Faith in Action

Hat Tip: BBC News

A Sudanese government air strike on a school in Darfur has killed at least seven children, according to the aid organisation Darfur Diaries.

The group’s spokeswoman says six more people were killed when a market was bombed during the same attack on the village of Shegeg Karo on Sunday.

A rebel group says there were four air raids in total in North Darfur.

The Sudanese air force has made no comment. Under a UN resolution, all offensive flying is banned in Sudan.

Since the conflict began in Darfur five years ago, the UN estimates that some 300,000 have died and two million have been displaced.

The UN and African Union Mission to Darfur (Unamid) said the reported bombings were “unacceptable acts against civilians”.

Its peacekeeping force of 26,000 has yet to be completely deployed to Darfur, and officials say it is unlikely to be up to full strength this year.

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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!

…they published my latest op/ed on Darfur and local divestment activities.

Click here to read my piece and feel free to comment.

Ok - my mother just sent me an email telling me to get back on the ball with my blog.  Sorry folks, I’ve been out of the loop for a minute.  I had to take care of some things.  Namely, I had to preach this past Wednesday and I had to write an article for the Baltimore Examiner.  All that writing requires a lot of creative energy and time.  Something had to give so the blog was put on hold.

I preached at the Baltimore County Ministerial Alliance Advent Service at my church.  It was a platform service with 5 associate ministers from various churches preaching on some aspect of John 3:16.  (The scripture was cut up into 5 pieces)  I’m always a bit leary of platform services because they can turn into competitions between preachers and that type of stuff nauseates me.  But the spirit of last week’s worship experience was pure and God blessed us.

The article I wrote for the Baltimore Examiner was about Darfur and the recent divestment legislation passed in Baltimore City and DC.  “The Black Eagle” Joe Madison from The Power (WOL 1450AM in DC & channel 169 on XM Radio) forwarded an email that I sent him to about 60-some odd people.  One of the people who received it was an editor of The Examiner in DC.  They forwarded it to the editor of the Op/Ed pages of the Baltimore Examiner and she emailed me requesting an article.  The article should run sometime soon in the Baltimore Examiner.  I’ll let you know when they publish it. 

I’ll be needing more of that creative energy tomorrow morning because I have a BIG opportunity.  Tomorrow morning I’ll be hosting the Larry Young Morning Show on 1010AM from 6AM - 10AM.  I’m doing the full morning show - 4 hours on 1010AM.  For those of you not in the Baltimore Metro Area or not familiar with the show; it’s one of the most popular morning talk shows targeting Black folk in this area.  I remember when I first started listening to the show and now I’m hosting it!  God is doing some amazing things in my life.  Please pray for me. It’ll be me and Coach Butch McAdams.  (Coach is like the “bad guy” on the show.  I’m time enough for him though:)

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A big thank you to everyone who took the time to send an email to members of the Baltimore City Council in reference to the Sudan Divestment Bill. 

I’m proud to announce that the bill passed and was signed into enactment by the Mayor on November 27, 2007!  YOU MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE!  I especially want to thank Tanae and Adam (all the way from Ohio!) for sending emails to City Councilwoman Helen Holton in regard to the bill.  [if you sent an email as well let me know and I'll be quick to publicly give you your props.]  See that - right from your keyboard - at work, home, or school you helped to pass a bill to support the people of Darfur.  Don’t you feel empowered?!  You should. 

I just received an email from Joe Madison as well informing me that DC just passed its own Sudan Divestment Bill!  The avalanche is growing and pressure is mounting on the government of Sudan to end this tragedy.

So what next?…you did know there was a next right?  This is not a 40 yard dash people.  This is a marathon.  So now we have got to make sure that Baltimore, the state of Maryland, and DC make the legislation come to life.  No equivicating!  Don’t just have the press conference legislators! Divest the money! 

I’ll be making a list and checking it twice, E-ACTIVISTS, to make sure the legislation is really enacted.  If it isn’t, you know I’ll blow the trumpet. 

FYI: I’ve learned that last month a new documentary starring Don Cheadle called DARFUR NOW came out.  This can be a great tool in raising awareness and encouraging action on this issue.  Here’s an idea: Get a group of your friends together and go see the movie.  You might just win over some new Darfur Activists.  Great idea right?  There’s only one problem

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Hey Family.  Please take 30 seconds to send Councilwoman Helen Holton an email about an important piece of legislation that’s going to be heard today by the Taxation & Finance Committee of the Baltimore City Council.  The bill - that will be voted on today at 10:15AM - would begin the process of divesting from Sudan in an effort to put pressure on that African nation to become a good faith partner in ending the cycle of violence in Darfur, protecting the people, and enabling them to return to their homes. 

Please take 30 seconds to send Councilwoman Holton an email.  No matter where you are in the world, you can do this.  I’ve written the email for you and I’ve provided a clickable complete with Holton (and others) email addresses already written in the “To” field.  All you have to do is click that link, copy/paste the email that I wrote in the message box and click “send.”

I just found out that I can’t go to the hearing today because I will be speaking at a local middle school for American Education Week activities.  While I’m disappointed that I can’t make the hearing, I’ll feel better knowing that people came to my blog and sent the Baltimore City Council a note encouraging them to pass this important bill.

Please Please Please go to my TAKE ACTION PAGE and follow the simple directions.  If you have any problems sending the email let me know. 

No matter where you are in the world, you can make a difference here in Baltimore and thousands of miles away in Darfur, Sudan.

Tomorrow - Thursday, November 8, 2007 10:30AM, I will be testifying before the Taxation and Finance Committee at Baltimore’s City Hall chaired by Councilwoman Helen Holton.  

They are hearing bill 07-0591; an ordinance that would prohibit the investment of public pensions or retirement funds in Sudan or in companies doing business in Sudan.  This type of legislation is designed to put pressure on the government of Sudan in Khartoum to become a good faith partner in brokering peaceful relations with the dissatisfied segments of Sudan’s population in the nation’s Darfur region which is still reeling from the vestiges of genocide and perpetual unrest.  I’ll be testifying in support of this bill and invite you to email or call Councilwoman Helen Holton expressing your support as well. (Her number is 410.396.4818)

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I received a press release this morning in my inbox that attempts to give value to another resolution concerning genocide in Darfur.  In the document, Mikulski and Cardin provide passionate quotes about how important they feel it is for the U.S. and the global community to take action on the atrocities taking place there.

So why didn’t I feel better about this situation after reading the press release?  Perhaps because it’s just more talk without action.  I called Cardin’s office to make sure I was reading it right. I wanted clarity on whether or not the resolution had teeth or if it was somehow a substantive move by Congress that would mean positive change on the ground.

The female voice on the other end of the phone affirmed my fear.  The resolution is just a document for the record - not a document of action.

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“Think Globally - Act Locally”

 That’s the motto I live by when it comes to my personal activism and advocacy involvement. 

Many of you know that I have been raising my voice for the protection of the people of Darfur since learning what was going on a couple of years back.  I’ve attended rallies with my Young Clergy for Social Change colleagues; helped organize a Baltimore for Darfur event targeting the African American Faith community, preached sermons at my church, collected petitions, had articles published in local newspapers, and have been on radio shows trying to spread the word. 

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Joe Madison is testifying for the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee.  He drops stats, facts, and figures left and right.  While half of my brain is listening to him - the other half is trying to organize my thoughts and sound half way intelligent while testifying. 

Madison is done and Walter Fauntroy goes next.  Like a good preacher he makes a little joke before starting to warm up the crowd.  They chuckle and he proceeds. 

While he’s talking I get my stuff together.  I think I can pull this off impromptu style now.  It hits me in that moment that growing up in the Black Church prepared me for this.  All those times that I had to stand and welcome visitors, respond to the welcome, sing a lead on a song, or pray over the offering prepared me for speaking confidently in front of people.  Thank you Church! (I gotta give a nod to the Future Business Leaders of America Club in high school too.  Did I mention that I placed 2nd in the county in the Impromptu Speaking competition?)

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