Faith in Action

Tuesday I watched youtube videos of Dr. Jeremiah Wright’s presentation at the National Press Club kicking off the Legislative Days of the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Pastor’s Conference. After watching them and Wright’s presentation live on CNN Sunday night at the Detroit NAACP Freedom Fund Banquet, I must say that he did a fantastic job of carefully explaining the particulars of Black Liberation Theology and the prophetic tradition in America. I especially appreciated his NAACP presentation Sunday night where he spoke masterfully about differences being just that - differences, not deficiencies. For the past few days, White America has been exposed to a fabric of Black Religious Life that it rarely, if ever, sees. As Dr. Wright said, the Black Church is much like Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man - mainstream culture is trained not to see it and when glimpses of it appear, the conclusion is that it is something backward, loud, and uncouth.

While I’m sure that White America brought its own biases to Wright’s presentation (mainly because of corporate-controlled fascist media’s mission to control and shape the thoughts of the masses), those who came with an open mind saw a different (not deficient) line of thought, life, and belief that all too often flows in the undercurrent of mainstream America.

While I agree with others who have expressed appreciation of Wright’s words, it’s interesting to see how, White America aside, some African Americans are expressing radically different sentiments about the Reverend’s presentation.

Read More

This past Sunday during one of the sermons I preached I talked about how sometimes even trouble has a way of ushering in an unexpected blessing. While many times it’s hard to see, acknowledge, or fully appreciate during the height of the storm; as the winds die down the presence of some small glimmer of hope and goodness after such a downpour provides a morsel of meaning that helps in a very small way to help survivors see the possibility of a better day.

Since the miscarriage of justice which was the Sean Bell verdict, I have been searching for some silver lining somewhere that might point to Divine Activity even if on the periphery of the pain. As Dr. Raymond Winbush points out, we’ve seen this movie before…many times over! Something is needed to give fuel to our faith that a brighter day is coming…even after dark days like this.

Then I found it. Though only 4:52 seconds long, it encouraged my soul to see it. A sign and symbol that the spirit of unity was being reborn like a phoenix rising from the ashes. I share this small sliver of hope with you as well as a testament that we will make it!

EXTRAVAGANZA! YOUTH FIGHTING FOR JOBS!

The young people in our city have set up an exciting day for Wednesday, April 30 from 9 am to 3 pm at City Hall Plaza. Each of the organizations in the Peer 2 Peer Network will be presenting a workshop showing what peer to peer teaching could look like. (more information about Peer 2 Peer can be found in this Baltimore Sun article

The students are encouraging young people to join them to learn from their peers and older folks to come support them as they urge Mayor Sheila Dixon to fund Peer to Peer Enterprises.

EXTRAVAGANZA! YOUTH FIGHTING FOR JOBS!

Here is a tentative schedule of the day:

Read More

Hat Tip: Baltimore Politics Examiner/Adam Meister

Separation of Church and State does not exist in Baltimore
By Adam Meister

Drive around Baltimore and you will notice that there are a lot of churches. Some are in large magnificent buildings while others are in run down storefronts or rowhouses. Most of them are tax exempt in one way or another. Many are considered 501(c)(3) organizations. 501(c)(3) organizations are not allowed to give political endorsements or aid to specific candidates. This law is ignored in Baltimore. Most of the so-called “serious candidates” for local office attend services every Sunday during campaign season. It is an unofficial rule of Baltimore campaigning to befriend as many local pastors (who usually live outside of Baltimore) as possible. They give you the support of their followers and you eventually reward them once you are in power.

I have no problem with churches collecting money to support prayer services and activities that pertain to goodwill, charity, and worship. I do have problems with churches that become huge tax exempt businesses that suck money away from parishioners. I have a problem with religion taking control of government and the elimination of the separation of church and state inside of Baltimore.

Do you find it troubling that supposedly neutral religious institutions yield so much power in a city so desperate for tax revenue?

Here are some interesting links about the power and powerful members of one particular church:

Church Power

Three new members nominated to the Board by O’Malley

Faith-based Community in Baltimore wants a new role in real estate

Shout out to Reality Speaks of the Solvivaz Nation. They are bringing Dr. Ray Hagins to Baltimore again TOMORROW, April 26, 2008 7PM. Check out their note below and please do all you can to support this valuable engagement.

Greetings Family,

Reality Speaks of Solvivaz Nation would like to invite the entire Afrikan family to join us as we feature Rev. Dr. Ray Hagins this Saturday @ the Sojourner Douglass College 200 N. Central Ave from 7pm-10pm doors open at 6pm. Tickets for this event are $15 in advance and $20 at the door.

America is Falling: How will the Black Man and Woman Survive???

This is a don’t miss event!!! Dr. Rev. Ray Hagins challenges the way we as Black people think about ourselves and our worldview. This will definitely be an informative event for Afrikans of all ages.

FMI call Reality Speaks Bookstore and Media Center 410-889-0477or visit us online at www.RealitySpeaksBookstore.com

We appreciate your support. Tubman Fried Fish Dinners will be sold!!!

Hat Tip: Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — Three detectives were acquitted of all charges Friday in the 50-shot killing of an unarmed groom-to-be on his wedding day, a case that put the NYPD at the center of another dispute involving allegations of excessive firepower.

Justice Arthur Cooperman delivered the verdict in a Queens courtroom packed with spectators, including victim Sean Bell’s fiancee and parents, and at least 200 people gathered outside the building.

The verdict provoked an outpouring of emotions: Bell’s fiancee immediately walked out of the room. His mother cried.

Outside the courthouse, which was surrounded by scores of police officers, many in the crowd began weeping as news of the verdict said. Others were enraged, swearing and screaming “Murderers! Murderers!” or “KKK!”

Bell, a 23-year-old black man, was killed in a hail of gunfire outside a seedy strip club in Queens on Nov. 25, 2006 — his wedding day — as he was leaving his bachelor party with two friends.

Read More

Yesterday I was on assignment to cover the Pennsylvania Primary for My Urban Report.com. I have to tell you that I am an Obama supporter, but I had our team out getting un-biased coverage of all candidates—we even reached out to the Republicans and interviewed a McCain supporter.

Our reporter, Adrienne Hall asked four questions:
1. Who do you support and why?

2. What issues are important to you in your decision to support the candidate?

3. Do you think the (mainstream)media has been doing a good (fair) job in covering the candidates and the issues?

4. Is there anything else you’d like to add?

I thought these questions were fair and gave each side to present their case. The interesting thing that came across is that a majority of Hillary Clinton supporters wanted to know the questions in advance and where was this going to air and why where we there? Of course, you know where I am going—the race card. Yes, our crew was all black and one of our workers had a Barack shirt on at first, but I intentionally asked him to wear another one so people wouldn’t feel the bias. Does every African-America support Obama? No—we have evidence here when we interviewed Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs-Jones of Ohio. (see photo)

The interesting part was that most of the Obama supporters both white and black didn’t ask for the details of questions at all. Is there really a racial divide in our Democratic party and we are just too scared to talk about it—that is another blog post in itself, so I digress.

For those of you who are skeptical, I am looking to partner with a another production company out of Charlotte, North Carolina (who happens to have an all white crew) and they will ask the same questions and represent myurbanreport.com during the May 6 primary in North Carolina.

Chip Dizárd is the Co-Founder and Creative Director of Absolute Presence, a web site development firm that began in 2002. He has worked on many diverse projects and clients which include church and ministry web sites, political campaign, business and most recently in May of 2007 his firm designed and implemented the official web site of the City of Baltimore. Visit Absolute Presence today! (He’s also a blogger.)

That’s right ladies and gentlemen. Despite the tumult that she has recently experienced in her own past marriage(s); “Dr.” Juanita Bynum will now be giving counsel to those couples who are planning to move forward with divorce proceedings on the Divorce Court television show. (Only in America can you have television shows centered around failed marriages. How does our society create a market for this mess!?)

I’m not one who totally discredits the marital counsel of those who have been divorced. Certainly, some of those individuals have learned much about marriage and themselves making them perfect candidates to point out potential potholes for others. However, I remain concerned that the wounds in “Dr.” Bynum’s relationship are still too fresh…too new to be able to counsel in a balanced and thorough way. (Even Star Jones - after her Bynum-esque wedding of the century went the rational route and is now engaging in a quiet divorce and is asking for “privacy with her thoughts“. That’s what newly divorced people do! They go sit down somewhere and get themselves together. They don’t call a press conference the day after the marital explosion claiming to be a spokeswoman for battered women across America!)

Wait. There’s more. According to this report, Bynum will also be talking about her divorce on the show. Talking about how she loves herself more now (nooooo really?), how she’s “done”, and how the rumors about reconciliation are false. Though her appearance on the television show could affect the mediation that she and her estranged husband are presently engaging in; Bynum will be on the set and in front of the cameras anyway.

Her marketing machine continues to roll full speed ahead. Bynum is certainly an ambitious sista who is striking while the iron of her own celebrity is hot. She seems to be jumping on every opportunity to get in front of a camera, call a conference, or sell a product.

I don’t know folks. I know I’m biased against Bynum for a number of reasons so perhaps I’m being too harsh and a bit unfair. I know I’m not one that’s interested in building a marketing empire that’s centered on me, but is there anything wrong with her doing it? Maybe I need to cut the sista some slack.

On Thursday, April 10, 2008 I was invited to give a brief presentation to Morgan State University students about Genocide in Darfur Sudan. As my regular readers know, this has been a primary issue for me for the past three years. After more than 500 emails, a stack of sermons, a folder full of articles, a handful of rallies, advocating for two important divestment bills, and organizing a local Baltimore for Darfur event (Thank you Pastor Qismat Alim of Payne Memorial AME Church), I’m not tired yet. There is so much more that needs to be done on this issue.

And while I’m cognizant of some of the valid concerns that some African Americans are raising in reference to the flurry of activity on this issue by non-Africans; I am not content with doing nothing just because those that are waving the biggest banner on this issue may have ulterior motives. If you want to criticize the Jewish-led Save Darfur organization - fine. Yes, they have some problems, but don’t waste precious energy on critiquing them. We Diasporan Africans must put our hands to the plow in mass on this issue - taking the lead while welcoming all sincere offers of assistance.

The Morgan State University Deltas are great. They packed the room with about 50 students - mostly young ladies - all there to hear more about what is happening in Darfur and how they can help. (Shout out to Kiana Buckson - Chair of International Awareness & Involvement!) One of the most pointed recommendations that I gave the group of attentive students was to petition Morgan State’s Board of Regents with a request to have the University divest from Sudan like Howard University has done. (H.U. was the first Historically Black College or University to divest from Sudan.)

The MSU Deltas’ focus on this issue is right on time. This AP Report reveals that the United Nations believes that the Darfur conflict is worsening. According to the UN, there is no prospect of a political settlement, a new peacekeeping force won’t be deployed until 2009, and the UN World Food Program will have to cut in half the amount of food they are delivering to the needy because humanitarian convoys are being attacked! I’ve just about lost all faith in the international community of nations. They have willingly failed miserably on this issue choosing to vomit up words like “never again” again and again while our Sudanese sisters and brothers suffer.

I pray that Morgan students and all students in this nation will commit themselves to this issue. History has shown that students have often led the way in bringing about the radical realities of justice with peace that most adults only have strength to speak about.

Come on youth and young adults! History is once again beckoning us to the forefront!

ACTION ALERT!
Proctor & Gamble wants to hear from you!
April 2008

Great News!

As a result of the Parent Television Council’s “Rap on Rap” study, (in collaboration with the Enough is Enough Campaign) Proctor & Gamble would like to know whether you as a consumer would like them to change their advertising during music video programs on BET and MTV that glorify violence, drug use, drug dealing, contains sexually explicit theme, and portray men of color as pimps, gangsters, and thugs. P&G has set up a toll-free number to record your input.

Proctor & Gamble Contact Information

Please call (800) 331-3774.

Then, press 1 for “English”. You will then be prompted as follows:

“Thank you for calling P&G. If you are calling about our advertising on BET & MTV, please press 1.”

(press “1″ here)

The message will then say,

“We appreciate your taking the time out of your day to share your thoughts with us. For your convenience, we’ve set up this quick and easy way for you to register your opinion. If you would like us to change our advertising on BET & MTV, please press 1. If you would like us to continue our current advertising on BET, please press 2.”

(Press “1″ here)

You will then hear - “Your opinion has been counted and is being shared with the appropriate people in our company. For more information on our company, please visit us at www.pg.com. Thank you.”

END OF RECORDING!

If you are concerned about the issue of corporations sponsoring and marketing adult-themed content to children and youth, and content that glorifies drug use, degrades women, and glorifies a criminal lifestyle, call this the toll-free number above.

Also, share with ALL of your friends, co-workers, and family members who are concerned about this issue as well by clicking “Email This” at the top and send this email to those in your address book. Let’s make a change. Let your voice be heard.

You may also fax the Consumer Relations department at Proctor & Gamble at (513) 983-2881.

Once you do it, post a quick comment below sharing your experience calling the number and why you decided to support. Thank you!