An Invitation For You To Join Me as I Turn Toward Collective Hope

Feb 237 min read

Have you ever questioned the history you were taught—or the parts that were left out?

Angela Davis, the lifelong advocate for justice, once declared, “Radical simply means ‘grasping things at the root.’” This profound statement challenges us to go beyond surface-level understandings and engage with the foundational causes of societal inequities. To create a more just and equitable society, we must dig deep into the roots of the narratives we’ve inherited—those that shape our beliefs, behaviors, and systems of power. It requires us to ask hard questions about what stories have been told and what truths have been conveniently omitted, altered, or distorted to maintain the status quo. By confronting these omissions, we can unearth hidden histories, amplify marginalized voices, and foster a more inclusive understanding of the world.

In recent years, the deepening divisions between differing beliefs in the United States—and indeed, around the globe—highlight the urgent need for radical engagement. It often feels as though we are living within multiple, competing narratives about who we are, where we come from, and where we are headed. These divergent worldviews are not accidental; they stem from disparities in education, the stories passed down in our homes, and the values upheld in our communities. They reflect systemic inequalities, privileging some perspectives while erasing others.

The time has come to let go of the old stories that chain us to cycles of division, fear, and scarcity. The time has come to reimagine a world grounded in justice, equity, and mutual care. Hope, when held collectively, becomes more than just a feeling—it becomes a force capable of reshaping the world.

Letting Go of the Past to Make Room for the Future

To move forward, we must be willing to step beyond the comfort of what we have always known. Growth happens at the edges—where we confront stories, struggles, and experiences that challenge our assumptions. If we hold onto outdated, exclusionary histories simply because they are familiar, we risk staying bound to a world built on oppression. Letting go does not mean forgetting; it means freeing ourselves from narratives that serve only to uphold power structures at the expense of truth.

Howard Zinn once said, "History is important. If you don’t know history, it is as if you were born yesterday. And if you were born yesterday, anyone in a position of power can tell you anything, and you have no way of checking up on it." The stories we inherit shape our understanding of the world, but they are often incomplete, told from the perspective of those who benefited from them the most. Too often, history is presented through a white, male, cisgender, heterosexual, able-bodied lens—one that reinforces hierarchies rather than illuminating our shared humanity.

To build a just and equitable society, we must reclaim the stories that have been silenced. This means learning about Indigenous histories that predate colonization, honoring the resilience of Black communities in the face of oppression, celebrating the contributions of queer activists, and recognizing the vital role of disabled individuals in shaping our world. By embracing these narratives, we challenge the myths that uphold systemic injustices and make space for a future where all voices matter.

Consider the words of James Baldwin: "Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced." His wisdom reminds us that engaging with difficult histories is necessary for transformation. When we acknowledge the full scope of our past, we empower ourselves to forge a different future.

Turning Toward Collective Hope

Hope is not passive. Hope does not wait. Hope is action.

We inherited a world designed by those who sought to extract wealth from the land and labor from its people to serve their own greed. A world where religion was weaponized to manipulate the oppressed into believing that compliance was their only path to salvation. Some call on us to preserve this world, to "Make America Great Again." But it is long past time for us to collectively say NO!—to let go of the past that binds us and turn toward the future that calls us.

We have the power to shape a world built on the values so many of us claim to believe in—love, hope, compassion, empathy, justice, equity, family, community, and joy. These are not just ideals; they are the foundation of a world that has yet to be fully realized. But we can build it together.

Consider the story of Bryan Stevenson, the founder of the Equal Justice Initiative, who has dedicated his life to confronting injustice in the legal system. Stevenson often speaks about how we must stay proximate to suffering if we are to enact real change. He tells the story of how, as a young lawyer, he met a death row inmate who, despite his circumstances, reminded Stevenson that "Each of us is more than the worst thing we’ve ever done." That radical hope—that belief in the possibility of redemption and change—is what we must carry forward.

Why TransVersal?

A transversal in geometry is a line that crosses or intersects two or more other lines at distinct points. For example, if you have two parallel lines, a transversal line will cut across both, creating angles where it intersects each line. These angles and their relationships are central to understanding geometric principles.

This concept of a transversal line can be applied metaphorically to intersectionality, a framework that examines how different aspects of a person's identity—such as race, gender, sexuality, class, ability, and more—intersect and interact within systems of power and oppression.

In this metaphor:

The lines represent different social identities, structures, or systems of oppression (e.g., sexism, racism, homophobia, ableism). Each line runs on its own trajectory, but none of these systems operate in isolation.
The transversal represents the experience of an individual whose identity cuts across these multiple lines or systems. For example, a Black woman navigates both racism and sexism, but her experience is not just the sum of these two forms of discrimination; it is a unique intersection shaped by the ways these systems interact.

This framing helps highlight how intersectionality challenges linear or siloed thinking about identity and oppression. Just as a linear transversal creates new relationships and perspectives when it crosses multiple lines in a geometric figure, an intersectional approach to the complex ways identities and systems overlap recognizes the nuanced experiences that can be overlooked when analyzing oppression in isolation. By spending intentional time studying not just the stories of our shared historical past, but the way the timelines of those events overlapped, we can uncover new truths and new relationships.

Transversal thinking is a powerful approach to problem-solving that leverages interdisciplinary insights, creativity, and adaptability. In an increasingly complex and interconnected world, developing transversal thinking skills is essential for individuals and organizations seeking innovative and effective solutions.

The metaphor of a transversal and its connection to intersectionality also offer insights into the concept of the Beloved Community, a term popularized by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and deeply rooted in Christian theology and social justice. The Beloved Community envisions a world of radical inclusivity, justice, and peace, where all individuals are valued, and systems of oppression are dismantled.

Many who are called to antiracism and anti-oppression work focus on building the Beloved Community because it offers a vision of justice that is not merely transactional but transformational. The Beloved Community goes beyond addressing individual acts of bias or systemic injustices in isolation; it seeks to fundamentally reimagine society by dismantling all forms of oppression and creating spaces where every person’s inherent worth is recognized and celebrated. Rooted in love, compassion, and interconnectedness, this vision challenges the scarcity mindset of power and privilege by fostering abundance through mutual care and shared liberation.

For those committed to antiracism work, the Beloved Community provides a framework where healing and hope are collective, reconciliation is possible, and the work is not just about survival but about thriving in the fullness of our humanity. It is about envisioning what comes after survival. By grounding their efforts in this holistic vision, activists and advocates channel their work into something deeply spiritual and enduring—a world where justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

In the context of the Beloved Community, the lines represent the social structures, identities, and systems that exist in our world. Again, as noted above, these include race, gender, class, religion, ability, and sexuality. A transversal, then, symbolizes the individual lives and collective movements that intersect these structures, challenging and reimagining them.

Intersectionality reminds us that building the Beloved Community requires acknowledging and addressing the complexity of human experiences. Justice cannot be achieved by focusing on one system of oppression in isolation—each system must be understood in relation to the others. As transversals illuminate the interconnectedness of systems, they also reveal the work required to create a community where everyone’s full humanity is affirmed.

Join the Movement

Over the coming weeks and months, I invite you to go on this journey with me. This is a collective movement of reconsidering, rewriting, resharing, and reloving one another as we navigate this world together, as we form our own networks at each TransVersal.

I will begin with a reexamination of history. My first blog on this journey will focus on reinterpreting the anointing of the Christos—offering a radically different meaning than the one preached in most pulpits. Because history, when fully realized, is not just about the past; it is about reclaiming our power in the present to shape the future.

What about you?

I invite you to start a blog. Or start a podcast. Or write a poem. Or sing a song. Or stand as who you are and strongly and loudly declare the things important to you - the people and the commitments that center your life. It is up to you. What rises when you open your soul to the possibilities?

Staying silent is no longer an option. How will you use your voice?

Because if we do not learn to speak, how will we ever learn to yell?