When White Mennonites Adopt Black Children

Hello Meltingpot Readers,

I hope all of you who celebrate Christmas had a joyous and peaceful holiday yesterday. I did. And I'm still basking in the holiday glow. In other words, today I'm enjoying the peace of the day after the holiday, when there's no place that I have to be, no presents I have to wrap, and last night's leftovers are filling my fridge so I don't even have to cook. Ahh...

But of course I didn't want to leave you, my faithful readers, without your daily dish of Meltingpot goodness. Here's an interesting article that graced the cover of today's Philadelphia Inquirer about Black Mennonites, specifically about Black children who are adopted into White Mennonite families. It's an excellent read and of course raises more questions than it answers.

Take a look and let me know what you think.

Peace!

Slaves in the President's House

Hello Meltingpot Readers,

Today I went to visit "The President's House" in Center City, Philadelphia. The President's House is where George Washington and John Adams resided in the years of their respective presidencies (approximately 1790-1800). The actual house itself has long since been demolished but some archaeologists recently discovered some pieces of the house's foundation. And not just any parts, but the slave quarters where our first president kept his slaves, essentially in the basement.

Once discovered, the City of Brotherly Love had a hard time deciding how to display this historic artifact, paying homage to our first president, but also pointing out that he was a slave owner who really had no interest in freeing his human bondage. What's more, Washington deliberately rotated his slaves back and forth between his Virginia plantation and his Philadelphia home, to ensure they could not take advantage of the law that allowed any Black person in residence in Philadelphia for more than six months to be free.

So, the resulting exhibit in Philadelphia is open to the public and cleverly displayed, considering they had very little actual artifacts to work with, but there's something missing. We call this exhibit "The President's House," but the actual bricks and mortar that were discovered are pieces of "The Slave Quarters," and yet nowhere in the signage or display is there a sign that indicates that. Don't get me wrong, the slaves have not been forgotten in the exhibit, but can't we just lay it all out on the table? It seems we're still trying to whitewash history.

(sigh)

A New Magazine for Meltingpot Lovers

Happy Friday Meltingpot Readers,

I just have to play mother hen here for a moment. Please indulge me.

So, one of my former Temple students started visiting me in my office asking for help in landing a journalism job. I told him to look for internships. He did. I told him to try freelancing. He did. I sent him listings for job opportunities that came my way. And he followed up on almost every one of them. Even the job that would have required him to relocate to India. But after almost a year of doing the right thing and still not landing that perfect journalism job, I said to him, "Sam, why don't you just start your own magazine?" And guess what? He did!!!!

The result, dear readers, is a wonderful new publication called Bridge Magazine. Here's how Sam describes its purpose:

"I dedicate this magazine to the stories, which demonstrate a camaraderie between races, nationalities, cultures, religions, sexualities...people. Whether it be a family consisting of African Americans and Ukrainians, a middle ground where Democrats and Republicans talk politics without name calling, or religions praying amongst each other with no quarrel, this magazine is dedicated to anyone and anything that helps to bridge the divide. This magazine is dedicated to a coexistence in a world made up of billions of unique individuals who all deserve the right to live as they choose."

(By the way, Sam is Black and Ukrainian)

Right now the magazine is online and in digital format, but the plan is to eventually go to print. Of course there are still kinks to work out and I know Sam put this together with a miniscule budget, blood, sweat and tears but it is an amazing first issue. Please take a look, leave a comment and bookmark the site.

I am just so impressed what one person can do when they are moved to take action. Yeah Sam!

What are you going to do with your passions? I'm listening.

Peace!