[Music] you
hello Vanakkam a castle
hello Vanakkam a castle my name is Sanjana Kanta I am from Tamil
my name is Sanjana Kanta I am from Tamil
my name is Sanjana Kanta I am from Tamil Nadu India from Kogi State Nigeria and
Nadu India from Kogi State Nigeria and
Nadu India from Kogi State Nigeria and from the Midwest I am from English
from the Midwest I am from English
from the Midwest I am from English educated Indians who found themselves in
educated Indians who found themselves in
educated Indians who found themselves in leadership positions
leadership positions
leadership positions I am from colonial missionaries who took
I am from colonial missionaries who took
I am from colonial missionaries who took in my forefather after he was disowned
in my forefather after he was disowned
in my forefather after he was disowned by his Hindu family I am from the
by his Hindu family I am from the
by his Hindu family I am from the Christian minority 6% of to millions and
Christian minority 6% of to millions and
Christian minority 6% of to millions and from equi and Tamil churches I am from
from equi and Tamil churches I am from
from equi and Tamil churches I am from West African drums and South Indian
West African drums and South Indian
West African drums and South Indian cooking from jasmine flowers and
cooking from jasmine flowers and
cooking from jasmine flowers and colourful clothes and from change names
colourful clothes and from change names
colourful clothes and from change names British tea racial slurs
British tea racial slurs
British tea racial slurs I’m from old tamil songs and radical
I’m from old tamil songs and radical
I’m from old tamil songs and radical hospitality from the exotic sized women
hospitality from the exotic sized women
hospitality from the exotic sized women and assumed terrorist men where and who
and assumed terrorist men where and who
and assumed terrorist men where and who I am from has created every piece of Who
I am from has created every piece of Who
I am from has created every piece of Who I am I am Sanjana Rachel Khan Thea who
I am I am Sanjana Rachel Khan Thea who
I am I am Sanjana Rachel Khan Thea who are you my great-great-great-grandfather
are you my great-great-great-grandfather
are you my great-great-great-grandfather Christian I converted from Hinduism to
Christian I converted from Hinduism to
Christian I converted from Hinduism to Christianity after a British missionary
Christianity after a British missionary
Christianity after a British missionary named Robert Turlington Nobel taught him
named Robert Turlington Nobel taught him
named Robert Turlington Nobel taught him English through the Bible everything
English through the Bible everything
English through the Bible everything about our culture was Hindu so when
about our culture was Hindu so when
about our culture was Hindu so when taking on this religion he made a
taking on this religion he made a
taking on this religion he made a sacrificial choice he gave up his family
sacrificial choice he gave up his family
sacrificial choice he gave up his family who disowned him and everything he knew
who disowned him and everything he knew
who disowned him and everything he knew for a new way of life he was no longer
for a new way of life he was no longer
for a new way of life he was no longer welcome at his mother’s table so he
welcome at his mother’s table so he
welcome at his mother’s table so he joined the Christian community that
joined the Christian community that
joined the Christian community that would accept him because of his
would accept him because of his
would accept him because of his conversion and integration into the
conversion and integration into the
conversion and integration into the British community my family was able to
British community my family was able to
British community my family was able to access good education learn academic
access good education learn academic
access good education learn academic English and have leadership positions my
English and have leadership positions my
English and have leadership positions my forefathers pastored churches owned a
forefathers pastored churches owned a
forefathers pastored churches owned a store selling imports from the UK and
store selling imports from the UK and
store selling imports from the UK and America worshiped in colonial churches
America worshiped in colonial churches
America worshiped in colonial churches and changed their wedding traditions
and changed their wedding traditions
and changed their wedding traditions essentially my family had the leadership
essentially my family had the leadership
essentially my family had the leadership and education to make our own space in
and education to make our own space in
and education to make our own space in this Christian community once we had
this Christian community once we had
this Christian community once we had made those spaces we had a choice either
made those spaces we had a choice either
made those spaces we had a choice either open the door and invite others to join
open the door and invite others to join
open the door and invite others to join us in our new community or enjoy our new
us in our new community or enjoy our new
us in our new community or enjoy our new space alone after independence we had
space alone after independence we had
space alone after independence we had even more space and we could remake it
even more space and we could remake it
even more space and we could remake it however we wanted space to blend both
however we wanted space to blend both
however we wanted space to blend both European Christian and in
European Christian and in
European Christian and in cultures but we chose to keep the suits
cultures but we chose to keep the suits
cultures but we chose to keep the suits and ties and Western hims even when we
and ties and Western hims even when we
and ties and Western hims even when we changed the culture of missions I want
changed the culture of missions I want
changed the culture of missions I want to talk with you about this concept of
to talk with you about this concept of
to talk with you about this concept of space space to be who you are and live
space space to be who you are and live
space space to be who you are and live with dignity and respect
with dignity and respect
with dignity and respect space in our social and political worlds
space in our social and political worlds
space in our social and political worlds for a person to speak and be heard the
for a person to speak and be heard the
for a person to speak and be heard the physical space in universities and
physical space in universities and
physical space in universities and organizations space and our curricula
organizations space and our curricula
organizations space and our curricula and space and our relationships space
and space and our relationships space
and space and our relationships space for your culture to be freely celebrated
for your culture to be freely celebrated
for your culture to be freely celebrated and for communities of people with
and for communities of people with
and for communities of people with different backgrounds and beliefs to
different backgrounds and beliefs to
different backgrounds and beliefs to coexist this concept of space is
coexist this concept of space is
coexist this concept of space is essential for people as a whole to
essential for people as a whole to
essential for people as a whole to thrive but when we look at history we
thrive but when we look at history we
thrive but when we look at history we see the dominant culture of a community
see the dominant culture of a community
see the dominant culture of a community taking over the space of someone else
taking over the space of someone else
taking over the space of someone else quieting voices time and time again the
quieting voices time and time again the
quieting voices time and time again the silencing of voices is not new and we
silencing of voices is not new and we
silencing of voices is not new and we can look at the wisdom of those who have
can look at the wisdom of those who have
can look at the wisdom of those who have been fighting for space through
been fighting for space through
been fighting for space through revolutions and relationships and try to
revolutions and relationships and try to
revolutions and relationships and try to move forward for example dr. Martin
move forward for example dr. Martin
move forward for example dr. Martin Luther King jr. and how he taught us
Luther King jr. and how he taught us
Luther King jr. and how he taught us about a counter to the model of groups
about a counter to the model of groups
about a counter to the model of groups having too much space versus not at all
having too much space versus not at all
having too much space versus not at all dr. King taught us about the Beloved
dr. King taught us about the Beloved
dr. King taught us about the Beloved Community a society that is based on
Community a society that is based on
Community a society that is based on justice equal opportunity and love he
justice equal opportunity and love he
justice equal opportunity and love he dreamt of dignity respect and freedom
dreamt of dignity respect and freedom
dreamt of dignity respect and freedom from oppression and systemic poverty he
from oppression and systemic poverty he
from oppression and systemic poverty he did not just hope for peace but went
did not just hope for peace but went
did not just hope for peace but went beyond seeking an end to violence toward
beyond seeking an end to violence toward
beyond seeking an end to violence toward a dream of deep reconciliation a
a dream of deep reconciliation a
a dream of deep reconciliation a reconciliation where we can transform
reconciliation where we can transform
reconciliation where we can transform both those who occupy the space of
both those who occupy the space of
both those who occupy the space of others and those who do not have any
others and those who do not have any
others and those who do not have any space at all into the beloved community
space at all into the beloved community
space at all into the beloved community where we can mutually share a meal
where we can mutually share a meal
where we can mutually share a meal around the same table this is the table
around the same table this is the table
around the same table this is the table where peace and freedom can be evoked
where peace and freedom can be evoked
where peace and freedom can be evoked this is the table where decisions are
this is the table where decisions are
this is the table where decisions are made that truly cause change where the
made that truly cause change where the
made that truly cause change where the voices that influence every part of
voices that influence every part of
voices that influence every part of society belong I saw a glimpse of the
society belong I saw a glimpse of the
society belong I saw a glimpse of the Beloved Community back in Nigeria in the
Beloved Community back in Nigeria in the
Beloved Community back in Nigeria in the northwest corner of Kogi State there is
northwest corner of Kogi State there is
northwest corner of Kogi State there is a hospital in egg Bay which was founded
a hospital in egg Bay which was founded
a hospital in egg Bay which was founded in the context of complex oppression
in the context of complex oppression
in the context of complex oppression during colonial times but now provides
during colonial times but now provides
during colonial times but now provides health care and certifies nurses for a
health care and certifies nurses for a
health care and certifies nurses for a region that is entirely under resource
region that is entirely under resource
region that is entirely under resource by the state in this imperfect community
by the state in this imperfect community
by the state in this imperfect community responding to immediate needs
responding to immediate needs
responding to immediate needs Nigerian Korean American and Indian
Nigerian Korean American and Indian
Nigerian Korean American and Indian doctors scrub in and work alongside each
doctors scrub in and work alongside each
doctors scrub in and work alongside each other to provide health care to this
other to provide health care to this
other to provide health care to this largely ignored area we lived in
largely ignored area we lived in
largely ignored area we lived in community and our table always looked
community and our table always looked
community and our table always looked different
different
different we had kimchi jjigae and rice vindaloo
we had kimchi jjigae and rice vindaloo
we had kimchi jjigae and rice vindaloo and curd fufu Iguchi stew and homemade
and curd fufu Iguchi stew and homemade
and curd fufu Iguchi stew and homemade ice cream from powdered milk the beloved
ice cream from powdered milk the beloved
ice cream from powdered milk the beloved community table in egg Bay had seats for
community table in egg Bay had seats for
community table in egg Bay had seats for Koreans Americans Indians and Nigerians
Koreans Americans Indians and Nigerians
Koreans Americans Indians and Nigerians all bringing their culture to the table
all bringing their culture to the table
all bringing their culture to the table so let’s think of community as this big
so let’s think of community as this big
so let’s think of community as this big table for a second I’m imagining it made
table for a second I’m imagining it made
table for a second I’m imagining it made of mahagony strong and smooth think
of mahagony strong and smooth think
of mahagony strong and smooth think about the tables where you eat who’s
about the tables where you eat who’s
about the tables where you eat who’s there who’s speaking why our tables are
there who’s speaking why our tables are
there who’s speaking why our tables are often full of a community living in the
often full of a community living in the
often full of a community living in the same circumstances as us a table in my
same circumstances as us a table in my
same circumstances as us a table in my immigrant grandmother’s home is full of
immigrant grandmother’s home is full of
immigrant grandmother’s home is full of Indians eating with our hands thummell
Indians eating with our hands thummell
Indians eating with our hands thummell food with Lay’s potato chips truly the
food with Lay’s potato chips truly the
food with Lay’s potato chips truly the best of both worlds the table in our
best of both worlds the table in our
best of both worlds the table in our religious spaces is where we worship and
religious spaces is where we worship and
religious spaces is where we worship and congregate as white churches black
congregate as white churches black
congregate as white churches black churches LGBTQ churches etc we have
churches LGBTQ churches etc we have
churches LGBTQ churches etc we have entire fields of work full of people who
entire fields of work full of people who
entire fields of work full of people who have shared privileged or
have shared privileged or
have shared privileged or underprivileged experiences that have
underprivileged experiences that have
underprivileged experiences that have brought them there there are things
brought them there there are things
brought them there there are things about our histories that bring us to the
about our histories that bring us to the
about our histories that bring us to the table things about our histories that
table things about our histories that
table things about our histories that give us a seat
give us a seat
give us a seat there are things about our histories
there are things about our histories
there are things about our histories that bar us from even walking in the
that bar us from even walking in the
that bar us from even walking in the room then there are those with a seat at
room then there are those with a seat at
room then there are those with a seat at the table but though they have the
the table but though they have the
the table but though they have the physical space they do not have equals
physical space they do not have equals
physical space they do not have equals say they’re surrounded by other guests
say they’re surrounded by other guests
say they’re surrounded by other guests they’re forced into an echo chamber to
they’re forced into an echo chamber to
they’re forced into an echo chamber to listen while their space to speak is
listen while their space to speak is
listen while their space to speak is being taken by others this can be going
being taken by others this can be going
being taken by others this can be going through an entire education system with
through an entire education system with
through an entire education system with lessons and literature that connect with
lessons and literature that connect with
lessons and literature that connect with the culture religion and history of most
the culture religion and history of most
the culture religion and history of most of your classmates but never your own
of your classmates but never your own
of your classmates but never your own you’re forced to listen to their
you’re forced to listen to their
you’re forced to listen to their narratives in the curriculum and
narratives in the curriculum and
narratives in the curriculum and discussion but never have the lessons or
discussion but never have the lessons or
discussion but never have the lessons or questions to add your experience to
questions to add your experience to
questions to add your experience to table in becoming the beloved community
table in becoming the beloved community
table in becoming the beloved community we need to give space to each other if
we need to give space to each other if
we need to give space to each other if we are one if we are the ones at the
we are one if we are the ones at the
we are one if we are the ones at the table
table
table we need to pause make space at the table
we need to pause make space at the table
we need to pause make space at the table for others and listen there’s a famous
for others and listen there’s a famous
for others and listen there’s a famous quote by shirley chisholm the first
quote by shirley chisholm the first
quote by shirley chisholm the first black woman in congress she says if they
black woman in congress she says if they
black woman in congress she says if they don’t give you a seat at the table bring
don’t give you a seat at the table bring
don’t give you a seat at the table bring a folding chair that’s not really easy
a folding chair that’s not really easy
a folding chair that’s not really easy to begin with and not all of us have
to begin with and not all of us have
to begin with and not all of us have folding chairs to bring in fact some of
folding chairs to bring in fact some of
folding chairs to bring in fact some of us are not even allowed in the same room
us are not even allowed in the same room
us are not even allowed in the same room as the table
as the table
as the table many of us are locked away behind real
many of us are locked away behind real
many of us are locked away behind real bars or the bars of unequal education
bars or the bars of unequal education
bars or the bars of unequal education and opportunity the unfortunate reality
and opportunity the unfortunate reality
and opportunity the unfortunate reality is that there are some tables we are
is that there are some tables we are
is that there are some tables we are welcome to some tables that are full
welcome to some tables that are full
welcome to some tables that are full some we never got the invitation to and
some we never got the invitation to and
some we never got the invitation to and there are some tables we just physically
there are some tables we just physically
there are some tables we just physically cannot reach we can try to get in and
cannot reach we can try to get in and
cannot reach we can try to get in and some even will but if there’s not
some even will but if there’s not
some even will but if there’s not someone who has enough power to make
someone who has enough power to make
someone who has enough power to make some room and pull those who have never
some room and pull those who have never
some room and pull those who have never been welcomed in the rest of the guests
been welcomed in the rest of the guests
been welcomed in the rest of the guests will likely never know there were others
will likely never know there were others
will likely never know there were others there in the first place there are
there in the first place there are
there in the first place there are things about Who I am that got me a seat
things about Who I am that got me a seat
things about Who I am that got me a seat at some tables and once you’re in it can
at some tables and once you’re in it can
at some tables and once you’re in it can be easy to not even notice there are
be easy to not even notice there are
be easy to not even notice there are folks on the outside how do we work
folks on the outside how do we work
folks on the outside how do we work against history to change this how can I
against history to change this how can I
against history to change this how can I look out from the inside and make some
look out from the inside and make some
look out from the inside and make some room to invite someone in how can I get
room to invite someone in how can I get
room to invite someone in how can I get in the tables my family has never been
in the tables my family has never been
in the tables my family has never been welcomed giving someone a spot at the
welcomed giving someone a spot at the
welcomed giving someone a spot at the table looks like pausing pulling up a
table looks like pausing pulling up a
table looks like pausing pulling up a chair and listening rather than just
chair and listening rather than just
chair and listening rather than just adding to the noise for example when I
adding to the noise for example when I
adding to the noise for example when I am home in India my Amma Chi is known
am home in India my Amma Chi is known
am home in India my Amma Chi is known for her hospitality especially her
for her hospitality especially her
for her hospitality especially her cooking it’s always fantastic
cooking it’s always fantastic
cooking it’s always fantastic first-class food offered more generously
first-class food offered more generously
first-class food offered more generously than she can probably afford she’s hired
than she can probably afford she’s hired
than she can probably afford she’s hired a few people to help them around the
a few people to help them around the
a few people to help them around the house and whenever we visit she prepares
house and whenever we visit she prepares
house and whenever we visit she prepares the best true tamil meals we sit and eat
the best true tamil meals we sit and eat
the best true tamil meals we sit and eat as a family we talk about church or
as a family we talk about church or
as a family we talk about church or about family things but if anyone who
about family things but if anyone who
about family things but if anyone who works in their home hasn’t eaten whether
works in their home hasn’t eaten whether
works in their home hasn’t eaten whether it’s the gardener or her cook my Amagi
it’s the gardener or her cook my Amagi
it’s the gardener or her cook my Amagi gets another play
gets another play
gets another play start serving rice and invites them to
start serving rice and invites them to
start serving rice and invites them to sit at her family table in most homes
sit at her family table in most homes
sit at her family table in most homes the servants eat separately but my
the servants eat separately but my
the servants eat separately but my grandmother’s invitation goes beyond
grandmother’s invitation goes beyond
grandmother’s invitation goes beyond acknowledging their presence she cleans
acknowledging their presence she cleans
acknowledging their presence she cleans a plate fills it pulls up a chair and
a plate fills it pulls up a chair and
a plate fills it pulls up a chair and sits them next to her guest of honor
sits them next to her guest of honor
sits them next to her guest of honor that is the beloved community we create
that is the beloved community we create
that is the beloved community we create the beloved community wherever we are by
the beloved community wherever we are by
the beloved community wherever we are by pausing to see who is missing making
pausing to see who is missing making
pausing to see who is missing making space and listening an example of this
space and listening an example of this
space and listening an example of this in Chicago’s refugee community is how
in Chicago’s refugee community is how
in Chicago’s refugee community is how girl forward was founded when Blair
girl forward was founded when Blair
girl forward was founded when Blair Brettschneider was working at one of the
Brettschneider was working at one of the
Brettschneider was working at one of the resettlement agencies she looked around
resettlement agencies she looked around
resettlement agencies she looked around the after-school center and saw
the after-school center and saw
the after-school center and saw something missing the girls were facing
something missing the girls were facing
something missing the girls were facing such unique barriers and there wasn’t
such unique barriers and there wasn’t
such unique barriers and there wasn’t enough time resources or support to give
enough time resources or support to give
enough time resources or support to give girls who were resettled the boost they
girls who were resettled the boost they
girls who were resettled the boost they needed to pursue the dreams they deserve
needed to pursue the dreams they deserve
needed to pursue the dreams they deserve to achieve so she started with one girl
to achieve so she started with one girl
to achieve so she started with one girl listened and looked for resources to
listened and looked for resources to
listened and looked for resources to support her and over time that turned
support her and over time that turned
support her and over time that turned into a girls group which turned into a
into a girls group which turned into a
into a girls group which turned into a mentoring program a summer camp a safe
mentoring program a summer camp a safe
mentoring program a summer camp a safe space in schools and an after-school
space in schools and an after-school
space in schools and an after-school Center what was created in the midst of
Center what was created in the midst of
Center what was created in the midst of the biggest refugee crisis the world has
the biggest refugee crisis the world has
the biggest refugee crisis the world has ever seen is a community of support for
ever seen is a community of support for
ever seen is a community of support for girls who are working long and hard to
girls who are working long and hard to
girls who are working long and hard to overcome poverty language barrier
overcome poverty language barrier
overcome poverty language barrier disrupted education trauma and the
disrupted education trauma and the
disrupted education trauma and the challenges Chicago throws at them our
challenges Chicago throws at them our
challenges Chicago throws at them our girls create this community as they come
girls create this community as they come
girls create this community as they come together from all over the world and
together from all over the world and
together from all over the world and bring their joys and pains to the table
bring their joys and pains to the table
bring their joys and pains to the table they build the Beloved Community with
they build the Beloved Community with
they build the Beloved Community with the resources and languages they have
the resources and languages they have
the resources and languages they have under the mutual understanding of what
under the mutual understanding of what
under the mutual understanding of what it feels like not to have a seat at the
it feels like not to have a seat at the
it feels like not to have a seat at the table they give each other the space to
table they give each other the space to
table they give each other the space to be who they are where they are when
be who they are where they are when
be who they are where they are when where they are is not what they had
where they are is not what they had
where they are is not what they had planned
now one last time imagine with me the
now one last time imagine with me the Beloved Community in full a society that
Beloved Community in full a society that
Beloved Community in full a society that is based on justice equal opportunity
is based on justice equal opportunity
is based on justice equal opportunity and love imagine walking into a room
and love imagine walking into a room
and love imagine walking into a room full of people people who know about
full of people people who know about
full of people people who know about your family your interests and where
your family your interests and where
your family your interests and where you’ve been with no doubt in your mind
you’ve been with no doubt in your mind
you’ve been with no doubt in your mind you know the people in this room are for
you know the people in this room are for
you know the people in this room are for you not against you
you not against you
you not against you maybe there’s music maybe people are
maybe there’s music maybe people are
maybe there’s music maybe people are praying or creating imagine there is a
praying or creating imagine there is a
praying or creating imagine there is a huge table in the center of the room the
huge table in the center of the room the
huge table in the center of the room the seats are full of people dressed in
seats are full of people dressed in
seats are full of people dressed in every fashion people who work in every
every fashion people who work in every
every fashion people who work in every field and come from different places
field and come from different places
field and come from different places they all welcome you imagine people who
they all welcome you imagine people who
they all welcome you imagine people who are all rich in health and education all
are all rich in health and education all
are all rich in health and education all sitting around this beautiful table
sitting around this beautiful table
sitting around this beautiful table imagine a truly multi-ethnic spread and
imagine a truly multi-ethnic spread and
imagine a truly multi-ethnic spread and somehow your favorite food is still
somehow your favorite food is still
somehow your favorite food is still there imagine a community where everyone
there imagine a community where everyone
there imagine a community where everyone is welcome and they’ve saved a space for
is welcome and they’ve saved a space for
is welcome and they’ve saved a space for you at the table
you at the table
you at the table this might sound unachievable completely
this might sound unachievable completely
this might sound unachievable completely out of reach but it is already present
out of reach but it is already present
out of reach but it is already present in small parts of our existing
in small parts of our existing
in small parts of our existing communities there are places where folks
communities there are places where folks
communities there are places where folks at the table make space for others and
at the table make space for others and
at the table make space for others and listen these small beloved communities
listen these small beloved communities
listen these small beloved communities are what will spread and over time give
are what will spread and over time give
are what will spread and over time give us the hope and space we need for a seat
us the hope and space we need for a seat
us the hope and space we need for a seat at the table
at the table
at the table so who is at your table who is not why
so who is at your table who is not why
so who is at your table who is not why it’s time to pause it’s time to listen
it’s time to pause it’s time to listen
it’s time to pause it’s time to listen it’s time to pull up a chair
it’s time to pull up a chair
it’s time to pull up a chair thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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