Permission to Be Black with A.D. Thomason

02/02/21 • 49 min

As we begin Black History Month, we are releasing a special interview about our willingness to be ourselves regardless of what society says. Our guest today is writer, activist, and speaker A.D. Thomason. A.D. is on to speak about his new book Permission to Be Black.

AD is a three time award winning filmmaker and Co-founder of 3Strandfilms (read and view films here NOTOFTHEM.COM). Adam is an adjunct professor at Kilns College where he teaches on the History of Human rights and justice, De-colonizing your faith, filmmaking and more.

He’s with us today to speak about his new book: Permission to Be Black: My Journey with Jay-Z and Jesus.

“Throughout American history, Black people were not given the freedom to acknowledge their suffering. A. D. Thomason believes that the Holy Spirit brings freedom and liberation as we're able to name our pain, recognize its roots in history and society, and seek healing.

While many saw a confident, six-foot-five Black man, A. D. "Lumkile" Thomason lived most of his life in fear and anguish, deeply wounded by encounters with violence, abandonment, and family tragedy.

A. D. uses his artistry as a poet and storyteller to share how he confessed his internalized pain and embraced the liberating joy of Christ. He writes for millennials, emerging adults, and anyone else who's ready to acknowledge the reality of racial trauma and our need to confront it. His powerful story gives you permission to be Black, to be Christian, and to be the person God has made you to be.”

ALSO, don’t forget to send in your thoughts on the Movie Soul! You have a few days to get your thoughts in before next week’s review. All you have to do is send in a 30-45 second audio clip featuring:

1. Your first name

2. Where you’re listening from

3. Something you liked or disliked from the film.

4. Send it to [email protected] with the Subject Line: PTM Soul Review

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

He’s with us today to speak about his new book: Permission to Be Black: My Journey with Jay-Z and Jesus.

While many saw a confident, six-foot-five Black man, A. D. "Lumkile" Thomason lived most of his life in fear and anguish, deeply wounded by encounters with violence, abandonment, and family tragedy.

1. Your first name

2. Where you’re listening from

3. Something you liked or disliked from the film.

4. Send it to [email protected] with the Subject Line: PTM Soul Review

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Previous Episode

“Letter From Birmingham Jail”

Happy MLK Day! In honor of the famed civil rights icon who is often whitewashed, often sanitized, often vilified; we have a special treat for you. On April 16, 1963, Dr. King wrote a lengthy letter to a coalition of white clergymen from a narrow jail cell in Birmingham, after being arrested by the police for nonviolent direct action. What he wrote eventually became one of the greatest pieces of writing every penned in English.

For today’s episode, our Host Tyler Burns reads the entire speech for you. If you’ve never heard it read audibly, here is your chance! Gather your family around, put this episode on during your daily commute or workout, and hear the powerful words/arguments of Dr. King.

Also! By request of one of our listeners, we will be doing a review of the polarizing Pixar film “Soul”. But...we need your help. We want to have a conversation with YOU. If you’re Black and you have strong feelings (positive or negative), questions, or comments about Soul, we want to hear from you! We want you to send us an audio recording of your thoughts. Here are the details:

Share your first name
Share where you’re listening from (as much as you feel comfortable)
Share your opinion!
Keep it at 30-45 seconds
Email it to [email protected] with the subject line “PTM Soul Review”

That’s it! We look forward to hearing your thoughts!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Next Episode

Leave Loud: It’s time to go, family

Welp...Black History Month is wildin once again...As much as we try to stay away from talking about every instance of racism, we couldn’t let this one slide.

A few days ago, a viciously racist letter that was sent Pastor Dwight McKissic became public. Shortly after it was shared for the world to see, the letter went viral, exposing many Black Christians to familiar, triggering racist language about our identity. It would be easy to ignore this but we want to talk about what’s beneath the surface.

Tyler is joined by Witness BCC Vice President and Coming the Roots Host Ally Henny to talk about what is beneath the surface of racism like this. This conversation speaks, of course, to Black Chirstians, but also to White Christians who refuse to see how common these thoughts truly are. You don’t want to miss this one.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices