This week on Coffee with a Pastor, Rev. Dr. Phyllis Tippit speaks with members and friends of Trinity about the social upheaval going on all around us. Phyllis asked them to share with us some of their personal experiences of being black in America.
On Monday, Trinity members Gwen Mbaku and her son, Garrett, share their experiences being Cameroonian in North Texas.
On Tuesday, Phyllis meets Sarah Miller, a high school senior who tells her story about starting a new school in a small town, in which she is one of only two black students.
On Wednesday, Trinity member Ada Simmons shares just a clip of her full story. In this clip we learn about Ada’s experiences as a young teacher in the south.
In the full video below, Ada shares her story with a group of Trinity women over a Zoom meeting. She speaks of growing up in the south, her experiences as an educator, and as an advocate for social justice, especially for children in education, and then ends with a Q&A session with the ladies of the group.
On Thursday, we get to learn more about brand new Trinity member Dianne Smith. Dianne was born and raised in Texas and she shares some memories as well as some really meaningful advice with us as we continue on this journey of listening and learning.
On Friday, Phyllis speaks with a friend of Trinity, Susie Clarke, who shares her experiences of racism in her adolescence and as an adult during her career in the military, as well as some words of inspiration and action for us as white allies.
We conclude our series on Monday with a conversation with retired pastor Clay Brantley, a long-time friend of Trinity who was the pastor of First Presbyterian Church of McKinney for ten years. Clay reflects on what listening to his black and brown friends and neighbors is teaching him.
We are thankful to all of these truly inspiring people for their time, their sincerity, and their willingness to help us understand their experiences and as we listen and learn to do better.
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