Faith in Action

Those of you who’ve been around my site a while know that I usually change the header on my blog periodically. Most times the header is a pic that I’ve taken at some community event.

For the past few days the above picture has been my header and Chuck posted a note letting me know that the Baltimore Crime Blogspot site had referenced it on their site. Chuck asked me why it was placed as my header being that it seemed that I was running a “positive” blog.

Well - the short of it is that I’m going to be presiding over an upcoming forum at New Life United Methodist Church (Pastor Eric King) that will focus on the issue of “snitching” and have an esteemed panel of persons speaking to the issue including: Dr. Tyrone Powers, Minister Carlos Muhammad, Rodney Bethea (producer of the Stop Snitchin’ 2 dvd) and others. Professor Sherlynn Ifill will be moderating.

It’s an issue that generates and still warrants discussion. It will be my task on January 31, 2008 6:30PM to ensure that the dialogue is productive.

The story behind the picture though is actually that it is a picture of my cousin. I took the shot two years ago at my family reunion. To be honest, I was taken aback that my cousin was wearing the shirt. I approached him about it, but I can’t remember how the conversation went.

The irony of that encounter, however, drives the point home for me that this issue is closer in proximity than any of us would care to readily admit. My family is filled with preachers, educators, activists, musicians, etc. And in light of all of those vocations that society would applaud; we also have family members who may embrace an ideology that is foreign to the fabric of our family. Those who espouse the “Stop Snitchin” mantra aren’t aliens, monsters, or some “other” people. They are our family members - somebody’s son, daughter, brother, sister, aunt, or first cousin.

I’m going to work hard at the panel discussion to minimize the finger-pointing and demonizing. That’s a long standing practice in Baltimore and look at how much that has benefited us. It’s time that we come to the table in honest and healthy dialogue on this issue.

In addition, it’s time that we broaden the discussion so that it doesn’t stay limited to a focus on young Black men. It’s time that we discuss the Stop Snitchin’ code that “white collar” criminals and well-financed politicians ascribe to as well.

You didn’t think that the “Stop Snitchin” code was born on inner city corners now did you?