About the Author

Lucretia is a wife, mom of three, and a TEDx and Q Ideas speaker (Charlotte, NC, 2017). As a former college professor, she designed the popular ‘beginners’ course and study guide, What LIES Between Us: Fostering First Steps Toward Racial Healing. She is the creator and director of the Brownicity.com...

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things we love
& you will too!
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  1. Thank you Lucretia for your beautiful and extremely encouraging words. Through your words God has reminded and reassured my weary heart today. Also your understanding has helped me see into my sons heart a little clearer.

    “Though I feel the weighty disappointment, it is not new to me. It’s like a persistent dull pang aligning me with God’s desire for a healed humanity. I remain connected to the pain so I maintain the motivation to pursue healing. However, I am propelled forward, not necessarily by the trauma or the wound, but by the certainty of ruach.”

    I’m so grateful God enabled you to write these words today.

    May God continue to bless and guide you.

    • LaDonna
      It warms my heart to know that you found inspiration through my words. May you be sustained by the breath of God.

      Thank you so much for reading my story.
      Shalom
      LCB

  2. Dear Dr. Berry:

    I needed this today. As a person who is constantly admonished for feeling my emotions, I really needed this word today. I am learning how to feel my emotions, but learn how not to be dictated by my emotions. I feel torn most of the time. I realize emotions are fickle and are not to be trusted; yet I also know when my emotions signal to me when something is wrong. I signed up for this content to help me on my journey. For that, I want to pray that God keep you in ruach, something that I am willing to learn as well.

    • Hi Leutisha!
      I agree… our emotions tell of when things are important (or not). Emotions don’t lie to us. However, they don’t have to tell us what to do. Instead, we get to determine what to do with the information our emotions have given us.

      I am happy to know that you were encouraged by my words! God is building the Kingdom through us. We get to align with God’s design.

      Thank you for reading.
      LCB

  3. What a great message of hope!! I would love to take this course myself because I was brought up in the 60’s and 70’s when racism was openly touted as normal. Even as a child though, I knew it was wrong but I couldn’t tell you why. Of course, as I’ve aged, I definitely know why racism is so evil. I appreciate how you stated the facts but kept pointing out the hope there is in knowing God has a perfect plan. That’s why I try to focus and pray to God for His Spirit to heal our land. Thank you so much for your thought provoking article.

    • Hi Diana!
      Thank you so much for sharing the truth about your upbringing! Well, we can acknowledge the wound, we can begin to heal. YAY!

      I offer a virtual version of my course at Brownicity.com. The course is called ‘What LIES Between Us.’ It offers a great foundation for understanding and articulating structural racism and brokeness.

      I am happy to know that you were encouraged by my words! God is building the Kingdom through us. We get to align with God’s design.

      Thank you for reading.
      LCB

    • Hi Lesley!
      You are welcome.

      I am happy to know that you were encouraged by my words! God is building the Kingdom through us. We get to align with God’s design.

      Thank you for reading.
      LCB

    • Hi Joy!
      Thank you so much, friend! Your encouragement means so much to me!

      God is building the Kingdom through us. We get to align with God’s design.

      Thank you for reading.
      LCB

  4. Thank you for writing this. I have also have felt humbled and humiliated when I have taught graduate courses on the history of how individuals with disabilities have been treated. It is horrific with much abuse and institutionalization. Even today most churches are not seeking them out in the community to minister to or include them so the larger Christian church continues in disobedience.

    • Hi Kathi!
      You’re welcome!

      Thank you so much for teaching about the civil rights violations of people with disabilities. Your’s is such important work. We must see everyone in our society — not just the abled, advantaged, and wealthy. Wouldn’t it be great if the greater church pursued ‘the least of these.?’

      I am happy to know that you were encouraged by my words! God is building the Kingdom through us. We get to align with God’s design.

      Thank you for reading.
      LCB

  5. Lucretia,

    There has always been some for of racism. In Biblical times it was the lepers, anyone with an imperfection-blind, deaf, mute, etc. The Pharisees & Sadducees would often disallow them from coming into the temple to worship. They thought some sin must have occurred to cause this. Solomon said it best in his quote “there is nothing new under the sun.” Thank you for teaching people about racism & showing them a way to heal. If we don’t remember our past we are doomed to repeat it. Thankful to our almighty God for creating a path to redemption. I am inspired to live like Jesus said “Love your neighbors as yourself”. That means anyone from any race, color or creed is to be loved as we loved us. Jesus showed us that kind of love on the cross. Praying this nation can get back to that kind of love.

    Blessings 🙂

    • Hi Beth,
      I am happy to know that you were encouraged by my words!

      Yes! Our alignment with a scarcity idea prompts us (humans) to create fear-based structural hierarchical caste systems that breed abuse and inequality. It’s disturbing… because in Christ, there is a better way — abundance, love, communal continuity. In the example you gave, religion was abused against people with a disability. With racism, fake science, policies, narratives, and practices are used to devalue and divest people who are not of European dissent. Overall, it hurts all humanity.

      But, God is building the Kingdom through us. We get to align with God’s design.

      Thank you for reading.
      LCB

  6. WOW! What a gift you have given us today… The last few years God in the Chaos has become a “thing”…. but it has always been a thing if we look back… As a retired HS Special Ed. Teacher it has always been my practice to see beyond limitations/challenges… exhausting work if you stay in the swamp… but always reaching for the possibilities created in new relationships and coalitions. We are in that time now… and breath we must! Together going forward looking to our Creator’s vision of a beloved community. Thank you so much for your vision and words… JS

    • Hi Jeri!
      You are so welcome!
      I am happy to know that you were encouraged by my words! God is building the Kingdom through us. We get to align with God’s design… ” and breath we must! ”

      Thank you for reading.
      LCB

  7. Dr. Velda shared this with us and it was oh so fitting for the time we’re in. A giant Thank You . . . to all the teachers and leaders that are sharing and caring. Your efforts are greatly appreciated!!!!!!

    • Hi Regelyn!
      Praise God for the teachers and leaders!

      Thank you so much!
      I am happy to know that you were encouraged by my words! God is building the Kingdom through us. We get to align with God’s design.

      Thank you for reading.
      LCB

  8. Lucretia, thank you for these words of hope, fortitude, strength and encouragement. The breath of the Holy Spirit has been a balm to me during my most painful times. I was blessed to take your course through Brownicity and learned so. many. things. It’s hard for me to imagine having to teach a course (I, too, am a teacher…of the arts…) over and over…one rooted in the darkest days of humanity. But knowing there are incredibly inspiring, faithful educators who want to do the hard work of enlightenment for the betterment of our world is such an inspiration and beacon to me. Thank you for your life’s work. Thank you for these words. Thank you for sharing your beautiful heart.

    • Hi Cynthia!
      You are welcome.
      Thank you so much for taking the course! I appreciate you leaning into the hard stuff. But that’s what teachers do, right?

      I am happy to know that you were encouraged by my words! God is building the Kingdom through us. We get to align with God’s design. We must keep breathing.

      Thank you for reading.
      LCB

  9. I woke up thinking about those struggling with breath today affected by COVID. The broader grief also in focus. I think of the name of God which was unspeakable. A youtube video shared with me that the “closest thing to saying it, is breathing”. God gives life. Your reminder how struggling with deep pain requires us to go back to breath. Go back to God essentially. We then can learn a new way forward. I’d love to learn more from you Lucretia.

    • Hi Pamela!
      You wrote: …go back to breath. Go back to God….

      WOW! Reading it that way shook me! Thank you for that.

      I am happy to know that you were encouraged by my words! God is building the Kingdom through us. We get to align with God’s design. We must keep breathing.

      Thank you for reading.
      LCB

      Feel free to connect to my work through Brownicity.com.

  10. Lucretia, you give me such hope! Thank you for all the ways you choose joy in teaching, care for the learner, and keep pointing us all back to the peace and redemption of Jesus.

    • Hi Becky!
      You are so welcome!

      I am happy to know that you were encouraged by my words! God is building the Kingdom through us. We get to align with God’s design. We must keep breathing.

      Thank you for reading.
      LCB

  11. Lucretia,
    Thank you for sharing your struggle which is your story. May God keep breathing redemption over our world and may we inhale His goodness and look at our brothers and sisters through His eyes.
    Blessings,
    Bev xx

    • Hi Bev!
      Yes! May we have God’s eyes for the Creation He designed and breathed life into.

      I am happy to know that you were encouraged by my words! God is building the Kingdom through us. We get to align with God’s design. We must keep breathing.

      Thank you for reading.
      LCB

  12. I love Dr Berry and always am blessed and stimulated by her heart and thoughts in the midst of this chaos.
    Thank you, Dr Berry for being such a loud part of what God is doing!
    Dee

    • Hi Dee!
      Thank you for your love and encouragement!! I sincerely appreciate being heard by YOU!

      I am happy to know that you were encouraged by my words! God is building the Kingdom through us. We get to align with God’s design. We must keep breathing.

      Thank you for reading.
      LCB

  13. To people who look like my great grandmother, on my grandfather’s side, she was a beautiful and graceful lady of color. Because she was fair in complexion, she received gentle treatment during her young adult years. But to people who look more like my great grandmother, on my grandmother’s side, she was a strict and stern lady who demanded her grandchildren be obedient. She was a beautiful dark complexion woman with a look of seriousness on her face. She did not have easy family matters. When my mother describes her, she does not smile in her voice.

    Two different females, both loved by their own mothers a very long time ago. Why did life treat them so differently?
    Now, I can say that I have been taught the love of Christ. I know the importance and value of “forgiveness” and it is a command from our Lord and Savior.

    I trust God, He created all humans by His choice and His will. Humanity failed in the love your neighbor as yourself area.
    Humanity is still failing in many ways and some don’t want the heaviness of accepting that we can “listen” and start new conversations with kindness and respect.

    Let’s ask our Creator to help us.

    • Hi Brenda!
      Thank you for sharing a story from your family. Colorism, a by-product of colonization and racism, carries the same weapons to reek havoc on our wholeness. May our true identities be known and healing invoked.

      I am happy to know that you were encouraged by my words! God is building the Kingdom through us. We get to align with God’s design. We must keep breathing.

      Thank you for reading.
      LCB

  14. Why are we “feeding” into this liberal progressive marxist rhetoric?? I am starting to become greatly disillusioned with (in) Courage and this constant brainwashing. WE are NOT systemically racist in this country!!! Please STOP writing these biased pieces. As Christians, we should ALL know alot better than this. We are ALL children of God; created in HIS image!! And we are ALL loved just the way we are. I was raised that way; I believe that!! And I will NOT be drawn into these ridiculous biased conversations. I am greatly disappointed in this post. I needed to hear today that God knows our anguish as we watch our country being swallowed by utter evil and we watch the Devil at work. I needed hope for our elections next week, as I sit with a troubled soul and am in utter terror of what the progressive left and BLM activists have planned for our country and our cities next week. I need solace that we have God’s protections in these horrible evil times. Instead, you spend precious words on rhetoric that is all lies!! I am saddened!

    • Dear Wendy,

      You wrote, “We are ALL children of God; created in HIS image!! And we are ALL loved just the way we are.” To this I say, absolutely and amen! That is how God designed us and how He sees us; it’s also how He calls us to see and love others. Unfortunately, we live in a fallen world, and often the Maker’s plan is not our reality this side of heaven. Where you read “rhetoric” in Lucretia’s post, I read hope. Hope that God is with us, working, moving in and through our brokenness. Where you are disappointed, I am heartened and encouraged that while the pain of this world is real, God’s justice and redemption will have the final victory.

      As you can read on our about page, (in)courage is a place where we build community, celebrate diversity, and become women of courage. We do this through sharing personal stories that allow us to learn from one another and point to the hope of Christ.

      As the community manager of (in)courage, I support Lucretia Berry as one of our writers and I stand by this post.

      At (in)courage, we believe that there is more that unites us as God’s daughters than earthly issues that divide us. In this living room, we’re okay with not seeing eye to eye on everything. That’s the beauty of true community. We can choose to keep loving and listening even when we don’t fully understand or even blatantly disagree. We believe there is a spot for everyone in this living room — so you are welcome here. But just know that should you choose to spend time here, you will continue to hear stories like Lucretia’s. It’s okay if some posts don’t hit the mark for you or stir a level of discomfort. It is not okay for you to use this comment section to accuse a writer of drawing you into a “ridiculous biased conversation” when it is based on her own personal experience. If our content causes more division in your heart than encouragement, you always have the freedom not to read. Of course, I hope you choose to stay in the living room. We’re better together.

      Here’s to community, diversity, and courage!

      Respectfully,

      Becky Keife
      (in)courage community manager

    • Wendy, would you join me in prayer? I read your comment a few times and the anger and fear shine through my computer screen. I believe many, myself included (!), are overwhelmed right now. Tensions are high no matter where we turn, and so after reading your words again, I wonder if perhaps we might turn together to God in prayer… join me? <3

      God, we don’t know what tomorrow will bring, but we trust that You do. Even now, You are holding us. Help us to reach out in love and hold one another’s hands instead of plugging our ears or crossing our arms. We need one another, Lord. You’ve made us part of one Body, and even as each and every one of us brings a unique story to the table, remind us continually that we are better together. Holy Spirit, stop our hands and close our mouths when we are about to tear down or divide. We are sisters, family brought together by the blood of the Lamb.

      It’s so easy to let fear reign, Lord. May Your voice, Lord, even when it's a "still, small voice," be the one we know best. You are the Author of this story, the One who is always in control. Jesus, You are the storm-calmer, the water-walker, the Prince of peace. You said “blessed are the peacemakers” and You made us in Your image, and so we ask Holy Spirit that You empower us to speak, act, comment and love with a lens of peace making. May we be women of courage and not fear, of truth and not lies, of unity and not division.

      You are a God who makes more room and more room and more room. May we be women of welcome in our in-the-flesh lives and online, too. Before we say a word, Holy Spirit remind us that the speck we see in our sister’s eye might be dust from the log in our own. If the speck truly is there, we ask that You remove it. You are the Great Physician, and we trust this to Your capable and healing hands.

      Jesus, we long for our relationships to be filled with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. We humbly ask You to continue growing these fruits in our own lives and hearts, too. Prune what must be cut back in us, water what is growing in us, and may there soon be an abundant harvest of goodness that brings You glory.

      May we, Your daughters, be peace makers, kind speakers, and loving listeners. When we disagree, may we do so with gracious words, loving our neighbor and our sister as ourself. You are with us, somehow even here in a comment thread, keeping Your promise to be wherever two or more are gathered in Your name. Thank You, God, for Your love, Your mercy, Your justice, and Your kindness. You’ve brought us together, given us each a seat at the table, and made us Yours. Lead us through these coming days. Fear does not get the final word. There is a Kingdom that cannot be shaken. Hallelujah! We will hold fast to You, to one another, and to hope. In Jesus’ name, amen.

    • Wendy,
      Your accusations left we writhing in pain. There was so much shame & blame hurled at me through your comment that I had to pause to heal so I could respond from a healthy place. In that pause, I saw that you potentially have been shamed & blamed. I empathize with you & pray for our complete healing and recovery. We must heal within before we can manifest healing in our nation.

      I agree… the lies spread by un-, mis-, & dis-information is rampant. And its why I use education as a conduit for helping to heal our nation’s fissures.

      Historically, wielding words as weapons is a popular tactic for de-centering justice from the gospel:
      During our nation’s early years, Christian abolitionists were labeled ‘agitators.’
      During the 20th century, Reverend Dr. MLK Jr and other folks advocating for the exploited to have civil rights were marked ‘communists.’
      And now, the centering of justice & healing is condemned as ‘liberal progressive marxist rhetoric.’

      There is nothing inherently evil about the words. The words themselves are not scary. But intentionally they have been co-opted, weaponized, and forged into arrows to pierce hearts with fear.

      With words, God created a beautifully dynamic cosmos. With words, Jesus calmed a storm. And when the Holy Spirit spoke, the early church was birthed. May we be like our Creator and use our words for manifesting life, shalom, and edifying the body. May we be conduits of love and creators of consonance. May we exhale the breath of God.

      Shalom.
      LCB

  15. That is a breathtaking look at God and the breathe that gives life to humanity in every aspect of humankind. Thank you so much!

    • Deb!
      You are so welcome.
      Thank you for reading and finding hope in my story.
      I hope you are taking deep breaths this week. I am!

      Shalom to you and our world
      LCB

  16. Lucretia, I am thankful for your work and your words and the many ways you’ve impacted my life. Patiently, you teach from your experience and study, always pointing us to the better way–in Christ. This comes at personal cost to you sometimes, and for that, I’m pained (for you, no doubt, but even for those whose vision is obscured).

    I love you and I like you, and I’m proud of you. To follow the Lord into hard and heavy places takes courage. And it is my joy to see Him at work in and through you!

    • Hi friend!
      Thank you for reading. Thank you so much for seeing God in and through me. Thank you for loving me as I am and lifting me up so that I may become more of who I AM designed to be!

      I sincerely appreciate the warmth of your light.
      Shalom
      LCB