Faith in Action

“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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Mainstream media reports that about 100 Haitians reached Florida’s shores riding upon a “unseaworthy” sail boat yesterday.  The exhausted and dehydrated Haitians will be processed and returned to Haiti.  This is not the case for Cubans who launch out and brave the treacherous ocean determined to make it to American soil.  Cubans who arrive are allowed to stay in the United States under a policy known as “Wetfoot/Dryfoot“.

This 2000 Washington Times article points out the discrimination behind this Cold War policy well.  Referencing the then 6 year old Cuban boy, Elian Gonzales, who washed ashore with many other Cubans after their boat capsized, the author says:

“…if Elian Gonzalez were Haitian instead of Cuban, he would have been returned to Haiti immediately.”

What’s particularly interesting as well is that President Bill Clinton and Congress adopted legislation in 1998 that put Nicaraguan, Cuban, Guatemalann, and Salvadoran immigrants who had reached the United States before 1996 eligible for permanent residency or green cards.  Congress and Clinton excluded Haitians from these protective laws.  (and to think - some Black folks still want to call Clinton the first “Black” president - the man ignored genocide in Rwanda and kicked Haitians back out to sea, but some still love him because he played the saxophone on Arsenio Hall.)

Bottom line:  we need fair and just international policy that doesn’t reinforce racist immigration laws. 

The brothers and I had a spirited discussion about the immigration issue on a recent BrothaSpeak show.  Enjoy!

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I was blessed to be a participant in a powerful weekend of Faith and prayer for peace this past weekend in DC.  The weekend’s events were organized by Christian Peace Witness - a coalition of Christian organizations calling for an end to the war, the redeployment of American soldiers, and the rebuilding of Iraq.  Thousands of Christians and those of other Faiths participated in a peace service at the National Cathedral with the overflow watching from surrounding sanctuaries.  I watched the service on the big screen at New York Ave. Presb. Church along with Pastor Andrew Foster Conners (Brown Memorial Park Ave. Presb. Church) and a few of my mentors: Dr. Arnold Howard (Enon Baptist), Dr. William Calhoun (Trinity Baptist Church), and Baltimore civil rights legend, Rev. Marion C. Bascom.  It was a wonderful experience participating in that worship experience with thousands of Believers from across the nation. 

It was even more gratifying and life changing to march forward with hundreds of prayerful people and be arrested at the gates of the White House for participating in an act of divine obedience (civil disobedience).  I spent Friday night leading into Saturday morning in the custody of the DC Police Department.  Being handcuffed, photographed, and fingerprinted for my beliefs was a liberating experience.  Maybe that sounds like an oxymoron, but I found that carrying the cross of public arrest based on my convictions as a Christian, freed me to trust God in ways that I never had before.  As I surrendered my physical freedom to those forces that secure the kingdom of this world, I secured my spiritual liberation to grow in faith to God.  While family and friends were understandably concerned about my decision to go forward with being arrested, I knew that God required a higher level of sacrifice from me.  I could not refuse the moment.  I knew that that night was ordained by God and that my presence and participation there was divinely orchestrated.

Enjoy this video of a short speech I made at a peace rally organized by Baltimore United for Peace and Justice on Monday, March 19, 2007 - the 4 year anniversary of the invasion of Iraq.

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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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7:11AM - racing down my street toward the main road.  Yes - I’m a little above the speed limit and weaving a bit in and out of traffic, but I’m not driving recklessly. (I don’t think so anyway)  I don’t drive crazy when I’m running behind schedule.  I refuse to make hair-raising turns, ride people’s bumpers, or rush pedestrians through crosswalks.  Driving like that is just rude to me.

I’m making pretty good time.  I’m praying as I approach every traffic light and yes - God is answering my prayers.  All I see is a long line of “greens” - allowing my foot to remain heavy on the gas.  It’s early so there’s not too much traffic on the road. 

I’m in downtown Baltimore now and about to get on 95 headed toward Annapolis.  I’m sitting at a red light eating my peach flavored oatmeal when a white woman with a blue coat and a cardboard sign begins to walk down the aisle of vehicles.  Her sign reads: “I am homeless and hungry.  Can you help me?  God bless you.”  I don’t feel too good about giving the homeless cash these days, but I knew that I could help.  I rolled down the window:

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By last night at around 6 or 7pm, I was thinking to myself, if my life were to end today, I’ve had a magnificent journey.  I was so high off of the day’s activities that I was almost levitating.  Let me explain.

I woke up before the crack of dawn yesterday.  I had to prepare my testimony for the Darfur Divestment bill hearing.  I only had to type a page and a half, but I was upset with myself because I knew I should have done it the night before.  While I used to justify my last minute behavior by saying, “I thrive under pressure”; I’ve come to myself now and know that it’s really that I have a problem with procrastination sometimes.  (Lord knows I’ll be glad when I beat that demon.) 

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As many of you know, Young Clergy for Social Change has been actively involved in the movement to end the genocide in Darfur, Sudan, East Africa since our beginnings in March 2005.  We’ve had articles published, collected petitions, been guests on local radio stations, attended rallies in DC, and hosted a Baltimore for Darfur Night at Payne Memorial AME Church (thank you Pastor Qismat Alim!) 

As part of the movement to end the genocide in Darfur, other states and institutions have started divesting from Sudan.  The Sudan Divestment Task Force explains divestment this way:

“Hearkening back to the days of Apartheid South Africa, fiduciaries have explored the option of divesting from companies that either do business in Sudan or with the government of Sudan. Indeed, numerous states, cities, and universities have already divested while dozens of others are currently considering this option.”

Maryland is now one of the states considering divestment.  Senator Verna Jones, Chairwoman of the Legislative Black Caucus of MD, is lead sponsor on Senate Bill 543.  This bill would require the State of MD to create a list of companies that have money tied up with the government of Sudan.  Once those companies are identified, they will be encouraged to discontinue their financial relationship with the government of Sudan.  The goal is to exert so much financial pressure on the government (without harming the people) that it must take decisive action toward ending the violence and allowing the more than 2 million displaced Darfurians to return to their homes.

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PHOTO CREDIT: George Hagegeorge     TO SEE MORE PHOTOS CLICK HERE

On Sunday, January 28, 2007, I was blessed to participate in the Interfaith Vigil of Commemoration and Commitment to Peace service held at the Cathedral of the Incarnation here in Baltimore. 

This was an effort spearheaded by the American Friends Service Committee and I was asked to serve with others to plan this event.  Under the umbrella name: Marylanders of Faith for Peace and Justice; this coalition was made up of the Cathedral of the Incarnation, Congregation Beit Tikvah, Homewood Friends Meeting, Maryland Christians for Peace and Justice, Murphy Initiative for Justice and Peace, Muslim Cultural Center of Baltimore, Pax Christi of Baltimore, The Presbytery of Baltimore, Tikkun/Network of Spiritual Progressives, Viva House Catholic Worker, and Young Clergy for Social Change.

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