by John Ellis As the world’s largest children’s book publisher, it is almost assured that everyone reading this is familiar with Scholastic. With Clifford the Big Red Dog as their mascot and holding the US publishing rights to the Harry Potter and Hunger Games series, Scholastic has helped lead the way in encouraging children to … Continue reading The Inconvenient History of the USA: ‘Love in the Library’
Tag: racism
The Cultural War: Parental Rights or Parental Tyranny?
by John Ellis This story is bonkers but predictable. Earlier this week, reports surfaced that the principal of a Tallahassee charter school had been fired because an art teacher showed the 6th grade students a picture of Michelangelo’s David and some parents complained.[1] There are so many exit ramps out of that previous sentence, it’s … Continue reading The Cultural War: Parental Rights or Parental Tyranny?
The Ten Articles of 2022 I Wish Had Been Read by More People
by John Ellis Over the course of 2022, I wrote 68 articles (not counting this one) – using almost 146,000 words. Looking back over those articles, I’m proud of many of them and only see a few I wish I hadn’t written or that need serious rewriting. Among the article I’m proud of are quite … Continue reading The Ten Articles of 2022 I Wish Had Been Read by More People
‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ – Thanksgiving Day as Lament
by John Ellis Black Panther: Wakanda Forever opens and closes beautifully. As tributes to Chadwick Boseman, the highly anticipated sequel to Marvel’s 2018 smash hit plays all the right notes with its beginning and ending scenes, creating moving bookends for an excellent movie. Even the Marvel title card is a touching sendup of the talented … Continue reading ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ – Thanksgiving Day as Lament
Recommended Juneteenth Reading: ‘A Question of Freedom’ by R. Dwayne Betts
by John Ellis I’ve recently finished reading A Question of Freedom: A Memoir of Learning, Survival, and Coming of Age in Prison, a thought provoking and engaging book. It’s power and truth are of such importance that I believe white people should read it, even (especially) if it makes them uncomfortable. There are many reasons … Continue reading Recommended Juneteenth Reading: ‘A Question of Freedom’ by R. Dwayne Betts
Christian Nationalism: The Coming Storm of Persecution
by John Ellis I have publicly asserted that religious persecution for Christians living in this country is coming, an assertion that many white evangelicals whole-heartedly amen. Except, contra most white evangelicals, I believe that the persecution of followers of Jesus is likely going to arrive from the right (Republicans) first and not the left. For … Continue reading Christian Nationalism: The Coming Storm of Persecution
Yes, I Am a ‘Woke’ Christian. No, I Have Not Drifted into Theological Compromise.
by John Ellis Have you ever heard of the Scottsboro Boys? Considered one of the most egregious examples of a racist miscarriage of justice in this country, nine Black men were wrongfully convicted of raping two white women in 1931. In the initial trial and subsequent retrials, Alabama juries, comprised of all white men (with … Continue reading Yes, I Am a ‘Woke’ Christian. No, I Have Not Drifted into Theological Compromise.
The Civil War Wasn’t Just Fought Over Slavery; It Was Fought Because the South Wanted to Expand Slavery
by John Ellis A little over a year after the Supreme Court handed down the ruling in Dredd Scott v. Sanford, Abraham Lincoln delivered his famous “House Divided” speech. The speech, delivered upon Lincon’s acceptance of the Illinois Republican Party’s nomination for U.S. Senator, contained what was going to become a centerpiece in the future … Continue reading The Civil War Wasn’t Just Fought Over Slavery; It Was Fought Because the South Wanted to Expand Slavery
For the Love of Myths, Fast-Food Chains, and Fungible Truth: How Expressive Individualism Determines “Truth”
by John Ellis Did you know that being either right brained or left brained isn’t a thing? I mean, it’s a thing; it’s just not a real thing – it’s not a true thing. It’s a myth. A neuromyth, to be specific. Don’t tell people that, though. If you do, be aware that you do … Continue reading For the Love of Myths, Fast-Food Chains, and Fungible Truth: How Expressive Individualism Determines “Truth”
Critical Race Theory: Read It for Yourself
by John Ellis Of late, friends and acquaintances ask me about Critical Race Theory (CRT) more than any other single topic. I am more than happy to answer their questions and engage in dialogue about CRT as best I can. To date, though, I have yet to have a face-to-face discussion about CRT with anyone … Continue reading Critical Race Theory: Read It for Yourself
Practically Known Theology 