Faith in Action

An excerpt from a 1963 speech by Bro. Malcolm X entitled “God’s Judgement of White America.”

In this deceitful American game of power politics, the Negroes (i.e., the race problem, the integration and civil rights issues) are nothing but tools, used by one group of whites called Liberals against another group of whites called Conservatives, either to get into power or to remain in power.

Among whites here in America, the political teams are no longer divided into Democrats and Republicans. The whites who are now struggling for control of the American political throne are divided into “liberal” and “conservative” camps. The white liberals from both parties cross party lines to work together toward the same goal, and white conservatives from both parties do likewise.

The white liberal differs from the white conservative only in one way: the liberal is more deceitful than the conservative. The liberal is more hypocritical than the conservative.

Both want power, but the white liberal is the one who has perfected the art of posing as the Negro’s friend and benefactor; and by winning the friendship, allegiance, and support of the Negro, the white liberal is able to use the Negro as a pawn or tool in this political “football game” that is constantly raging between the white liberals and white conservatives.

Politically the American Negro is nothing but a football and the white liberals control this mentally dead ball through tricks of tokenism: false promises of integration and civil rights. In this profitable game of deceiving and exploiting the politics of the American Negro, those white liberals have the willing cooperation of the Negro civil rights leaders. These “leaders” sell out our people for just a few crumbs of token recognition and token gains. These “leaders” are satisfied with token victories and token progress because they themselves are nothing but token leaders….

Read More

It was for male ex-offenders who were there to receive information that could potentially help their situation. Here’s part 1 of my sharing. You can check out the rest on my youtube page.

On that same day I conducted a Social Justice Bible Study session for the United Worker’s Association. They have an Organizer’s Training Program that they’ve just started with some of their low-wage workers. The day before I was in Annapolis meeting with members of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland meeting about Governor Martin O’Malley’s absurd DNA bill and from Annapolis did 95 on 95 to get to the studio of WEAA 88.9FM to be a guest on Front Page hosted by my good brother, Craig Thompson. We were talking about Dr. Jeremiah Wright, the Black Church, and Black Liberation Theology.

Once I got home Tuesday night from this long 48 hours of giving and sharing I went straight to bed and slept for 12 hours. (I never do that)

I’m tired ya’ll. My body, mind, and spirit needs a break. I’ve been going full throttle for months now. Vacation please!?

A “hustler for justice” - that’s what a good sister-friend of mine called me not too long ago. And if that is the case then today I got my hustle on big time.

Faith in Action the radio program aired on Spirit 1400AM at 1PM and we talked about whether Faith or Race should hold ultimate authority as Believers engage matters of politics, public policy, etc. Pamela Wilson, author of Finding Soul Brothers: Dismantling Black Christian Racialism and Dr. Jonathan Walton, Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at the University of California, Riverside were our guests. The conversation was pretty interesting. Wilson contends that our cultural identification should be minimized when we “come to Christ” while Walton took the position that we shouldn’t allow ourselves to be narrowly defined by the “either-or” lenses of Faith or Race. You know where I stood with my Red, Black, and Green, Pan-Afrikanist, Daishiki-wearing, Revolution starting, White Power Structure critiquing self. (Have you donated to the Faith in Action show yet? If not, why not? I haven’t proved myself yet?)

We were joined in the conversation by Tracy Ward, reporter and writer with The Baltimore Afro American Newspaper. Sis. Ward is a powerful orator, poet, community activist, etc. who has given new life to the Faith in Action page of The Afro. That page has been a place where one could read about everything BUT people of Faith putting into practice what they believe. Ward’s writing is a breath of fresh air as she is on the grind telling the stories of Believers who are in the trenches living out Luke 4:18,19. Sis. Tracy was in the studio today working on a piece about me and the work that I’m doing in the Baltimore Metro area. The piece may be out this Friday, March 21, 2008 - “Good Friday.” I pray that the piece encourages those who are out there “hustling for justice” and that it convicts those who choose to neglect their duty as laborers in the vineyard. (I believe that at this stage if you’re a preacher and you’re not active in some substantive way in the community then it’s because you don’t want to be. Ignorance is not an excuse.)

Read More

SOURCE: (Sun photo by Glenn Fawcett / February 6, 2008)

ANNAPOLIS - About two dozen teenagers were detained this afternoon during a rowdy protest outside the State House.

The students — who were calling for more funding for education — were cuffed with plastic bands after trying to carry a fake cardboard coffin up the steps of the State House.

A total of about 300 students attended the protest. All were from Baltimore City schools, and were brought to Annapolis on public school buses. One Baltimore City College teacher said students were allowed out of class to attend the protest.

READ MORE

OTHER RELATED ARTICLES YOU MAY ENJOY:

I’m watching TV trying to keep track of the Super Tuesday results. I turn to Fox and there he is. Karl Rove is on the screen with the label “political strategist” or something under his face! Unbeknownst to me until like 2 minutes ago, Rove is on staff at Fox News now.

Wow.

The man who was often called “Bush’s Brain” has now found a safe haven to spew his ideology - Fox News. Does it concern anyone else that President George Bush’s former political strategist and chief mastermind is now sitting behind a “news” desk telling the nation what it should think about the upcoming presidential election.

Immortal Technique is right. American media, by and large, has become the Fourth Branch of the Government. And we know what that’s characteristic of right, Ladies and Gentlemen? You guessed it. FASCISM.

OTHER RELATED ARTICLES YOU MAY ENJOY:

Every Friday I’m blessed to be on the Larry Young Morning Show (WOLB Baltimore 1010AM) for the last hour of the program with my good brother, Farajii Muhammad.

Larry (or “LY”) decided late last year to invite two “Under 30” community servants to be on the air and give commentary from a youthful perspective regarding the issues that he and Coach Butch McAdams’ raise. I think it was also enticing to them that Bro. Farajii is a Muslim minister and I am a Christian minister.

Well we had quite an interesting show on Friday, January 4th - the first show of the year. As always Farajii and I got to the studio without knowledge of what we would be discussing for the day. We were informed upon arrival that that day we would be having an in-studio interview with David Talbert to discuss his latest movie - First Sunday starring Ice Cube, Katt Williams, and Tracy Morgan. The film is about two friends who come up with the plan to rob a Black Church for its building fund money. When I heard this, my stomach immediately began to turn. I had seen the previews to this film and honestly did not like what I saw and did not plan on wasting my money to see the full picture. How was I going to conduct this interview in a way that wouldn’t offend Talbert or Larry Young - the man who opened the door for me to get on the show?

I wrestled with this question up until 9:30AM when during a commercial break, Talbert walked in and greeted everyone in the room.

The brother seemed cool enough, but I’m sure he had no idea that this wouldn’t be the easy-going promotional interview that he had planned.
Read More

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?

One of my favorite pastors and a dear colleague of mine, Dr. Delman Coates, had a very interesting Saturday night. He, along with hundreds of supporters from the Enough is Enough Campaign spent the evening marching in protest out front the Warner Theater - the location of the taping of the 2008 BET Honors Awards show.

If you’ve fell victim to the media blackout on this, Coates, pastor of the Ennon Baptist Church in Clinton, MD, and the Enough is Enough Campaign have been protesting out front the home of BET CEO, Debra Lee, for the past many months. A New York Chapter of Enough is Enough has also been initiated and that branch of the campaign protests out front the Manhattan residence of Philippe Dauman, President & CEO of Viacom.

I must say that I am impressed with the perseverance of Enough is Enough. I knew that when things got started late summer of last year that there would be great momentum. However, I wasn’t sure how things would go once the winter weather rolled into the area. So far - they’ve marched on undaunted.

Time will tell if they have the stamina to continue this noble fight - and it will be a marathon for justice… not a 40 yard dash. Remember that the Montgomery Bus Boycott lasted 381 days! People sacrificed for more than a year in order to get justice in Alabama. I pray that the Enough is Enough Family has that same type of appetite for righteousness. I will continue to support them in a myriad of ways and I hope you are led to find a way to support as well.