1 00:00:10,727 --> 00:00:12,567 Hello, loved ones! 2 00:00:12,567 --> 00:00:18,295 Welcome to Resurrection Sunday... YAY! 3 00:00:18,295 --> 00:00:24,302 It's um actually the first Sunday in a long time that I've gone to church. 4 00:00:24,302 --> 00:00:30,104 Filmmaker, queer activist Emilio Rojas invited us to come to church with him this morning, 5 00:00:30,104 --> 00:00:33,431 which was a really powerful, interesting experience, 6 00:00:33,431 --> 00:00:39,106 and what's cool is that I met Emilio at the Bayard Rustin Symposium 7 00:00:39,106 --> 00:00:42,368 last Sunday... last Saturday, 8 00:00:42,368 --> 00:00:44,096 where I gave a keynote. 9 00:00:44,096 --> 00:00:47,497 And part of the activity that we did in our keynote ritual 10 00:00:47,497 --> 00:00:52,363 was based on this poem that I'm about to share with you by Audre Lorde. 11 00:00:52,363 --> 00:00:56,280 It's called "When The Saints Come Marching In". 12 00:01:03,674 --> 00:01:06,140 Plentiful sacrifice 13 00:01:06,140 --> 00:01:08,669 and believers in redemption 14 00:01:08,669 --> 00:01:11,273 are all that is needed 15 00:01:11,273 --> 00:01:14,278 so any day now 16 00:01:14,278 --> 00:01:16,874 I expect some new religion 17 00:01:16,874 --> 00:01:19,208 to rise up like tear gas 18 00:01:19,208 --> 00:01:21,657 from the streets of New York 19 00:01:21,657 --> 00:01:24,910 erupting like the rank pavement smell 20 00:01:24,910 --> 00:01:29,771 released by the garbage trucks' baptismal drizzle 21 00:01:29,771 --> 00:01:32,440 the high priests have been ready 22 00:01:32,440 --> 00:01:33,763 and waiting 23 00:01:33,763 --> 00:01:36,943 with their incense pans full of fire 24 00:01:36,943 --> 00:01:39,348 I do not know the rituals, 25 00:01:39,348 --> 00:01:40,838 the exaltations 26 00:01:40,838 --> 00:01:43,004 nor what name of the god 27 00:01:43,004 --> 00:01:46,703 the survivors will worship 28 00:01:46,703 --> 00:01:48,179 I only know 29 00:01:48,179 --> 00:01:51,290 she will be terrible 30 00:01:51,290 --> 00:01:53,495 and very busy 31 00:01:53,495 --> 00:01:55,817 and very old. 32 00:01:58,325 --> 00:01:59,702 So I love this poem. 33 00:01:59,702 --> 00:02:04,121 I love the idea of what we can see as the new religion 34 00:02:04,121 --> 00:02:07,625 coming up from the grimiest place. 35 00:02:07,625 --> 00:02:12,323 The baptismal drizzle of the garbage trucks on the pavement of New York City. 36 00:02:12,323 --> 00:02:21,579 And how we can imagine a terrible, busy, old, female god, 37 00:02:21,579 --> 00:02:25,664 whose high priests are ready and waiting. 38 00:02:25,664 --> 00:02:29,246 So the assignment for this week 39 00:02:29,246 --> 00:02:32,162 is to think about that. 40 00:02:32,162 --> 00:02:38,715 What are the faith-transforming baptismal drizzles 41 00:02:38,715 --> 00:02:41,143 experiences of funk 42 00:02:41,143 --> 00:02:42,910 that you are present to 43 00:02:42,910 --> 00:02:46,975 at this time in your life, at this moment in your community. 44 00:02:46,975 --> 00:02:51,043 What is the dirtiness that is actually prompting you 45 00:02:51,043 --> 00:02:54,706 to think about what you believe, to remember what you believe, 46 00:02:54,706 --> 00:03:00,250 to feel empowered to create your own definition of divinity, 47 00:03:00,250 --> 00:03:03,506 or a remembered definition. 48 00:03:05,913 --> 00:03:07,417 Let me know! 49 00:03:07,417 --> 00:03:08,635 I would love to hear from you, 50 00:03:08,635 --> 00:03:13,357 and if you would like to talk more or have your own poem oracle, 51 00:03:13,357 --> 00:03:16,544 the poem oracles we did at the Bayard Rustin Symposium were off the hook, 52 00:03:16,544 --> 00:03:19,101 and if you would like your own poem oracle, 53 00:03:19,101 --> 00:03:23,701 check me out at: summerofourlorde.wordpress.com 54 00:03:23,701 --> 00:03:27,016 And have a beautiful week... AH!!! 55 00:03:27,600 --> 00:03:29,455 Before I go! 56 00:03:29,455 --> 00:03:34,520 In a couple of days it will be Audre Lorde's --would have been-- 57 00:03:34,520 --> 00:03:37,151 Audre Lorde's 80th birthday. 58 00:03:37,151 --> 00:03:40,853 And over on the Feminist Wire we're having a forum... 59 00:03:40,853 --> 00:03:43,319 Audre every day, 60 00:03:43,319 --> 00:03:48,998 wonderful pieces from former students, and chosen disciples of Audre Lorde, 61 00:03:48,998 --> 00:03:52,423 poetry, essays, beautiful photographs, 62 00:03:52,423 --> 00:03:54,196 that we'll be sharing. 63 00:03:54,196 --> 00:04:00,120 So, come on over to School Of Our Lorde at summerofourlorde.wordpress.com 64 00:04:00,120 --> 00:04:03,315 and also check out the Feminist Wire this week for the Audre Lorde tribute. 65 00:04:03,315 --> 00:04:05,031 Sending much love! 66 00:04:05,031 --> 00:04:06,161 Happy Resurrection Sunday! 67 00:04:06,161 --> 00:04:07,268 MWAH!