When Sandy Holman was a teenager, she watched as the Klu Klux Klan burned a wooden cross on her high school soccer field. This wasn’t in the deep south, but in the Sacramento, California neighborhood where her family moved when she was in elementary school. It was that experience, as well as several others, that led her to recognize the work she was meant to do in the world. A world that does not treat all people with love, dignity and kindness.
Sandy Holman, also known as the Purple Lady for her passionate love of the color purple, has dedicated her life to breaking down the systems of inequality and injustice that poison our communities. As the director of The Culture C.O.-O.P., she travels the country working with organizations to help create environments of equity, diversity and inclusion. “But change is hard,” she cautions us.
A powerful storyteller, Sandy is the author of several children’s books, including Grandpa, is Everything Black Bad? and We All Have a Heritage.
As you listen to this episode, consider:
Pay attention to your moments of knowing, when you see injustice and pain around you.
How do you respond internally? What emotions or physical experiences do you have to those moments?
How do you behave? Do you step forward or back away? How can you challenge yourself to take positive action?
You can listen to Sandy’s episode here.
