This is the story of two people from diverse backgrounds — a black woman and a white man — who are on a mission
to overcome the trauma of America’s legacy of slavery and the lingering effects of present-day racism.
Illustrated through the stories of our lives—and those of our ancestors — Gather at the Table is informed by restorative justice and peacebuilding.
These are skills we learned through our work at Eastern Mennonite University and its STAR and Coming to the Table programs.
EMU is an acclaimed resource for peacebuilding, having introduced healing models in war ravaged countries around the world.
Coming to the Table is an initiative focused on linking descendants of enslaved people with the descendants of those who enslaved them.
In this blog, we share the story of our writing process and the “aha” moments that inform our work.
We share videos of our travels at http://www.youtube.com/user/gatheratthetable?feature=results_main
Gather at the Table will be available for sale online and in bookstores October 9, 2012.
Sharon, we have not met yet but I look forward to it. You have a wonderful partner for this project. But, clearly, there is no need to tell you that!
Tom, I am thrilled that youy can now now move forward on your next book.
Can’t wait to read it!!
Dain
Comment by Dain Perry — 31/01/2011 @ 5:20 pm |
Dear Sharon and Tom,
Congratulations. I know this is going to be a powerful, restorative piece of work. You are in my prayers and cheers.
Juanita
Comment by Juanita Brown — 31/01/2011 @ 5:43 pm |
Dear Tom
Thank you SO much for sharing the journey and the process and while I haven’t met Sharon I’m inspired by your collective vision of hope and possibility. Look forward to seeing you soon in San Francisco!
belvie
Comment by Dedan Gills — 31/01/2011 @ 7:37 pm |
BRAVO you guys!! As many others, I look very forward to reading your work. Best of luck in all the aspects of the journeying involved in putting it together.
Holly
Comment by Holly Fulton — 03/02/2011 @ 11:29 am |
I wish you “Pulitzer and Noble” prizes. Sharon I’m certain that your contribution will be forthright and unfettered. An interesting collaboration… What is Tom’s background and what role did EMU and Coming to the Table play in this collaboration and is that where the two of you met?
Comment by Riley Davis — 03/02/2011 @ 10:05 pm |
Check the about the authors page for our backgrounds. Yes, Tom and I met via Coming to the Table.
Comment by Sharon Leslie Morgan — 04/02/2011 @ 7:02 am |
Dear Sharon & Tom: We are proud of you and your work. We look forward to the finished book and your successful outcome.
Comment by June Nicholson — 05/03/2011 @ 1:57 pm |
Tom and Sharon,
Hey, hurry up – we needed this book years ago !! ;-]
More seriously, are you going to discuss any case study of a group seeking to do what the two of you are doing?? We all desperately need some group examples, where people are working together to make reconciliation HAPPEN, instead of just reading or talking about it.
John M.
ps. I will notify some local churches about your work, and see if we can get some people connected on this. Thanks for taking this work “to the next level”.
Comment by John Mulholland — 03/05/2011 @ 1:04 pm |
Hello Sharon and Tom
It was nice to meet you at the Cotton Gin in Mississippi. I wish we could have talked more. I’ll be praying for a safe and enlightening journey.
I look forward to reading your book.
Wishing you the best,
Rawge
Comment by Rawge — 01/06/2011 @ 10:16 am |
Thanks, Rawge. It was good spending time with you and the couple from New York as well. Best wishes on your journey. Safe travels! –Tom
Comment by thomasdewolf — 02/06/2011 @ 12:27 am |
This sounds wonderful! I can’t wait to read the book!
Comment by Tamara Rhone — 03/06/2011 @ 10:43 pm |
Wonderful undertaking. I’m from a Telfair County, GA black family who has pictures and trees that go back to the late 1700′s. Keep up the good work.
Emery Graham
Comment by Emery Graham — 14/07/2011 @ 2:53 pm |
Thom, i am a descendant of your families enslavement of our family. Born in Cuba and later raised in Mass i am open to hearing from you directly. I can be reached at phlmlk@aol.com. I own both the video and the book and still today have many many questions
Comment by Ms G — 25/07/2011 @ 5:41 am |
Dear Ms. G, I’ve tried to write to you twice at the email address you provided. I’m afraid my first attempt several months ago may have gotten lost because I never heard back. When I tried today my email was rejected by your server, saying “the recipient is only accepting mail from specific email addresses.” I would like to hear more and look forward to communicating with you if possible.
Comment by thomasdewolf — 26/01/2012 @ 7:08 pm |
Hi Sharon
I appreciate so much your focus on Black ancestry and am inspired about what will be in your upcoming book. We have to find a way to get what you are doing into the schools because Black children suffer so much from a disconnect to our ancestry. Much success in your efforts.
Robbie Smith
Comment by Robbie Smith — 08/09/2011 @ 11:06 am |
Sharon & Tom,
I am so excited to read the book! The work that you have been doing may seem like a drop in the ocean, but I feel it is the ripple effect that will come back in spades. Just wait and see how many people you will impact. Best of Luck!!!
Diana Roman
Comment by Diana Roman — 30/11/2011 @ 1:25 pm |
keep your eyes,soul, pure thoughts on Jesus Christ our Lord, lions
will not harm you!
Comment by sylvia leetch pieratt (hargrave) — 20/12/2011 @ 10:10 pm |