The Reconciliation Conversation
Derrick DeLain & Jason Dukes
with special guest Dr. Lucretia Berry
Recorded August 18th, 2020
Episode 13
September 2nd, 2020

INTRO | Derrick DeLain

BIO info for Dr. Lucretia Berry
Dr. Lucretia Berry is an anti-race/ism curriculum specialist, a writer for in(Courage).me, the author of What LIES Between US Journal & Guide: Fostering First Steps Toward Racial Healing, a TED Talker, and a Senior Consultant for The American Dream Game. She received her Ph.D. in Education (Curriculum & Instruction) from Iowa State University. She is married to Nathan, and they have three little girls who are the inspiration for Brownicity.

THE STORY of Nathan and Lucretia Berry:
Beyond our bios, we are a white guy and a black woman who are parents to 3 multi-ethnic children. Eradicating deeply intrenched racial, social and cultural lines to integrate a church served as the backdrop for our friendship and then marriage. Its quite a story!

For us, we are intentional about not allowing race to narrate our identity and our lives. We want the same for our children. However, and ironically, it means that we address issues surrounding race, probably more than the average family. Why? When race is addressed in the context of love, it loses its power. We want to empower our children with the truth. We want them to be free to be who they are designed to be, to hear the voice of their Creator over any social-political construct.

That way, we are able to celebrate our 5 different skin tones, 5 different hair textures outside of a race context. And we are able to talk about the creation and illusion of race, referring to it as a horrible idea. Our children are still really young, so our conversations are age appropriate. But, we have established a foundation on which to build.

Essentially, we love being a part of the work of becoming ONE.

“I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.”
(John 17: 20-21)

***ABOUT “brownicity”***
A combination of the words brown and ethnicity. Brown represents melanin, the brown pigment we all have. Ethnicity means that which we have in common. Essentially, we all are hues of brown. Brownicity — The word and the work provides space to live in the tension of restoring one human family that has been fractured by the lies and injustice of race and racism. We are dedicated to advocacy, education, and support for racial healing and antiracism.

QUESTION 1 | Derrick DeLain
Let’s start with what is most important — what’s it like being a mom in this current tension, and what do you hope your kids remember from their childhood with regard to what their mom emphasized the most?

QUESTION 2 | Jason Dukes
“Many hues. ONE humanity.” What inspired “Brownicity?

QUESTION 3a | Derrick DeLain
What are three essentials you view as “musts” when you engage in “teaching foundational anti-racism education for liberation?”

QUESTION 3b | Jason Dukes
Talk about why educating the family and children is so important to you.

QUESTION 4 | Jason Dukes
You are a brilliant leader who happens to be female — what do you wish more male leaders were thinking about when it comes to cultivating for reconciliation and a new American reality for people of all colors?

QUESTION 5 | Derrick DeLain
Wrapping up, what are one or two simple suggestions you w