This episode focuses on the third chapter of Ruth, but we kick things off by hearing how Maria felt, as an indigenous person in North America, witnessing the Black Lives Matters protestors in Richmond that were going on at the time of recording. This was recorded the day after Christopher Columbus’s statue found its way to the bottom of a lake, and Maria reflects on all of the harm that European colonialism has caused and continues to cause in her community. The Book of Ruth first found its way to this continent with Columbus and we can only hope that the book’s compassionate message outlasts the mythic reputation of colonists that are being used to sow white supremacy to this day.

To learn more about Maria Chavalan Sut and her story, see the following links: 

• "Undocumented Woman Finds Healing And Support In Sanctuary"
• thesanctuarycollective.org/take-action
• facebook.com/handsoffmaria

The People’s Commentary is a Crate Original from Crate Media