Dear Second Tuesday friends,

As 2021 comes to an end, I have no problem saying Goodbye to it. We have seen dramatic changes in our climate, severe attacks on reproductive rights, a U-turn on racial justice and the expansion of voting, and a pandemic that finds new ways to infect the population. A snapshot view of events might tempt is to agree with Chicken Little that the sky is falling. I am motivated to take a longer view and see tremendous possibilities in the chrysalis time we are in.

I do miss our monthly meetings together and hope that you are maintaining good health. And I hope to be a cheerleader for the things that inspire you to keep moving ahead. The passing of Archbishop Desmond Tutu gives me an opportunity to reflect on something he said: “When you do your little bits of good where you are, it is those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.” He was such an inspiration to me as the leader of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa. Although TRC was not perfect, it has shown us another pathway to healing the soul and repairing the damage of unthinkable racial oppression. There is plenty of unfinished business that needs our attention.

I want to share with you a 30-minute video that is probably one of the most hopeful accounts of how healing from slavery and racism can get rolling I’ve experienced. Fifteen years ago, some of us from Traces of the Trade and Second Tuesday were involved in the creation of Coming to the Table, the initiative to bring together descendants of formerly enslaved persons and descendants of former enslavers for healing.  I share this video because it demonstrates what can come out of extended engagement like Second Tuesday. 

15th Anniversary CTTT Commemoration Video

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1io3u6zN-4XxGoh10PWpspXbL_ZTXPMY-/view

I wish for everyone a meaningful 2022. And I would love to hear from you about the continuation of our journey. You can reach me at fuzzyfield@aol.com where we can catch up.

My very best,

Harold Fields