If we want the children to value the King Holiday; we must not only tell them of the Baptist preacher’s life and legacy, but we must also tell them how hard and long Black people and allies struggled to get the U.S. Government to honor him.

Enjoy the clip below.

November 2, 1983: President Reagan Approves MLK Holiday

To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.

And in that spirit of Nia; I’d like to share this important article written by Dr. Adam Clark.

CHRISTIANITY AND KWANZAA
By Dr. Adam Clark
(originally posted on The Huffington Post)

It’s strange that the day after Christians celebrate the birth of child who was to become a liberator that they fail to see the liberating possibilities in the week long celebration of Kwanzaa (Dec. 26-Jan. 1.) The infancy narratives in Matthew and Luke portray Jesus as the bearer of concrete longings of a people for freedom from Roman rule. Kwanzaa was created out of the liberation narrative of the 1960s. The longing of African American people for freedom, selfhood and beauty grounds and shapes the vision, values and practices of Kwanzaa. It is derived from African first-fruits harvest celebrations and encourages it’s observers to be thankful for good and beauty of Creation and act for the well-being and wholeness of the world.

Despite its ecumenical character, Kwanzaa remains controversial in black churches. Many popular websites professing to explore the relationship between Christianity and Kwanzaa encourage Christians not to practice Kwanzaa. These websites question the relevance of Kwanzaa to the atoning work of Jesus Christ. Some regard Kwanzaa as a rival “pagan holiday,” “cultic celebration” or as idol worship. Others question the motives of the creator of Kwanzaa, Maulana Karenga, who is cast as an anti-Christian thinker, hostile to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. These religious detractors position themselves as defenders of the faith and see their attacks on Kwanzaa as a way of preserving biblical faith against the unbiblical principles of Kwanzaa.

What’s ironic is that the people who denounce Kwanzaa do not have the same suspicion toward the celebration of Christmas. There is a sharp distinction between the biblical portrayal of Christmas and its contemporary emphases. Christmas Day originated when the church used the stories of the birth of Jesus to place a thin Christian veneer over the Roman holiday celebrating the Winter solstice. The American celebration of Christmas that features Santa Claus as its chief icon, lighted trees, shopping rituals, massive food grabs and spectacular gift giving resemble the festivals of Imperial Rome that honored the might of Caesar more than the humble story of a couple that gave birth to a Christ-child in a manger.

CLICK HERE TO READ FULL ARTICLE

Habari Gani? Ujamma – Cooperative Economics

To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together.

It was a little more than three years ago when I giving particular attention to the development of the early Christian church as described in the book of Acts. Scripture says that after the departure of Jesus, the Holy Spirit of God descended in mass upon his followers imbuing them with confidence, power, and the ability to speak in foreign languages so that others nearby could understand. Not only that, but the Spirit also was the fuel which re-organized this infant community around daily fellowship and shared meals. Remarkably, another feature of this new community of Faith was that they rejected personal possessions and sold their belongings in order to provide for anyone’s needs. [You can read the full biblical account by Clicking Here]

My excitement of that scriptural vision at that time pushed me to proclaim that the early Christians were Socialists and to suggest that today’s Christians should be as well.

And while I’m not sure that I would so hastily draw the same conclusion today, at the very least I still maintain that scripture presents the early Church as embracing an inspiring COMMUNALISM. There was a certain and celebrated interconnectedness that characterized the early Christian community. And when I think about that interconnectedness and strong sense of communalism, I think about today’s Kwanzaa principle – Ujamaa: Cooperative Economics.

Many have spoken on the importance of the Black Community handling money with greater intentionality and for purposes that would uplift our community. Brother Malcolm X spoke plainly about the importance of us having a hand in the economics of our own neighborhoods, owning the businesses in our neighborhoods and thereby being in a position to employ our own people. Tied to Bro. Malcolm’s position, research shows that Black businesses are more likely than White businesses to hire Black people. Given the stark unemployment rate today for American Africans (15.5% among those still looking for work), supporting Black Businesses must become a priority in our community for in many cases when we support Black Businesses, we support ourselves.

I’m so thankful to live in a city with so many industrious American Africans who are running their own businesses and I make it my business to support them in many ways.

For example, like many of you, I have tons of meetings to attend every month and many of these meetings happen over some kind of meal. Whenever I can, I recommend the “meeting over a meal” to take place at a Black cafe’ or restaurant. Baltimore has many of them, but two of my favorites are the Darker Than Blue Cafe on Greenmount Avenue and Terra Cafe on 25th Street. These two award-winning restaurants are led by inspiring Black Men – Bro. Casey Jenkins (Darker Than Blue) and Bro. Terence Dickson (Terra Cafe) respectively. They’ve created a “down home” atmosphere and serve good food at reasonable prices.

Rev. Heber Brown, III pictured with Brother Nati of Everyone's Place African Cultural Center

You can also get great books and Afrocentric DVD’s from Reality Speaks Bookstore and Media Center. Bro. Jabari and Sista Yaa are longtime advocates for an Afrocentric way of life for African people in Tubman City (Baltimore) and should be supported.

When it comes to apparel, I tend to head to Sankofa African & World Bazaar on North Charles Street.

But for the past month or so, I’ve been excited though because the clothing brand, Alkebu-Lan Gear, has had a kiosk at Towson Mall now located on the third floor. Bro. Darron Waller, (a fellow Morganite!) has created an exciting and fashionable brand that is worn by people all over the world – including on Sesame Street. Bro. Waller has a special sale running until Saturday, December 31, 2011 – buy one shirt, get two free!

I could go on, but you get the point. For all the unseemly and parasitic businesses that drain life and resources from the Black community (with our support!); there are many many more inspiring and empowering Black-owned establishments that stand as beacons of our industrious history, champions of our culture, and founding stones of the 21st-Century Black Wall Street that we have yet to rebuild.

No matter what city or state you’re reading this from; I’d love to know what Black-owned, community-supportive businesses that you frequent or know of. Let’s connect the dots and share. Please provide a website or physical address where possible.

Ashe.

State Senator C. Anthony Muse Speaks With Baltimore Clergy

On the same day that Stephanie Rawlings-Blake was being formerly inaugurated into the office of Mayor of Baltimore, State Senator C. Anthony Muse met with Baltimore clergy at First Apostolic Faith Church to share his ideas related to a potential run for U.S. Senate.

The Baltimore-native and and Prince George’s County Pastor currently is serving his second term as State Senator representing Maryland’s 26th Legislative District. 

In a room of nearly two dozen Baltimore-area clergy, Muse shared his concerns related to challenges in the country and specifically in the Black Community. He lamented the lackluster response to Black unemployment by those representing Maryland on Capitol Hill, and pledged that his priority as a U.S. Senator would center on job creation. In familiar clergy cadence, he also spoke about education, housing issues, and his vote against the redistricting plan which, he said, negatively impacts Maryland’s Black community resulting in the potential loss of millions of dollars.

It wasn’t lost on the clergy in attendance that the 42 million African Americans in this country don’t have one Black Senator to point to on Capitol Hill. In fact, as of 2011, only six African Americans have ever served as a U.S. Senator – with the first one, Rev. Hiram Revels, having a Baltimore connection as well. The historic undertones were and are clear.

That notwithstanding, defeating the incumbent in this race, Senator Ben Cardin would be a monumental feat for any challenger. Cardin, who has been in Maryland politics since 1967, has a long political track-record, firm name recognition, and the solidified support of the Jewish community of which he is a member. 

Thanks to his congressional staffer, Jerome Stephens, who is also a Baltimore minister, Cardin has relationships with Baltimore-area Black clergy as well – providing some with material and financial support for their various ministry outreach endeavors.  A reality that may keep some Baltimore clergy in Cardin’s camp.

The hinge on which this election may swing just may center on the question of whether the Black community will get solidly behind Muse as the Jewish community is solidly behind Cardin.  

Muse won’t likely win the fundraising contest, but if Blacks unite behind him, he has a real chance of becoming the next U.S. Senator of the United States – essentially representing not just Maryland’s Black Community, but being a voice at the table for Blacks across the Nation.

Perhaps this is why President Obama offered a very early endorsement of Senator Cardin.

In the 2006 U.S. Senate election, Cardin defeated Lt. Governor Michael Steele in the general election by 10 percentage points, but lost by wide margins in Baltimore City and Prince George’s County – Maryland’s most populous Black districts that are overwhelmingly democrat. Perhaps the more ominous numbers from the 2006 campaign are that Cardin only garnered 257,000 votes in the democratic primary against Kweisi Mfume. Since that time, upwards of 300,000 new Black voters have come on the rolls in Maryland – most in 2008 to support then-candidate Obama for president. These same voters are more likely to return to the polls in the presidential election of 2012 to vote on a ballot that in addition to Obama, may also have C. Anthony Muse’s name on it.

What does all of this mean? Well, it means that a strong Black candidate with solidified and enthusiastic support from the Black community has a real chance of defeating Senator Ben Cardin and making history for the Black community once again on April 3, 2012 – the date of the Primary Election.

The Black Community will not only have the opportunity to send a Black Man back to the White House as president, but to send a Black Man to the Senate too.

This should be quite an interesting race.

Jim Wallis, Founder of Sojourner Magazine

Jim Wallis writes a thought-provoking article about the “end” of the Iraq War entitled, It’s Finally Over – and it was Wrong.”

It made me think about the first time I was arrested for direct action and civil disobedience in protest of the military invasion and occupation of Iraq four years ago. The action was planned and promoted in large measure by the Sojourner’s community. I kept the cuffs that restrained me that cold night so that I can show my sons that sometimes living with convictions will cost you something.

But Wallis’ article on Iraq also pricked something else in me. It made me think of the ever-expanding U.S. military action now under President Obama. The same convictions that catapulted me to the White House in protest four years ago are the same ones that critique this president. Obama is not above critique and is NOT greater than the foundational spiritual tenets that I embrace as a follower of Jesus. Here is the comment that bubbled up from my soul onto Wallis’ website in response to his article:

Great article, Jim.

I marched with you and others during the Christian Peace Witness for Iraq in March 2007.

Reading how you rightly described the distortions and lies that justified war in Iraq under Bush made me think of the lies spewed to justify military action in Libya, Uganda, and other parts of the world under Obama.

I didn’t march in 2007 against a republican president. I marched because I embrace the ethic of the Prince of Peace and am co-laboring with others to experience the Beloved Community. With the American military empire spreading now under a democratic president; I believe it’s time for another gathering and mobilization of people of Faith.

To march when Bush calls for war and withhold from marching when Obama expands war across the world threatens our credibility as people whose “citizenship is in Heaven.” It’s easy to stand for conviction when it’ll be embraced and applauded (as it was under Bush). It takes a greater level of resolve to act on convictions when it won’t be popular and will cost us something.

The Church is in danger of losing its voice.

Time to Blow the Trumpet,

Pastor Heber Brown, III
Baltimore, MD

Of course I’m expecting this to be one of the chapters in D. Brent Laytham’s next series of books….right after the chapter entitled, “God Is Not A ‘He” and before the chapter “God Is Not A Christian.”

Enjoy:

And it is there – in the gap between people’s needs and available municipal resources that Mountain Christian Church in Bel Air, Maryland is actively making a difference.

As a subscriber to their church e-newsletter (yes, pastors subscribe to other church newsletters all the time!), I received the note from Pastor Ben before Hurricane Irene hit Maryland. Like most Houses of Prayer in the area; Pastor Ben was sending out an update to the congregation about worship services that weekend. However, after informing readers that worship would be cancelled; he wrote something that excited my spirit. His message read in part:

Often I write an enote urging you to COME to church. That’s what you expect from a preacher, right? “Go to church!” But this weekend, I have a different message for you.
This weekend, DON’T GO TO CHURCH. Instead, BE the church!

Storms like this can bring people together, build community, and create ministry opportunities – a chance for us to rain down big time blessings on others, to help them see the real heart of Jesus’ people. Be thinking how you can build relationships with neighbors through this.

Pastor Ben redirected the attention and energy of his congregation from church service to…well – church service. Calling this initiative Operation Irene; he gave his parishioners ideas on how to serve others before, during, and after the storm like opening their homes to the elderly so they don’t have to ride out the storm alone, anticipating school closures and offering to help parents with childcare arrangements after the storm, and buying extra supplies (water, flashlights, etc.) to share with neighbors.

On top of all of that, the church set up a phone number that people could call to request help with removing debris and cutting trees after the storm. They have a ministry called Bodybuilders – “a construction/repair ministry…made up of teams of people with different skills who are prepared to work on a number of different building projects.”

Sharing their post-Irene storm assistance number on their website and other outlets, people could call on the church to come help clear away damage and secure homes. Word is that even their county government and even the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was giving out the church number for those needing help within the neighborhood of that church!

With all the criticism that the Christian Church receives in the world (a lot of it much deserved!); it’s great to see churches like this extending themselves beyond themselves to make a difference for somebody.

Shout out to Pastor Ben and the Mountain Christian Family!

Click this link to read their full letter of response [link opens pdf file]

Photo by Rich Dennison/The Daily Record

That’s the question I would ask Donald Fry (pictured), head of the influential Greater Baltimore Committee and Governor-appointed Chair of the Video Lottery Facility Location Commission.

The Baltimore Business Journal reported last week that the 7 member commission voted to “ease” [read: ignore] state requirements which would call for 25% of the casino construction project to go to MBE (minority-business enterprise) or WBE (women-business enterprise) certified firms. Likewise, successful licensees won’t have to bother with the Baltimore City requirement that calls for 37% minority-owned or woman-owned business participation either.

Apparently, it’s just that easy to make a state and city requirement – “optional.”

The interim-Mayor of Baltimore, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, didn’t seem to know that the Video Lottery Facility Location Commission “eased” the MBE/WBE requirement on the city slots construction project when she was asked about it on the Marc Steiner Show on the evening of Thursday, August 18th – the day after the controversial vote. However, she did say that she takes the MBE/WBE goals very seriously and that many bidding firms are disqualified if their proposals don’t meet them.

Despite her proclaimed convictions related to including minorities and women in state contracts, it’s doubtful that she’ll challenge the ruling of the slots commission given that she’s in the midst of a contentious election and the head of the commission was chosen by her political ally, Governor Martin O’Malley.

She’ll take one for the team on this one.

However, The Baltimore City branch of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) isn’t laying down so quietly. In the following open letter, Rev. C.D. Witherspoon, President of the Baltimore Branch of the SCLC, challenged Mr. Fry to explain why the state MBE/WBE requirements were removed from the city casino construction project:

Rev. Cortly “C.D.” Witherspoon, Sr.
President,
Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC)
Baltimore City Chapter

The recent political endorsement of current Mayor, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, by the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance has caused quite a stir and rightly so. Mayoral candidate, Senator Cathy Pugh in disrupting the endorsement forum last week at Friendship Baptist Church did more than reveal an egregious departure from tradition and fair process that would have allowed all candidates to vie for the IMA’s endorsement; her action pulled back the covers on an organization that has lost its way.

Like many civil rights-era organizations; the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance is struggling to find its footing in a world that is vastly different from the one which it knew in its heyday. In its prime, the Alliance was a force to deal with particularly between the ’50′s – ’70′s especially – addressing pressing matters over the years like employment for African Americans and social justice for the most vulnerable in Baltimore. The Alliance demanded respect from political leaders and helped to secure much needed legislation and programs for those who otherwise had no voice with the powerbrokers. Its strength was, in part, found within the strong personalities that served as magnetic forces attracting other pastors and concerned residents to, as James Brown would say, “get up, get into it, and get involved.”

However, the IMA is now far past its prime and struggling to regain its vigor.

The endorsement forum last week caused a tremendous blow to the credibility of the organization and its debatable as to whether or not the Alliance can fully recover if things remain the same. The endorsement of Stephanie Rawlings-Blake by the Alliance should be thrown out and summarily disregarded by the public. It did not represent the input of the full membership and many clergy members did not even know that it was scheduled to take place. Furthermore, the endorsement is deficient because it was not predicated upon alignment with any clear IMA agenda.

The truth is that the endorsement was just the first public example of the Alliance’s struggles. For at least the past 4 years, the Alliance has been faltering. It’s leadership process is questionable and its public action is largely symbolic and absent of substance or follow up. It has no agenda to hold anyone accountable to and its past-strength was wrapped around larger-than-life clergy personalities and through the example of Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. and others we’ve seen that that model is not sustainable for the longterm. The membership has shriveled from 250 active members at one point to now just about 10-15 pastors (a good number of them retired) who regularly come to the monthly meetings.

Despite the current troubles of the IMA; as a past Vice President of the group, I believe that there is still hope for the organization. Not only do I believe that, but I pray for a revival of the group. The legacy of the IMA is too rich and too important to the history of Baltimore to discard now just because it has made a very public mistake. Should the Alliance be held accountable? Most definitely and it deserves every bit of criticism that it has received because of the endorsement “process.”  However, there’s an old saying: “Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.” Anybody who wonders about the irrevocable importance of the IMA should read books like Harold McDougall’s Black Baltimore: A New Theory of Community or pay a visit to the Reginald F. Lewis Museum or the African American Department at the Enoch Pratt Central Library and review the burgeoning vertical files which detail the commendable actions of this group over the years.

No people of sound mind would throw away such a magnificent aspect of their story on the timeline of history.

Nevertheless things do need to change with the Alliance if it wants to be around in a meaningful way for the next generation and for this city. If the bulk of your accomplishments can only be found in museums and libraries, then that should be a sign that the health of the organization is suspect. Here are a few of my recommendations related to how the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance can be revived and revitalized.

1. The IMA should shelve its practice of endorsing candidates for office at this time.

An endorsement is based on the strength of the endorsers connection with a constituency. Many would argue that these clergy-activist have become disconnected from those whom they ultimately purport to represent so the endorsement doesn’t mean much in the end.

2. The IMA should go on a Listening Tour to decipher a clear agenda that is connected to the community

Preachers are used to talking. We’re celebrated and compensated for our oratorical ability. However, there comes a time when listening is preferred and needed. The IMA says it speaks for the “voiceless,” but if it sits and listens, it just might find out that the “voiceless” do have a voice worth paying attention to. Go listen and from what you hear, craft an agenda for this time.

3. The IMA should re-introduce itself to Baltimore

Most people 45 and under have little clue about who the IMA is and what it has been about. It can’t just rely on the seniors to remember their heyday. They must educate those who weren’t around during its prime. It’s hard to appreciate a history that you know nothing about. In partnership with the Great Black in Wax Museum, the Reginald F. Lewis Museum, Universities, and others; the IMA should travel to various churches and other sites around the city presenting on its history and having its past members/leadership talk about the triumphs and challenges of the group.

4. The IMA should reconsider the makeup of its membership

There was a time when preachers were more likely to be the most respected and educated members of the Black community. However, that has changed. There are so many lay people (non-clergy) who have degrees, experiences, insight, and education that need to be involved with partnering with the clergy to address pressing concerns. Currently, the IMA is made up of just clergy. Perhaps it’s time to change that.

5. The IMA should dedicate resources to an aggressive recruitment campaign to attract younger members

Many organizations are struggling to attract younger professionals to its ranks. Sometimes this is because the organization really doesn’t want young people involved and other times they just want young people to be tokens for their group photo. Young professionals will not tolerate either. They’ll much rather go and start their own organization with their peers than to partner with elders who patronize them. IMA is overwhelmingly made up of clergy 55 and older. If nothing changes and you add 15 years to the current active members; the IMA will be in an even worse state of decline if it exists at all! Young professionals (clergy and otherwise) need to be engaged, invited, and welcomed into meaningful leadership roles within the group. They need to help cast vision for today and tomorrow and be empowered to provide the tools needed to be effective in todays world. The fact that the IMA doesn’t have a website, facebook page, or twitter account should be sign enough that it needs the expertise and energy of youth.

I love the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance. It has been an invaluable resource to the development of this preacher and I’m a better pastor today because of the group. However, it has lost its way and now the question is will the leadership do what’s necessary to revive this spectacular association of social justice-minded clergy.

I pray so, but only time will tell.