One of the first guests on this podcast was Dr. Lerita Coleman Brown, who joined us on our episode #9 in 2018. Today we are delighted to welcome her back to the podcast. You can hear Professor Brown's previous conversation with us here. Lerita Coleman Brown, PhD is the author of When the Heart Speaks, Listen: Discovering Inner Wisdom, detailing her remarkable spiritual journey as a heart transplant recipient. She has also contributed essays to books including Embodied Spirits: Stories of Spiritual Directors of Color, Living Into God’s Dream: Dismantling Racism in America, and Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around — Stories of Contemplation and Justice. Professor Brown is the Ayse I. Carden Distinguished Professor Emerita of Psychology at Agnes Scott College. She has survived over 25 years with her transplanted heart, and 14 years with a transplanted kidney as well. She has also endured a heart valve replacement and a pacemaker implant. In addition to her work as a psychologist and educator, she is a spiritual director and retreat leader who often shares her love for the contemplative wisdom of the renowned African-American mystic, Howard Thurman. You can learn more about her online at www.peaceforhearts.com. Our answers are in the silence. — Lerita Coleman Brown, PhD Given the extraordinary moment that we find ourselves in, and especially our commitment here at the podcast not only to celebrate the gift of silence (and to dismantle all forms of toxic silence, including racism), it seemed natural to invite Lerita back — not only for her insight into the towering contemplative genius of Thurman, but also for her own perceptive words of wisdom about how we can spiritually navigate the urgency for fighting racism and other forms of injustice in our time. One of the problems with white and black is that they're totally constructed sociopolitical identities... disinherited people have no protection from the state. — Lerita Coleman Brown, PhD Dr. Lerita Coleman Brown with 2/3 of Encountering Silence. Left: with Cassidy at the Wild Goose Festival, 2019. Right: with Carl, 2018. (photos by Cassidy Hall and Fran McColman) You've got to be able to center down and feel that sense of renewal from the Spirit, and I think it's really important to learn to listen... We're all called to do something to help restore God's beloved creation... Every single person has a role to play. What is your role in this? — Lerita Coleman Brown, PhD Some of the resources and authors we mention in this episode: Lerita Coleman Brown, When the Heart Speaks, Listen: Discovering Inner Wisdom Sherry Bryant-Johnson (ed.), Embodied Spirits: Stories of Spiritual Directors of Color Cathering Meeks (ed.), Living Into God’s Dream: Dismantling Racism in America Therese Taylor-Stinson (ed.), Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around — Stories of Contemplation and Justice Howard Thurman, Essential Writings Howard Thurman, Jesus and the Disinherited Howard Thurman, The Living Wisdom of Howard Thurman: A Visionary for Our Time (audio recordings of sermons on a 6-CD set) Howard Thurman, Meditations of the Heart Howard Thurman, The Centering Moment Howard Thurman, Disciplines of the Spirit Howard Thurman, Footprints of a Dream Howard Thurman, The Luminous Darkness Howard Thurman, The Creative Encounter Howard Thurman, Deep is the Hunger Howard Thurman, The Papers of Howard Washington Thurman Volume One Volume Two Volume Three Volume Four Volume Five Howard Thurman, The Inward Journey Howard Thurman, A Strange Freedom Howard Thurman, With Head and Heart: The Autobiography of Howard Thurman Martin Doblmeier (director), Backs Against the Wall: The Howard Thurman Story (DVD) Thomas Merton, New Seeds of Contemplation Billy Graham, Angels Gustavo Gutierrez, A Theology of Liberation James Cone, The Cross and the Lynching Tree Luther Smith, Jr.,