Special Edition: Growing Up Black in America with Cedi Ali Rajah
In this Special edition, the Gals interview *Cedi Ali Rajah (bio below), Katherine’s friend from Spiritual Psychology Graduate school, and Krista’s sometime dance partner!
Cedi generously offered himself on Facebook being one voice for Black America from his life experience about what it was like for him to grow up as a Black American. He conceived his offer to take action towards greater understanding by creating a safe place for people to talk and ask questions.
While he had some interesting experiences since he made that offer, they were not all what he was expecting, so when the Gals heard about it and called from Holy F, he was ready to dish. He discusses adapting to the ghetto, choosing his life over his coat, black on black crime, and the inevitable profiling run ins with law enforcement.
Krista asks Cedi about his experience of being in a predominantly white environment in graduate school as he learned the Spiritual Psychology perspective on all this.
Cedi and the Gals take on what was different for him once he began to see from that viewpoint. What makes Cedi stand out and be available to take on big questions and big conversations? How does it make him able to handle difficult situations with grace and keep himself focused on loving? When making another surprising point about the idea of “color blindness,” Cedi accentuates the Spiritual level of living without bypassing what is happening here and now.
What skill does he use that Katherine invites listeners to use as they hear his story?
His story is not perhaps ‘typical’, but maybe that’s the point. Black lives matter, each and every one must be honored, and how we treat each other is personal for everyone. His personal story touches Katherine deeply and brings her to tears with an apology, recognizing the unfairness of the system and her responsibility in blindness to it.
In another nod to spiritual psychology, Cedi reminds her to release whatever guilt she is holding using self-forgiveness which will invite her into more inspired action (like this podcast.)
In referring to the Spiritual approach, Krista warns us of the issue of inaction that comes from spiritual bypass, as it is time to take inspired action towards change that comes from our hearts to rectify what is unjust and to become part of the solution with care and kindness towards each other.
As the conversation wraps up, it is apparent that Cedi’s message is clear. It’s time to listen and learn from Black Americans about the reality that they are living, and that it is also time to love and forgive.
*Cedi Ali Rajah is an LA-based writer, director, and photographer.
He majored in English & Linguistics at Morehouse College in Atlanta, and then studied Directing for Theater, Video & Cinema at California Institute of the Arts. He also holds a Master's Degree in Spiritual Psychology from the University of Santa Monica, where he and Katherine were classmates.
His first novel will be in bookstores this fall. Find more of his work at http://www.cedialirajah.com and follow him on Instagram at @cedialirajah.
www.twogalssoulschool.com