating and the type a preacher girl”

RIP, 5’10” caucasian male

Allen got a call at 4:45pm yesterday, and he contacted the police. By the time I was aware of the situation, the coroner had come and gone. Our neighbor, Stevens, who knows some of the regulars who hang around the building, didn’t recognize the man. 5’10” Caucasian male. That’s all I know. Under a blanket,Continue reading “RIP, 5’10” caucasian male”

Community care is self care is community care

On solidarity and not burning out and doing movement work well I’m going to make a confession: I’m not awesome at yoga or meditation. I don’t care much for silence in general. I tried being a Quaker for a month in college because on paper it was the perfect match, but after about ten minutesContinue reading “Community care is self care is community care”

Culture Clash: Why We (People of Color) Get Stuck At “They’re Bad.”

note: I’m doing a different one on POC and White people later. If you’re White, you’re welcome to eavesdrop, but let me get schooled by people of color this time around. You’ll get your turn to school me later. 🙂 I walked into my sophomore dorm room to see my college roommate sitting onContinue reading “Culture Clash: Why We (People of Color) Get Stuck At “They’re Bad.””

Sometimes you’re the restaurant worker; sometimes you’re the hipster: Thoughts on gentrification

I hung out at the intersection of La Mission and the Mission. I was hanging out at the intersection of the past and the future. A couple of months ago I went to a fundraiser with a good friend of mine at a Mexican restaurant in the Mission District of San Francisco. The organization wasContinue reading “Sometimes you’re the restaurant worker; sometimes you’re the hipster: Thoughts on gentrification”

Race Identity as accountability, not escape: reflections from a light-skinned anti-racist

I still feel a little silly when I get to the point in an anti-racism training where I say “I’m a victim of racism.” I think there’s two reasons for this: 1) Most people of color shaped by American society have a pretty big stake in either “I made it on my own merits despiteContinue reading “Race Identity as accountability, not escape: reflections from a light-skinned anti-racist”

On Disciples of Christ Resolution No. 0319 (Sense-of-th e-Assembly), “ON ASSURING CIVIL LIBERTIES AND EQUAL JUSTICE TO IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES IN THE UNITED STATES”

Martha stood all of 4’11”. This was twelve years back, but she already trembled slightly with age. I was in my 20s and prone to histrionics which looked like righteous indignation to the casual observer. Well, I was in my 20s and more prone to histrionics which may have been righteous indignation inContinue reading “On Disciples of Christ Resolution No. 0319 (Sense-of-th e-Assembly), “ON ASSURING CIVIL LIBERTIES AND EQUAL JUSTICE TO IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES IN THE UNITED STATES””