UPCOMING EVENTS (scroll down for list of Sunday Services)
Rev. Beverly Seese opens the church at 12:00 noon for whoever would like to bring a lunch (or something to share). Enjoy visiting and discussion. Lunch Bunch continues through the summer. |
Dr. Finley Campbell shares his perspectives.
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SUNDAY SERVICES
April 28, 2019 10AM - Ron Withers
Generational Theory
Mr. Withers is a retired business owner, author, musician, and an adjunct instructor in both the Humanities and History Departments of IUK and an adjunct instructor in the Social Sciences Department at Ivy Tech.
May 5, 2019 10AM - Dr. Finley Campbell
The Serpent and the Eagle: The Multiracial, Multicultural Meaning of the Cinco de Mayo Celebration to Unitarian Universalists
Dr. Campbell is co-chair of the Unitarian Universalist Multiracial Unit Action Caucus, an Illinois not-for-profit group affiliated with the Chicago Area Unitarian Universalist Council. He believes that multiracial unity is an important way to fight racism. The solution is kindness, compassion and personal interaction.
The following article by Laquon James was referenced by Dr. Campbell in order to give us some background.
Getting a warning about society's path from a man who spent the tumultuous 1960s fighting for racial equality made some take notice Wednesday. "We are living in perilous times," Finley C. Campbell said. "The world seems to have lost its way. We don't feel part of things greater than ourselves."Campbell, 83, a co-chair of the Unitarian Universalist Multiracial Unity Action Caucus, was giving a lecture, "Chains of Iron Silk: The Nature of Neo-Racism" at Purdue University Calumet in Hammond. The caucus is an Illinois not-for-profit group affiliated with the Chicago Area Unitarian Universalist Council and aims to foster anti-racist and multiracial unity activities. Campbell once ran for governor as a member of the Indiana Peace and Freedom Party and lost to Otis Bowen. He said he had a campaign budget of $1,400. "We were mobilizing people instead of money. That power is gone," he said, drawing a comparison to how elections are today compared to 1972. "Billions are being spent on the presidential election." He believes that multiracial unity is an important way to fight racism. He said the victory of desegregation and the civil rights movement has given rise to "Neo-racism," a form of hate that depends on economic-class division and the rhetoric of white supremacy.
"Absolutely any kind of racist demonization is bad, but relative to having to sit up in the balcony of a movie house, relative to public lynching and fire hoses, it's much better (today than prior to 1965)," Campbell said.
Asked if he thinks legal action or violence is more effective as a tool for change, Campbell answered, "Every social order is faced with social choices — the bullet or the ballot. We live in a time of the ballot," Campbell said. "Don't see yourself as an ally, see yourself as a comrade. You must become part of the voting process."
Born in South Carolina and raised in Detroit, Campbell went on to undergraduate studies at Morehouse College in Atlanta. Campbell was there in April 1968 when the Rev. Martin Luther King was assassinated and as an activist is credited with helping to avert violence during student demonstrations. Campbell earned his doctoral degree at the University of Chicago where he studied with John Hope Franklin, author of "From Slavery to Freedom." In the fall of 1968, he became Wabash College's first black professor and helped the college to found the Malcom X Institute for Black Studies. Campbell, who pointed out in an earlier interview that "racism hurts white people as well as black, red and brown people," was also an activist while at Wabash. He interacted with the Indiana leaders of the Black Panther Party on social issues. He worked to organize white radicals.
In the post-civil rights era, "So many poor whites are in the same position as poor blacks and poor Latinos. Instead of public lynching, we have police brutality. Instead of segregated balconies, you can be the master of ceremonies of the Oscars, but you can't get an award. Instead of tear gas and water hoses, you use voter identification and vote suppression and you have African-Americans supporting these," Campbell said.
The solution, according to Campbell, is kindness, compassion and personal interaction —
May 12, 2019 10AM - Rev. Beverly Seese
Thanks to Moms
Since we don't have services in June, we'll include fathers in this time of remembrance and appreciation. Hear how people from our past as well as present-day folks reflect on the impact of these all-important figures in their lives. There should be time to share about your experiences, too.
May 19, 2019 10AM - Rev. Beverly Seese
Flower Communion Sunday / Welcoming of New Members / Congregation Annual Meeting / Fellowship Potluck
Bring a flower for the service and a dish to share for the potluck. We will honor this year's new members and one college graduate. All accomplished before 11:00!
Uniflyer (newsletter)
If you are interested in learning more about the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Kokomo, you can get our monthly newsletter containing information about upcoming events. E-mail uukokomo@gmail.com to ask to receive the newsletter. (Printed copy also available.)
To submit information for publication, e-mail uukokomo@gmail.com.
If you are interested in learning more about the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Kokomo, you can get our monthly newsletter containing information about upcoming events. E-mail uukokomo@gmail.com to ask to receive the newsletter. (Printed copy also available.)
To submit information for publication, e-mail uukokomo@gmail.com.