And that's what art is, a form in which people can reflect on who we are as human beings and come to some understanding of this journey we are on.
Wendell PierceRead
My dad prepared me for the worst of times while also enabling me to succeed in the best. He taught me to confront the insidiousness of racism head on, no matter what the ramification, so it will not fester. Defeat it and get past it. That was The Talk. Nothing scared me after that.
Interpretation
This quote emphasizes the importance of confronting racism directly and equipping oneself to face challenging times while striving for success.
Wendell Pierce reflects on the crucial conversations he had with his father, known as 'The Talk,' which prepared him to face the harsh realities of racism head-on. Through this preparation, he learned not only to tackle adversity but also to pursue excellence, instilling in him a sense of fearlessness against societal injustices.
In practice
This quote can be shared during discussions on parental guidance in the face of adversity.
And that's what art is, a form in which people can reflect on who we are as human beings and come to some understanding of this journey we are on.
The world, post-Katrina, was a hard time for my city. The hardest time. For people who didn't live through it, no words can fully express the pain, the rage, the grief, and the futility we New Orleanians felt. For the people who did, words seemed like a feeble protest against a relentless night without end.
What thoughts are to the individual, art is to the community as a whole. That's where you reflect on who you are, who you hope to be, what you've gone through, and where you hope to go.
Culture is the intersection of people and life itself. Its how we deal with life, love, death, birth, disappointment... all of that is expressed in culture.
Surely the best way to meet the enemy is head on in the field and not wait till they plunder our very homes.
That we may give our body and our blood over to suffering and pain, like Christ - not for Self, but to give harvests of peace and justice to our People.
Never bend your head. Always hold it high. Look the world straight in the eye.
Now if I go through it again, I think I would be a lot more open about it. I admire people who have been open like Melissa Ethridge and women I see walking around facing it without wigs and all of that stuff. I think I would be more courageous next time.
My friend Kurt Maix once described this diffidence as Fear's friendly sister, the right and necessary counterweight to that courage that urges men skyward, and protects them from self-destruction.
If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.
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