Ep 109: Sukkot, Black Panther, and Gratitude in the Wilderness (Reprise)

This week we’re sharing an oldie but (definitely) a goodie! Sukkot proves a rich holiday for April and Tracie's meaning-making. Together they discuss the importance of gratitude, *especially* in the wilderness, what Black Panther can teach us about Sukkot, and the holiness and sovereignty of the body.

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Read about Chadwick Boseman and “Black Panther”:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1825683/

Learn more about Marcia Falk's Book of Blessings:
https://www.marciafalk.com/blessings.html

Find the #BlackMenAreGood hashtag on Twitter: https://twitter.com/search?q=%23blackmenaregood

Learn more about Brené Brown and "Strong Back, Soft Front, Wild Heart":
https://brenebrown.com/?press=on-being-with-krista-tippett-brene-brown-strong-back-soft-front-wild-heart

Read and use our discussion and reflection questions for this episode (from 2020):
https://joyousjustice.com/blog/jews-talk-racial-justice-ep-4-sukkot-black-panther-and-gratitude

More discussion and reflection questions:

1. What in this episode is new for you? What have you learned and how does it land?
2. What is resonating? What is sticking with you and why?
3. What feels hard? What is challenging or on the edge for you?
4. What feelings and sensations are arising and where in your body do you feel them?

Transcript

Tracie: 0:00

As we're preparing for Sukkot, 5783, or 2022, we're thinking about Black Panther, because Marvel has just announced the release date of their new Wakanda forever. It turns out, Sukkot and Black Panther have more in common than you might think. We realized that two years ago, when we recorded episode four.

April Baskin: 0:22

This is Jews talk racial justice with April and Tracy,

Tracie: 0:26

a weekly show hosted by April Baskin and Tracy guy Decker.

April Baskin: 0:30

in a complex world change takes courage, wholehearted

Tracie: 0:33

relationships can keep us accountable. Hi, Tracy. Hey, how's it going? April.

April Baskin: 0:40

Pretty great. There's so much happening. And I'm so glad that we have this partnership. So we're still in the midst of the sacred high holy day season. And yeah, you mentioned before we started recording that you have a few great ideas about what we might possibly talk about on Sukkot. And my overall thought is that I think it's worth everyone hearing your sort of full overview of possibilities. And then we'll choose one specifically for this episode. And then we'll find other ways of, of infusing this partially Sukkot inspired wisdom through future episodes. How does that sound as a game plan?

Tracie: 1:25

That sounds amazing, and they fit? Great, thank you for letting me share some of the things that I'm thinking about about Sukkot. So and there's a lot. So I know, Sukkot is it's just such a it's such a rich holiday, as they all are. Come on, let's face it. Yeah. So Sukkot in particular, this Sukkot in the calendar in the Gregorian calendar year 21. When I was younger, I remember sort of saying, like, why do we even have this holiday? Why do we celebrate the time when we were in the wilderness? Like that was kind of a crappy time? Why would we remember it? And as I got older, I realized that actually that time in the wilderness, gratitude is even more important. It's even more important when things are challenging to Can I just gratitude and I just say this year,

April Baskin: 2:10

and I just say you just you just said a word. You just You just that was like a lot of wisdom and Torah right there. But please, please continue.

Tracie: 2:18

Thank you. Yes. I appreciate your appreciation. It right now, for me, focusing on gratitude. I mean, it's the only way. It's the only way that allows me to keep going because there's just so it's so heavy right now, everything is so heavy as we start off with the 781. And so, Sukkot reminding us that at the beginning of this new year is important. Another thing for me with Chadwick Boseman, passing away, who played to chala in in Black Panther, for those of you who don't recognize his actor name, I've been thinking about Black Panther a lot. And so I shared it with my mom and I shared it with my sister after he passed. And and what connected for me about Sukkot and Black Panther follow me for a second is when we invite you visitors, we like visitors into our Sikka the whoosh bizim the metaphorical visitors who are can be anyone, right? They can be sort of figures from our memory from Torah from our, our ancestors. So I think I've been thinking about the importance of, of ancestors and the wisdom that they share, but also from watching Black Panther. The fact that we are still in conversation with them, like Black Panther to challah says to to chalk on the incense straw plain, you were wrong. And I need to, I need to forge a different path. And, and so when I sort of mash up Black Panther with Sukkot is opportunity to both learn from and be in conversation and push back on ancestors, which feels so empowering. And not to not to stomp on anything, but to just have that genuine conversation to say I want to learn from your mistakes. So that's another thing that feels really powerful to me about Sukkot. And the third thing that we talked about that I think you've written about a little bit is the, the wave offering the actual like the plants that we hold in our hands, and we shake in different directions and up and down. And just the sheer embodiment of that. I think, especially in the 21st century, especially now when our only communication with so many people is virtual. We sort of have divorced, the spirit, the intellect, the body, and they're not divorced, you know, they are fully fully integrated and we show up at our best when we remember that. I recently shared with you April that I borrow from Marshall Fox book of blessing after I exercise and I say out loud t score Nafi etiqueta shots, hug goof, my spirit remembers the holiness of the body. And so that's another thing that I feel like Sukkot can bring to us. So those are all of my seeds that are sprouting a little bit around Sukkot.

April Baskin: 5:16

Often, so much of what you say resonates with me and I just want to name that it's awkward that because we're over on Zoom, and especially especially when we're recording that like, the, like the like my embodied resonance with what you have to say, at times, I'm quiet and just like, oh, I want to say this, but I don't want it to cut off the valuable words that you're saying. So, you know, at some point, maybe we'll identify a different platform that allows for that piece or maybe zoom will get their technology caught up. Oh, there's so much richness and goodness in what you said, I think I need to explicitly say, knowing that once this is live, it will have been about a month since chadwicks. tragic passing, I opted, at least for the time being not to post about it publicly. But I'm so sad. I really loved him as a person a lot. He had mentioned like qualities to me, like he just seemed like, I always adored him, I love that he seemed and he wasn't overly righteous either like he was so he seemed just like a regular guy, like who, who kept his humanity in the face or in being surrounded by stardom that he just seemed like your neighbor next door who if there was a fire or a problem or you are in need would be there in a heartbeat. And so separate from the broader loss for our world around the role that he played, I also just feel for the people who are fortunate enough to know him because I know how much he impacted me and in who in addition to his role, but the the integrity and warmth and love that he embodied so I you know, especially as like a black woman, I just wanted to name that I love using the hashtag a saying that comes out of the anti oppressive community I'm a part of. They have a shirt with Pakman that's silly. It's a black shirt with yellow lettering. I have one for my dad. You might have seen on a Facebook photo that says black men are good. And my father and Chadwick I just think, I think Chadwick just embodied that goodness, to its fullest extent. And he was cute

Tracie: 8:05

about the fact that he was already suffering from the cancer when he recorded Black Panther I, it just blows my mind, the strength and the courage,

April Baskin: 8:19

the strength and the courage and actually raises. I know, we have to get back to Sukkot. But like, it raises a few different things for me that I've seen a little bit about, but I mean, it was his choice. And so I respect that. And he gave the world so many gifts in his roles, but it also as a daughter, and as a family member to people who have dealt with illness. Yeah, I think it's interesting. I can't but I did bring up my father. It's not a coincidence, because I was thinking about him because it like, why would he do that, but I remember when my father was on chemo, he worked overtime when he was on staff at Accenture to ensure that he got a promotion and a raise so that when he went on permanent disability, our family would be cared for, for the foreseeable future. And it still is just like me from my visionary place or my place where I like to focus on things I want I just dream of a world where men and women don't have to do that and where there are ways where there are enough people that those beautiful visions or those things can be written needs can be met and that they have the space they need to just properly heal. You know, and and who knows, with his cancer if more time and I can also see like He reminds me of my mom and I'm sure other folks in the photos when he was doing all of that because there's also I can also be very helpful in terms of soothing your own suffering by being of service. So thank you for naming that. I would say may his memory be a blessing, but I just want to, you know, abracadabra just say into being that his memory will always be a blessing.

Tracie: 10:24

He's such I was,

April Baskin: 10:26

yeah, he's just left such an indelible mark on so many. And so many that memory be cherished, and leveraged Amin, for thank you for black and collective liberation and love. Can you hear red zone? So Sukkot and the wilderness, I think I might just like the easiest thing is to start off the top. And I think it's good because it, it fits. It's that can weave into what we're looking at right now in terms of our world, in terms of being in a wilderness around the pandemic, around the loss of so much that we love, and still striving still working for justice, still working for the safety and well being of our families and our children in terms of their physical health, as well as their education. They know there are just so many things right now that make, as you said, this theme like that brings to life in full color. In four dimensions. Yeah, this is the this is the wilderness. And there's lots of different pieces we can discuss about that are on how to advance racial justice. But I wonder, particularly in light of all that's happening, with the election coming up with a lot of fear and pressure and tension swirling. I think it's all the more important that we lift up and regularly practice gratitude and appreciation. For what we do have for what can never be taken from us. Yeah, and and gratitude, both in general and also specifically in the context of, of work to advance racial justice. It's so easy to focus on what's not going well, and I am what I'm saying is not about at all, let me clarify for a second, is not at all about sugarcoating hurtful things, or ignoring or ignoring painful things or or injustice. But it's holding the sacred powerful, both, and there is injustice, and there is still so much that we can appreciate and be grateful for around efforts that we are making and progress that we are making. And we still have a long way to go. But that long way is only going to get there. If we continue to take those steps over and over and over again and begin to make leaps and get a running pace. And a number of us depending upon our identity, depending upon how long we've been in this work, whether we're brand new, or we've been in it for decades, we're moving at different paces. It takes time to build momentum. But I think as we work toward racial justice, and collective liberation in the context of being deeply immersed in wilderness. Gratitude is important. And so maybe when I want I want to hear any reflections, you have Tracy, but maybe we can think about or toss out ideas around things, particularly during particularly, especially during particularly rough moments. To hold while we're navigating certain difficulties, things we can be profoundly grateful of, and grateful for.

Tracie: 14:32

What's coming up for me? And what you're saying is I think I told you recently about my experience I was doing I was being in a guided meditation about the Mishcon which is the tabernacle, so it was the temple before there was a temple in the wilderness. And the, in the guided meditation, the rabbi suggested that we imagine ourselves in the presence of this skin color Her skin covered, excuse me, you know, animals can cover structure. And imagine the holy of holies in there, and that there's a light emanating from that Holy of Holies, the holiest place on earth, he said, and I couldn't see it, I couldn't see the light. But then when I looked down, I felt I saw a light emanating from me. And at first I was like, Oh, that that's not what he said, That doesn't seem right. But then when I looked around in my sort of meditative world, there was a whole bunch of people, dozens, hundreds of people in this space, and all of our chests were sort of glowing with this light, this divine light, and I realize that it's in us, and that together, we build the Mishcon. And I'm saying this, after you're talking about gratitude, and in the, in this time of wilderness, because, for me, that connection that you and I have, or that I have with my partners here in Baltimore, or that I have with people who I don't even know across Facebook, or in something that they've written, or Chadwick Boseman, and what he, you know, embodied and gave to the world, that there's, there's, there's a connection there. And it's real, and it's divine. And it is how we build the space. The Mishcon is the place that God asked us to build so that God could dwell among us. And so it is the way that God enters the world. And I'm so grateful for that. And that's what's coming up for me when you're talking about being grateful for what we have without sugarcoating what is not as God intended.

April Baskin: 16:41

or emotional or spiritual bypassing. This is more about a holistic approach that I struggled with initially when I learned about some of these things, because it seemed like emotional bypassing, but eventually, I realized, personally for me that I need that balance that even in the worst of circumstances I need to hold and remember that the sun is still rising, and that babies are being born. And various people are having dreams come true. And that doesn't shift, whatever tragedy I'm facing, or whatever big issue I'm dealing with. But I also don't let that thing let me lose sight of our collective progress of all that we do have available to us of the opportunities that still abound and that I may need time to take a break and heal and rest. In I once heard an artist say justice has different hats for different days. And I live in to that wisdom and knowing that at times, it looks like me being out in the streets. And other times it looks like me supporting some of my friends and fellow colleagues in thriving in their roles. And other times it it manifests in all different intent. At times, it manifests in me saying I need to take a break for six months, and I need to do work. You know, I'm just going to do event planning for a little bit and take a break from my leadership and movement building so that I can rest and recalibrate and heal from hurts that happened. And it's funny because you said exactly what I wrote down. Before you set it I wrote down in terms of things to really focus on return on our connections and relationships. I know that I've been really missing people lately. And I called my mother last night and I was on the phone with her for almost an hour and a half. And it's very unusual for us normally Our conversations are always intense. One of my family just navigates a lot of intense adversity my immediate family back home with grace and very well but and also then we're also very deeply passionate about politics and identity and movements and so there's always some permutation of a meaning we were in and then we will take different sides times for the sake of Heaven or well that's a good point. April what have you consider that's a good point mama, have you but this conversation was pretty dull. I didn't have anything new to say I just I'm just missing people right now. You know, and we were just I just I woke up feeling like I just needed to be there with her and which isn't normal for us normally, like super. Like imagine our conversation times like five or something. You know, she's like a mom, a master coach. Moving organized, all these things rolled up in one she keeps me honest and supported and so and then what I would add to that list, I think is also our inspired by what you shared in terms of your reflections about the Mishcon, which is, can nicely tie into themes around the sukkah, and all kinds of meaning that we could get into about all of the mystical and metaphorical nuances of the sukkah. But one of the pieces that I like about it is that it could be representative of, of the suit, suka are Mishcon or holy space within each of us, that we cultivate and hold and cherish, whether it's our spirit or Yoruba, or spirit or in a Shama, but also our actual body. And, and whatever state of, of health or occasional disease or regular disease our body is in that is our own. And to hold that sacred sovereignty, while also holding that we're in community, and we can't do this alone, but there also is immense wisdom and strength that each of our bodies hold an own, whether again, we're in vital, vibrant health, or navigating, discomfort and dis ease intensely are anywhere in the middle along that continuum, that our body is ours. And that's a place that we can return to when we need it. While navigating, while navigating this problem me borrow this wilderness. I think the last thing for me that I would name here, it's very important to me, both pragmatically and spiritually, is vision. I believe that vision is very powerful. I believe that vision combined with mindful thoughtful action is more powerful than reality. Getting them getting a little dense, you know, but our reality is just a result of what's happened in the past. And in my own life, I've seen the progress that I've been able to make individually as well as collectively in deep partner partnership with allies and friends, when we weren't limited by reality, but we sort of what do we actually want to envision and begin to build into existence. And, and that isn't always the thing to do during while we're in the midst of Bamidbar. But I believe it's Sukkot provides this Succot shalom, this shelter of peace that provides connection and opportunities for us to turn inward, as well as savor sweetness, savor the different species, savor the scent of the electro, the stroke and the sounds of the reeds, and the other components of the love. And in doing that, it both giving us comfort in the present moment and gratitude for the people around us and ourselves, but also can be a respite and a moment for us to not lose sight of our vision. And even if we're in a place where we can't take action on it now because we're just trying to get through that a core part of what has helped my family get through adversity. And what has consistently helped me not only survive adversity, but consistently surmounted and move forward is holding on to the beauty of my dreams. And, and using those dreams to help comfort me in moments of of pain and disillusionment. When the wilderness gets a bit too rough, so I think those are our three things, I would say, is there anything else that you want to add? Tracy?

Tracie: 24:23

I just want to appreciate all that you said. I'm thinking about it, that's going to stay with me for a while thinking about the Socratic Shalom that's inside, and how we make you know how we make our bodies and, and even I'm going to be teasing us out over the next several days, I'm sure the metaphor of that, that through that building that actually has required one side open and how there's comfort, but what we're required to not close ourselves off. Yeah. So I may

April Baskin: 24:59

add to thank you Yeah, and thank you and what I would add to what you said, right? Because that's actually one because there's so many parts of its way. But right, so that one of the regulations of building a circuit is that one side is open. But the other part of that means is that three are closed. Right? And that hypothetically, you know, we're both two Brene Brown fans, maybe she'll be on the show sometime, in the future is like, is that, you know, she talks about something along the lines of like, hard back soft heart, that you can apply that you can transpose that with the sukkah that you're meant to keep one side open, but there are three sides that are just for you, and your sacred community and that there's room for people to come in and out but that there's a it has a lot of personal meaning from you know, this theme of sovereignty. And that, that we have three other walls that are also applies to the the some of the components of Fung Shui that I've been a student of for a long time of having the hard shell back to make sure that your backspace is protected, and that you're able to have vision, but then also the other container to hold yourself in a container in which something sweet and nourishing can be cultivated and your own while also being open to sharing and giving and venturing out. So thank you for that. Any final final thoughts?

Tracie: 26:37

No. Wish you a happy Sukkot. So cuts me off.

April Baskin: 26:44

Thank you. Likewise, hugs me, Sukkot Samia and Sukkot. Samia, to all of you may you have wonderfully joyous time in a sukkah. And if a sukkah is not fully available to you, like one may not be available to me in Dakar this year, particularly with the pandemic. Maybe find ways of savoring sweetness and noticing other harvests that are coming in at this time for us. Whatever they may be in whatever form they may take. So to cut some a sending love to all y'all. And to you Tracy. All right, bye. Thanks for tuning in. Our show's theme music was composed by Elliot hammer. You can find this track and other beats on Instagram at Elliot hammer. If this episode resonated with you, please share it and subscribe. To join the conversation. Visit us talk racial justice.com where you can send us a question or suggestion, access our show notes and learn more about our team. Take care until next time and stay humble and keep going