Coffee with Takiyah Nur Amin

A few months ago I had the opportunity, along with 1500 others,
to hear Dr. Takiyah Nur Amin on a panel discussion representing
BLUU, Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism. Our Unitarian
Universalist denomination is courageously discussing its past and
present participation, along with the rest of America and
religion, in white supremacy. BLUU is critical in helping our
organization get woke.


Three weeks later at the Unitarian Universalist General Assembly
in New Orleans, after we had recorded this interview online, I
had the very brief opportunity to swap a quick, real-life hug
with Takiyah after a panel discussion she was leading. She was
super busy but, of course, I had to say hello!


You will certainly be able to tell from this interview that
Takiyah has a very sharp mind and a very gracious heart. If that
sounds like the making of a great faith leader, teacher, and
social justice advocate then I would have to agree with you. But
there's at least one more important ingredient that's important,
passion around at least one subject. And she's got passion! About
what? It's better if I let her tell you in her own words in the
interview.
Notes from the interview:

Hypervisibility and misrecognition (Melissa Harris Perry), 'when
you're a black person in the room, everyone sees you but they
don't really know what they're looking at.'


"Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you
have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to
reach for the stars to change the world." - Harriet Tubman


"I don't believe that you can teach people who you don't love." -
Takiyah Nur Amin


"Maybe none of us deserves anything but we're all worthy of
everything." - Takiyah Nur Amin
Links:

Sponsor: United Faith Leaders


Dr. Amin's Website


UNC Charlotte Biography


Unitarian Universalist Association


Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism (BLUU)


University of North Carolina at Charlotte


Melissa Harris Perry


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