An eight-year-old girl in Topeka had already understood intuitively from the school bus window — that the message sent to a child by telling her she cannot attend the school four blocks from her home is not a neutral administrative decision. It is a statement about her worth.

The unanimous ruling of Brown vs. the Board of Education overturned Plessy v. Ferguson, the 1896 decision that had enshrined "separate but equal" as constitutional law for 58 years. It was one of the most significant legal decisions in American history — a turning point not just for education but for the entire Civil Rights Movement that would follow.

Linda Brown grew up to become a teacher and educational consultant. She spent her adult life working on school integration and equal education — continuing the fight that had begun with her father walking her to a school four blocks away.

"Looking back on Brown v. Board of Education," she said in an interview, "it has made an impact in all facets of life for minorities throughout the land. I really think of it in terms of what it has done for our young people, in taking away that feeling of second-class citizenship."

She was born on this day in 1943.

She passed away in 2018.

In between, she gave her name — without ever choosing to — to the case that told every child in America that the school four blocks away was theirs too.

Climate crisis

 "Severe Storms" "Tornado Warning" Those words trail across our TV screen.  Have we become used to floods, tornados, record heat and cold? Former Vice President Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth" was written 20 years ago. King Charles was concerned about the environment decades before.  We rarely hear words about "Climate change" anymore. We should be working on the "Climate CRISIS" all the time. The current administration doesn't care. When will be a "convenient" time to be concerned?

Votes in California

Donald Trump is saying the voting in California was rigged.  No rigging, no fraud.  It simply takes time to count all those votes when so many people vote by mail.  Don't fall for Trump's false claims.  We need to encourage all people to vote. We need to save "vote by mail." We need to help people register to vote in the remaining primaries and in November. 

Jennaya voting

 Jennaya Everist, recent college graduate, was interviewed by the press as she voted in the Iowa Democratic Primary June 2.  Years ago, when the national press was covering the first-in-the-nation Iowa Caucuses, Jennaya, then 3 1/2, was interviewed by a New York reporter. Jennaya said she was for "Obama." Whatever age, we need to be ready to speak about our views. 

Tulsa race massacre

 The Tulsa race massacre was a two-day-long terrorist massacre perpetrated by white supremacists that took place between May 31 and June 1, 1921. As news of the violence spread throughout the city, mob violence exploded. White rioters invaded Greenwood that night and the next morning, killing people and burning and looting stores and homes. About 10,000 black people were left homeless. 

 Trinity Sunday in 2026 falls on Sunday, May 31. Celebrated on the Sunday immediately following Pentecost, this Christian feast honors the foundational doctrine of the Holy Trinity: one God existing in three distinct divine persons—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. I prefer to say, "The Creator, Jesus Christ, and the Empowering Spirit."

Tama

 

Leave messages for Congress

 It's time to leave messages for U.S. Senators and Representatives (even when they are not in session) by calling 202-224-3121. We can make a difference by speaking against the "war of choice" in Iran, deportation, the 8.1 billion dollar slush fund, corruption, lies. Speak up for the U.S. postal service, voting rights, social security and so much more. 

Band Festival

 The 87th North Iowa Band Festival Parade is here! Floats are lining up in front of our Prairie Place Building. As usual the Mason City High School band leads off playing Meredith Willson's "Seventy-six Trombones" After all, this is "River City" of "The Music Man" 

Pentecost

 Pentecost is here. We celebrate and give thanks for the Holy Spirit who gave the followers of Jesus ability to speak in "other languages." I was consecrated a deaconess on Pentecost in 1960. God declares that God will pour out the Spirit upon all flesh and "your sons and your daughters shall prophecy."

Pentecost Flowers

We had no poinsettia for Christmas, no Lily for Easter. They would have faded long ago. However these orchids started blooming on Epiphany and are still blooming now for Pentecost. We rejoice. We celebrate Pentecost, the beginning of the Church that has lasted 2000 years.

 

Tornado survivor

 My husband, Burton, has made hundreds, if not thousands, of hospital visits in his over 60 years of pastoral ministry. However, this morning he made his first hospital visit to a woman who survived a tornado. She and her family are alive, but their house in rural Joyce, Iowa, was moved off its foundation and farm buildings were destroyed. We pray for all those who have lost so much in the past few days of tornados in Iowa and surrounding states.