UUMUAC (You Me Act): The Unitarian Universalist Multiracial Unity Action Council

Anne Holcomb begins by invoking Frederick Douglass’s famous Fourth of July speech to expose the gap between America’s ideals and its historical realities. Douglass’s words highlight how liberty and justice were long reserved for some while denied to others, setting the stage for Holcomb’s central theme: the United States has always wrestled with contradictions between its revolutionary rhetoric an...

Reverend Dr. Finley C. Campbell opens this segment by describing how the Indiana chapter of the Black Panther Party confronted the distorted public image that dominated local perceptions—an image of armed, threatening Black men shaped largely by media caricature. To counter this, the Panthers worked closely with Black student unions, insisting that these groups not isolate themselves on campus but...

Rev. Jack Reich opens his sermon with Isaac Asimov’s reminder that “if knowledge can create problems, it is not through ignorance that we will solve them,” setting a tone rooted in evidence, clarity, and moral responsibility. He contrasts the everyday issues Americans believe are most urgent—rising costs, taxes, crime, immigration—with the deeper, structural crises that truly threaten our collecti...

This episode introduces listeners to the life and wisdom of Howard Thurman , the influential mystic, theologian, and spiritual guide whose work shaped generations of activists, including Martin Luther King Jr. Drawing from a 2022 video presentation by Rev. Dr. Mellen Kennedy , along with two excerpts from a 1976 PBS interview with Thurman, the episode highlights why his teachings remain “medicine...

Rev. Dr. Matthew Shear’s presentation explores the long‑standing divide between those who believe in God and those who do not, beginning with the observation that people often mean very different things when they use the word God . As he notes, when asked whether he believes in God, he responds, “Tell me what you mean by God,” because most people describe not a biblical figure but “a spirit or a p...

This episode of Dancing with the Panthers features a conversation recorded around the year 2000 with Rev. Dr. Finley C. Campbell and historian Dr. Jon Rice, reflecting on their involvement with the Black Panther Party roughly thirty years earlier. Barbara Jean Walsh introduces the discussion by explaining that both men—Campbell in Indiana and Rice in Chicago—became deeply influenced by the Panther...

Rev. Richard Trudeau’s sermon invites listeners to reconsider the familiar parable of the Good Samaritan by challenging the interpretive frame supplied by the Gospel of Luke. Trudeau argues that Luke, writing as a non‑Jewish Christian several generations after Jesus, misunderstood both the cultural meaning of “Samaritan” and the nature of Jesus’s parables. Luke’s framing dialogue—“Go and do likewi...

Rev. Todd Eklof’s talk traces the deep historical roots of humanism and argues that it has always been intertwined with Unitarianism. He begins with early 20th‑century religious humanism and figures like John Dietrich, noting that Dietrich’s shift toward humanism took shape during his ministry in Spokane, where the congregation’s 1888 bylaws affirmed “reason” and “scientific” inquiry as the basis...

This UUMUAC podcast episode features Evan Hadingham, former Senior Science Editor of PBS's Nova, who brings his extensive background in prehistory and archaeology to explore humanity's precarious existence. Drawing on his experience and writings, Evan guides listeners through a journey of cosmology, climate, catastrophes, and human evolution, highlighting the many critical points where humanity's...

Rev. Dr. Finley C. Campbell’s Children of the Rainbow is a stirring call to recognize difference as the foundation for genuine unity. Speaking in 1970, he argued that the presence of Black students on white campuses was never neutral—it was meant to be a shock, a confrontation, a reminder of America’s unfinished reckoning with slavery, segregation, and systemic racism. Their very existence in clas...

Reverend Denise Tracy continues her exploration of Beloved Community with vivid stories that show how compassion dissolves fear and how ordinary people can rise to extraordinary humanity. Drawing on the musical Come From Away , she reflects on the generosity of the people of Gander, Newfoundland, who sheltered thousands of stranded travelers after 9/11. Through song and story, the musical reveals...

🎙️ Synopsis Transcending the Power of Words That Bind Us — Deb Reich (introduced by Jack Reich) The podcast opens with host Barbara Jean Walsh introducing a Vespers Service featuring writer and peace‑builder Deb Reich , preceded by a warm biographical introduction from her brother Jack Reich . Jack traces Deb’s journey from her New York upbringing to her decades living in Israel and Palestine, whe...

If you are wondering what UUMUAC, or even multiracial unity, is all about, you’ve come to the right place. Barbara Jean Walsh, and I am the vice-chair of UUMUAC, the Unitarian Universalist Multiracial Unity Council. One of the first people I met after moving to Chicago a few years ago was Finley Cambell. It has been a real treat for me to work on archiving his audio files since I did not have the...

Introduction Barbara Jean Walsh (UUMUAC board member) introduces speaker Dan Kenney , a retired teacher and founder of Rooted for Good (formerly DeKalb County Community Gardens). The focus of the talk is The Dignity Index , a tool created in 2022 by the University of Utah and partners through the UNITE initiative to measure dignity vs. contempt in language. What is the Dignity Index? An 8-point sc...

Rev. Dr. Finley Campbell reflects on the complexities and contradictions of our times, urging boldness and truth in the face of personal, existential, and political challenges. He draws parallels between historical struggles against white supremacy, such as the Battle of Gettysburg, and contemporary crises, emphasizing gratitude for progress while acknowledging ongoing peril. Dr. Campbell shares a...

This podcast features Rev. Dr. Marie Manning, better known as Twinkle. She will talk to us about what it means to all of us to be a work in progress. But before you listen to what she has to say, here's a little more information about Twinkle. Reverend Manning currently serves as the contract minister for the UU congregation in Waterville, Maine. Previously, she excelled at retreat leadership and...

This podcast consists of a talk given during our monthly online Vesper service in October 2025. full service, including a lively discussion about the topic, "Science in the Time of Trump" is available to you on YouTube. Our speaker this time is Dr. Suzanne Willis. She is a professor emerita at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois, where Dr. Willis taught physics until her retirement in...

TRANSCRIPT Speaker Barbara Jean Walsh Hello. My name is Barbara Jean Walsh, and I am a Board Member of UUMUAC, the Unitarian Universalist Multiracial Unity Action Council. (For more information about UUMUAC, please visit our website at UUMUAC.org .) Each month, it is our pleasure to offer an online vespers service featuring noted speakers who typically share their unique perspectives on liberal re...