Audacious Faith. Bold Voices.
Real Conversations for a Just World

Back Talk is a monthly livestream series hosted by McCormick President Dr. Maisha Handy — a womanist theologian, scholar, and justice-driven leader. Each 30-minute episode explores the intersections of theology, justice, leadership, and faith in action, featuring unfiltered conversations with thought leaders, changemakers, and prophetic voices from across the country.

And you’re invited to pull up a seat.

TOPICS ON OUR MIND
Each month, Back Talk will take on some of the most pressing and provocative issues shaping our communities and churches today. Upcoming episodes will tackle themes like the current migrant crisis and the captivating cultural collision between hip-hop and religion.

These are not easy conversations — but they are necessary ones. And McCormick is leaning in with audacity, with boldness, and with a deep belief in the power of faith to meet the needs of our times.

Episode 4: Truth-Telling, Repair and the Road Ahead
April 6, 2026

In this episode of Back Talk, Maisha Handy sits down with Iva Carruthers to reflect on a moment that called for more than remembrance—it demanded reckoning. Following the HART Truth Telling Commission hearings hosted at McCormick, this conversation revisits what was uncovered when communities gathered to name the realities of ICE raids, human and civil rights violations, and the lived impact of systemic harm.

Together, they explore what it means to move from truth-telling to transformation. Drawing on Dr. Carruthers’ decades of leadership in reparatory justice, the dialogue centers on what repair requires—not just institutionally, but personally and collectively—and how faith communities can lead with courage, clarity, and commitment in the ongoing work of justice.

Dr. Handy and her guest explore…

  • How truth-telling becomes a catalyst for repair

  • What accountability looks like in the face of institutional harm

  • The role of faith leaders and communities in shaping a just and restored future.

WATCH THE FULL EPISODE BELOW:

About Our Host

Dr. Maisha Handy is a bold, prophetic voice for our times. As the 12th President of McCormick Theological Seminary, she leads with conviction, compassion, and a deep commitment to justice-rooted theological education. An experienced speaker, preacher, and public theologian, Dr. Handy brings over two decades of leadership in higher education and ministry. She is known for speaking truth with clarity and care, and for creating space where faith and justice meet in transformative ways.

Before joining McCormick, Dr. Handy served as Provost at the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, where she launched the first version of Back Talk—a webcast devoted to real, public conversations about theology, leadership, and liberation. Now, she brings that same energy and vision to a national audience.

At a moment when the church and the world are crying out for truth, courage, and clarity, Dr. Handy is a leader who doesn’t just respond—she helps us reimagine. Back Talk is an extension of her passion for public dialogue, theological truth-telling, and faith that moves people to act.

MISSED AN EPISODE?

Back Talk streams monthly on McCormick’s Facebook page. You can also find links to episodes below.

Don’t miss your chance to engage with some of the most important issues of our time — through the lens of public theology and prophetic leadership.