By Tanisha Bell
Staff Writer
Photo of Larycia A. Hawkins
Larycia A. Hawkins, the Abd-el-Kader visiting faculty fellow at the University of Virginia’s Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture, spoke March 16 on “Tolerance & Violence In The Mind Of God” at Cal State Dominguez Hills.
She covered several topics to help shape a clear understanding on how the world is lost with so many being imprisoned by their own beliefs and understanding of religion.
She touched on how religion should not cause so much disembodiment among one another, but instead embody solidarity.
“True religion is caring for ones who are unable to do for themselves,” Hawkins said. “The goal for embodied solidarity is to empower the oppression of the oppressed. We can’t know what we don’t know.”
Hawkins is described as a woman who will put herself in harm’s way to help another human. She believes the only way to know is to become a part of someone else’s struggle, someone else’s pain or someone’s else life.
There is no way one can judge, belittle or demean another human being, if they have not walked in their shoes or experienced their life, she said.
To that point, she added, there is no way a person should be singled out because of their beliefs, their struggle or the color of their skin.
Hawkins is well-aware of the different walks of life each individual encounters. Not every person will walk the same path in life.
Because of this, Hawkins shines a light on the importance of giving a helping hand and being understanding to the next person who crosses your path.
Hawkins is a Christian woman who wears a hijab as a way of encouraging others to appreciate, accept and respect everyone for who they are, regardless of their race, gender, religion, sexuality or personal beliefs.
“Suffering is not anecdotal,” she said in her closing remarks.
