One of the joys of my life currently involves the privilege I have been afforded to mentor incarcerated youth. Twice per week I am blessed to connect with young men who have been charged as adults for various crimes. For me, they truly represent what I like to call “brilliance behind bars.” Though some...
On different occasions, I’ve heard it said by my Elders that Jim Crow never died, but if he did his son James Crow, Esquire is doing a wonderful job keeping the family business alive. “Jim Crow” referred to the laws and social norms that not only gave legitimacy to racism/white supremacy, but openly ensured...
Ask most people about the “civil rights” movement and you’re likely to eventually hear the names of men woven into their response. Without proper perspective, one could grow up in this country believing that the fight for “civil rights” was led, organized, and executed solely by men. Deeper study, however, will reveal that in...
I remember it like it was yesterday. It wasn’t too long ago, but the emotional roller coaster was so terrifying that I’ll not soon forget the experience. I was in my first year of pastoring sitting at a Christian convention meeting at a West Baltimore church. The meeting portion of the mid-day program had...
I watched this CNN interview and exchange last night between Tom Horne, Arizone Superintendent of Public Instruction and Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, professor and social critic. The issue was Arizona’s new ban on ethnic studies. Apparently, Arizona’s public school system was worried about non-white children being taught their history. According to Mr. Horne, as...
Recently, I finished reading The Next Evangelicalism: Freeing the Church from Western Cultural Captivity by Soong-Chan Rah. Rah, a fellow Baltimorean by way of Korea, provides a truly thoughtful and passionate critique of the current landscape of American Christianity. The foundation of the book’s argument is not rooted in theology, but actually finds it...
One of my new gigs this year is that I’m a book reviewer for InterVarsity Press. Thanks to this blog, someone from the publishing company contacted me and wondered if I would be interested in reading and writing reviews of their publications. Of course, I jumped at the opportunity. I LOVE books! I understand...
for their upcoming edition entitled “Separate Lives: Why Baltimoreans Don’t Mix, and What We Can Do About It.” They are partnering with Open Society Institute (OSI) on this being as though OSI has spent about half this year rolling out their Talking About Race Series. I was only allowed to submit 300 words max...
As I’ve mentioned in a previous post, one of the books I’m reading these days is entitled Everyday Justice: The Global Impact of our Daily Choices by Julie Clawson. It’s a book that has sensitized me to how some of my lifestyle choices – as innocent as they seem – have an adverse impact...
Kwanzaa Reflection 2011: Today’s Principle is Nia – Purpose
Habari Gani? Nia which means purpose. 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...
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