Black is Black

A friend recently tried to encourage me to watch a heavily-advertised "epic miniseries" on the Bible being aired on the History Channel. My first question was about the physical appearance of the characters. Predictably they were all of European descent.

It is common sense that people living in the lands where most of the biblical narrative took place were not white. If you would be astounded to meet someone from those regions today with blond hair and blue eyes. However, the very well-regarded seminary I attended likewise promoted European images of them. When I raised the question (y’all know I did, just like Buggin’ Out), they typical response was “it doesn’t matter what color they were.” The unspoken remainder of that sentiment was “as long as they are white.” 

Some might ask, why it matters. Well, first for the sake of academic integrity. If you lie to me about one thing, I can’t trust much else you say. Secondly, it matters because of institutionalized racism and its prevalence in the church.

I happen to attend one of the longest-standing historically black churches in Washington, DC. It was founded during the ante-bellum period to accommodate blacks who did not want to be treated in a discriminatory manner in a nearby Methodist Episcopal Church. Their white benefactors even provided assistance in building a new sanctuary. Needless to say, there are white images of a man they would like you to think was Jesus in several places around the building. As a matter of fact, there is a stained glass window facing the pulpit with such a depiction that is approximately 40 feet tall. I find it disconcerting, but consistent with the imperialistic mission of the organization.

This brings me to the point of spiritual integrity. The Second Commandment states:

Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments (Exodus 20:4-6).

The last I checked, Jesus was enthroned at the right hand of the Father. There should be no physical depictions of him anywhere, especially not in a Christian house of worship or inserted into the pages of bibles. Now, they must choose, is Jesus in heaven and off-limits for photo-ops or will they blatantly disregard God’s law?

I’ve heard the lame excuse that some people are visual learners and need images to help them grasp biblical truths. Well, it is a lie that Jesus is white. If you want them to grasp the truth, at least depict him correctly. One of my best friends is a United Methodist minister from Angola in SW Africa. I asked him what color Jesus would be in the picture on the wall of his church back home. He looked at me sheepishly and said “you know.” It seems missionaries push “Jesus is white” harder than they proclaim “Jesus is Lord.”

This also came up during a study of Song of Songs” using a study guide from said denomination’s publishing house. One of the narrators describes herself by saying I am black, but comely (1:5). The commentator could not grasp in the notes how being black was not a complaint. The narrator was stating matter-of-factly that she her complexion was darkened from prolonged exposure to the sun, but affirm her attractiveness. Leave it to me to expose the racist context in which the interpretation is taking place and the imperialistic regime it supports. It was a shock to some, but still a wake-up call to engage their all materials critically.

Sadly, these conversations are not welcome in the church. The strongest commentary I have seen on the subject were on episodes of The Boondocks and from stand-up comedians. Ironically, some black folks will strike you dead if you try to take away their white Jesus. However, an ignoramus of a black preacher once told me Jesus was African-American. I won’t dignify that with a response.  

The bottom line is that Jesus was a real, historical figure that did not look like Michelangelo’s effeminate brother-in-law. Most of the images we have had imposed on our consciousness were produced during a historical era when the African slave trade was being rationalized by  Europeans commissioning them. His ethnicity and appearance are not open to our social constructs.

There were many controversies concerning Jesus in the early church, but none of them focused on his race. We should likewise focus on his transcendent spirit and the power it gives us to overcome the world. If he wanted to leave a physical depiction of how he looked, he could have done that.

You Must Be Mad

Honestly, I had a hard time writing the last essay about my Sorority being founded on Christian principles with a straight face. Moreover, I had a hard time believing it the first time I heard such at the rush. Almost every fraternity and sorority on campus made some claim to religious roots and had accompanying rites expressing them.  Ironically, Greekdom is associated more with revelry, promiscuity, drunkenness, licentiousness, gossip, elitism, in-fighting, materialism, and all other manner of ungodliness than wholesomeness, benevolence, or morality.

A wide range of other organizations make the claim to rootedness in Christ. Among them are Boy Scouts, Ku Klux Klan, the Tea Party, Nazis, some prominent hospital systems, and major universities. Ironically, discipleship is not what comes to mind first when thinking of any of these entities.

Please allow me to set the record straight to keep lightning from striking me dead.  Theological commitment is not a requirement of membership, just adherence to closely-related ideals. Fortunately for me, their founding principles aligned with the religious tradition in which I was raised. However, they did not stop me one bit from raising all the hell I could from Spring 1989 until I found the Lord some seven odd years later.

Quite frankly, they could have told me they were Satanic baby-eaters and I would have still pledged Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. They were cool, hard-partying, and esteemed highly in the dating pool. Those are high priorities for a co-ed. There was plenty of time to get right with one’s maker after graduation and entry into the real world.

I seem to have this recurring conversation with my Sorors and fellow Greeks regarding what being founded on Christian principles really means. We all know that religious affiliation is not a criterion for by the quality of the membership. Nationl Panhellenic Council (NPHC) organizational symbols, rituals, and traditions are actually a syncretic combination of Judeo-Christian, Greco-Roman, and African culture. God knows we don’t always act like we are God’s children.  So why did our Founders see fit to set it as our foundation?

The basic teachings of Jesus Christ can be found in writings that preceded his earthly life. There is very little recorded that he said that was unique to him. However, there are three distinguishing marks of Christianity and it is only fitting that we consider them:

1.  Revolution.

2.  Regeneration

3.  Endurance of the movement

Let us consider these three points in the context of Delta Sigma Theta. First, revolution set the stage for its founding. Developing sisterhood of college-educated black women unaffiliated with any other organization was quite a radical move on the part of our founders. To top it off, they immediately inserted themselves into the forefront of the political issues of the day, while committing themselves to social change, academic excellence, and each other. The latter is the most significant because we are a sisterhood first. When done right, the radical love ethic inherent to belonging supercedes most natural relationships. Membership in NPHC organizations is established not just for the duration of their collegiate years, but for a lifetime (unlike their historically white counterparts).

Secondly, regeneration must occur seal the identity of those who become members of a fraternal organization. Christianity offers the opportunity for a new life empowered by the Holy Spirit. Because he lives we have the opportunity to be born again.  Membership in a fraternity or sorority requires one to have a similar experience. New initiates into Delta Sigma Theta are equipped with cardinal virtues, oath, and rituals which embody our values. Sisterhood is the spirit that empowers each member to adhere to the charge placed on her and guide her in her life of service.

Finally, there is endurance. No other movement in history compares to the rapid rise, sustained growth, permeance, and impact of Christianity.  Delta Sigma Theta just celebrated its first century of existence. By the looks of things, she is not going anywhere. It is very rare to see a fraternity or sorority cease. Delta is now a sisterhood of more than 260,000 strong with over 900 chapters located in the United States, the Caribbean, Europe, and Asia. We carry the torch ignited by our Founders to use our collective strength to:

·       promote academic excellence;

·       provide scholarships;

·       provide support to the under-served;

·       educate and stimulate participation in the establishment of positive public policy;

·       highlight issues and provide solutions for problems in their communities; and

·       use our collective strength to support one another in our respective endeavors.

Like Christianity, we, as a Sorority, have had a major impact on history—for better and for worse. We fall short on occasion, but our guiding spirit keeps us collectively on the track toward our ideals. We are not perfect, but together we perfect our purpose.    

Spirit of Sisterhood

It is no coincidence that three of the four historically black Sororities celebrate their Founding within three days of each other. This week began with Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. celebrating its Centennial Founders Day on January 13. “In grand fashion” would be an understatement.  The first historically black Sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., celebrated the 105^th anniversary of its founding on January 15.  Little did I know, the ladies of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. held up the rear in commemorating the 93^rd anniversary of their founding on January 16. One of my Sorors quipped “So I guess everybody came back from winter break determined to change the world.” My sentiments exactly.

College semesters are usually separated by season celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, or Festivus (for the rest of us). Being that the three aforementioned Sororities were founded on Christian principles, expectations raised during Advent certainly stimulated  the  senses. The living Christ makes all things possible—even suffrage, anti-lynching, academic excellence, and unbreakable bonds.

It is hard for us to fathom the brutal challenges facing black women in the early 20^th century. Slavery had been abolished less than 50 years prior, while Jim Crow and The Black Codes maintained its racist social structure.  Those who were ambitious and uppity enough to pursue higher education received a double portion. No doubt, these sisterhoods were formed out of necessity. There is strength in numbers. Bring a group together for a common purpose with commitment to common values and each other to shift the earth on its axis.

Sisterhood is not encapsulated in the respective organizations we join. By a weird coincidence, I lived with pledges of AKA and Zeta the semester I pledge Delta Sigma Theta. It would be a lie against all that is sacred to say there was no conflict in that campus suite. However, time and maturity bound us together in a way that transcends the different letters we wear. As a matter of fact, I have a stronger bond with sisters in Greekdom who were made right than some of the ill-formed members of my own Sorority. One such sister in Greekdom and I have coined the term “Sorors in eternity” to capture our shared commitment to Christian discipleship. Therefore, I will appropriate a message I delivered to my Sorors some time age, extending the principles to all who are down with the cause regardless of the nature of our sisterhood (or brotherhood).

An Ode to Sisterhood

Sorors, let us love one another with the mindfulness of God. We must keep in mind that we have committed ourselves not only to a lifetime of service, but also to a loving relationship with one other. That’s what distinguishes us from other service organizations. The NAACP, Urban League, professional organizations, and other volunteer groups are transactional. You come and you go. You do what you do. You pack up.  See you next time. There is no expectation that you care about your fellow members more than the next person. The best part is that you don’t even have to fake it.

Differentiation is a key business concept. What distinguishes a company from the rest of the pack? What makes a consumer buy your product instead of another? What do you do better than your marketplace competitors? You didn’t join a Sorority to do public service. You can do that anywhere. There was a special attraction that lured you. It is all about the relationship. When you knelt on the pillow, you said that you are in this until the end with all of the other women who have taken that same vow.

The assurance that we have as members of Delta Sigma Theta is that we are loved by a connection of like-minded women who are as mindful of us as God is of the sparrow. What’s going on in your Soror’s life?

Is she rejoicing?

Is she in pain?

Is she kicking it hard with the love of her life?

Is she dying inside of loneliness?

Did she just get a promotion?

Does she need a job?

Is her money short?

Does her cup runneth over?

Has she not been active since she pledged?

Is she burning out?

Is she ailing?

Has she recently received a clean bill of health?

Does she deserve a pat on the back?

Does she need a kick in the behind?

What’s going on with her?

Do you not know?

Do you care?

Go find out!

Are you going to only talk about her situation behind her back?

Or are you going to respond with charitable action?

We gather when we bring new members into our Sorority. Seldom have I attended an initiation that was not standing room only. Our Founders saw fit that we should likewise assemble to honor the passing of our members from this life into next with the Omega Omega ceremony.

Are not two sparrows sold for a [a]cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. "But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows. (Matthew 10:26-29)

Our participation shows that our deceased Sorors matter to us. I have come to savor the admiration of onlookers observing this rite. Family members are grateful that her love of Delta was reciprocal as shown by this final expression of sisterhood. People who are unfamiliar with the Sorority bear witness that not one among us falls apart from our fellowship and presence because every Soror matters. Just as God is no respector of persons, we must give every Soror her due.

Every Soror is important. Collegiate Sorors matter. Alumnae Sorors matter. Delta Dears matter. Neophytes matter. Inactive Sorors matter, Sorors who aren’t popular matter. Sorors from other Chapters matter. Honorary Sorors matter.  You matter. I matter. Sorors you don’t know matters. And EVEN the Soror you can’t stand matters. Isn’t it good news that God doesn’t wait until He likes us to love us? God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).

There is a hymn of the church that says:

We are One in The Spirit,

We are One in The Lord.

We are One in The Spirit,

We are One in The Lord.

And we pray that all unity may one day be restored.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chorus

And they'll know we are Christians by our love,

By our Love,

Yes they'll know we are Christians by our love.

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We will work with each other,

We will work side by side.

We will work with each other,

We will work side by side.

And we'll guard each man's dignity

And save each man's pride.

And they'll know we are Sisters by our love,

By our Love,

Yes they'll know we are Sisters by our love. 

Like Chocolate for Lent

Every year, people all over the world made resolutions to mark how they would like to live differently from that point forward. Unfortunately, most of these resolutions are either so extreme as to be unattainable or so lame that attaining them would make no meaningful impact on their live or the lives of others.

This reminds me of when the high holy season of Lent approached during my first year of seminary. Students were mulling in the lounge about what to give up for the weeks of penitence. One young southern belle approached this hardened city slicker to inquire of her choices. She offered that she was forgoing chocolate and sodas. I responded that I would be giving up cursing and running red lights.

How her dietary adjustment affected her walk with Christ, I do not know. However, I am sure the reduction of environmental pollution resulting from my potty mouth and the increased safety of pedestrians, fellow motorists, and herself made angels smile.

This New Year’s Day, I am proud to say that I am entering 2013 significantly different than I started the previous year. Yes, the body is more fit, finances are stronger, and relationships are more productive. But that’s not enough. Those are temporal measures, not what God uses to assess the quality of our lives.

Just this morning I entered the gym and requested a body fat and BMI measurement to benchmark my fitness level. Much to my chagrin, my composition was not as lean as I would like to have thought. I workout religiously, but my eating habits showed up in the results.

Imagine God placing us on the scales of time. What would be found wanting in our being? Are we living right? In right relationship with our neighbors? In right relationship with the Divine?

In Being and Nothingness, Martin Heideggar describes existence as being capable of only one sin: inauthenticity. Each of us was created with a purpose. Not fulfilling it places us in a state of rebellion against God. To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams (I Samuel 15:22).

What is it that you know to be true down to the core of your soul to which you are not conforming your life? You might be doing it, but with minimal effort.

For me, that is preaching the gospel.

As many of you know I have tried. Lord knows I have. Many obstacles have confronted me in the institutional church—not that it is the only game in town. When faced with professional obstacles, I have been known to be quite dogged in reaching my goals. Why I have not shown the same determined to forge my path in God’s kingdom is inexcusable.

This year begins for me with mental, physical, and scheduling clutter removed to put first things first. Woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! (I Corinthians 9:16b).

Eye on the Sparrow

In the first half of this year, the Chicago recorded over 250 murders (up 35% from 2011) mostly due to gang violence. The city recorded more casualties than Iraq & Afghanistan combined during the same time span. I never heard of the state of the city until the mass shootings in July at a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado. Twelve people were killed and 58 injured. Black commentators began to complain about the lack of coverage of the Chicago violence. Shamefully, black-on-black crime has become a dog-bites man story.

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows (Matthew 10:29-30).

America stops in its tracks when the peace of white suburbia gets disrupted, but somehow manages to get along well with persistent violence in urban areas (as long as the victims are black).  Let a white kid get shot and you will learn their life plans, favorite flavor of ice cream, and every excruciating detail of the event. Let a black kid get shot and you will see a brief story describing the basic who, where, what and why without much further insight.

This reminds me of the day of the tragic shootings at Columbine High in April 1999. I had just arrived to my favorite class in seminary and was prepared for a stimulating discussion. A white classmate entered the room and requested that the professor cancel class because of a shooting had occurred at a school over a thousand miles away. I retorted without thinking “people got shot everyday where I’m from and the world goes on. I am not about to cry and miss a week of Kierkegaard for some people I don’t even know.”

She stared at me in horror. How can one pursuing studies in professional ministry be so cold? I had not realized how society had desensitized me myself. Coming of age during the crack era of Washington, DC did not allow for much grief. People were dropping like flies—and people you knew at that.

My high school principal was wont for ending the Monday morning announcements with who got killed over the weekend and instruct us to proceed with having a nice day.  I didn’t know what a grief counselor was until one showed up after someone I didn’t even know in my college dorm got killed in a car accident.

This occurs in the same nation founded over 200 years ago with a straight face on the principle “that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” while African men and women were in bondage as chattel. The diminished value of black life was further institutionalized in the Constitution by counting them as only three-fifths of a person for the sake of apportionment.

Laws are much easier to change than attitudes.  Imagine how it must feel to grow up black in America and nobody cares if the sanctity of your life is violated. This is evident in the media obsession with details of every white woman who breaks a nail, but outlets had to be shamed into reporting on Phylicia Barnes, the black teen who went missing in Baltimore around Christmas 2011. Unfortunately, her remains were found almost four months later. Imagine what a difference timely reporting would have made.

God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34). We must do likewise by valuing all human life equally. No more crying over white losses, while turning a blind eye to those of color. I hope to see prayer vigils for urban violence in suburbia. Let’s work together to reduce the propensity toward violence everywhere. No need to go abroad, there is more than enough work in our own mission fields.

How is a young person expected to treat as sacred that which all messages around them say is worthless? If no one else cares about their lives, God does. As long as God has people on the ground, there should be an outpouring every time one of his children falls. 

Get A Life

The Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act was monumental not only in the way it transcended partisan politics to deal with the constitutionality of the matter. It was also  epic in the absurdity of so-called Christians lying prostrate on the steps outside grieving with bibles in-hand over the extension of healthcare to millions who would otherwise not have access to it.

I have studied the bible more than most and cannot find anywhere in scripture that supports such a stance. Not only that, Jesus affirmed the importance of wellness to overall wholeness by healing throughout his ministry.  However, this is not about finding a literary warrant for taking a position.

Disciples are to remain in God’s spirit and allow the risen Christ to dwell in them. Abide in me, and I in you (John 15:4a). There is no evidence of God in the mockery of His name by those on the wrong side of healthcare, support for the poor, and other forms of social justice. Believers are implored to abandon oneself (f)or you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:3). A real life in Christ is so evident that no bible-thumping or posturing for the cameras is necessary.

It takes a hard heart to promote the extreme commoditization of healthcare in this country. Or do you not know that (AI)your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?  (I Corinthians 6:19). Physical well-being is sacred.

What kind of person stands in the gate to enforce denials based on pre-existing conditions? What sense does it make to keep coverage cost prohibitive for those who do not have employer-based plans? Moreover, why should those who can afford health insurance continue to get a free ride at the expense of taxpayers, consumers, and private payors?

Logically speaking, these are arguments that align with conservative values. Those who are so fervent about defending the abstract life a fetus should be more so about preserving fully-functional and sentient beings.  (T)he one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen (1 John 4:20b).

There are no two ways about this. Either one believes in the sanctity of life enough to fight for its preservation at all stages or those hypocrites need to go sit down somewhere. 

A Real Mother for You

It is quite telling that God, in all of his infinite wisdom and capabilities, chose to come to earth not by materializing mysteriously from vapor or spawning suddenly from a super-sperm. No, God chose the most natural of vessels to become one of us. He wanted a mother.

The children God created in His image fell short from the beginning. Generation after generation failed Him even more through disobedience, ingratitude, and outright rebellion.

I imagine God sitting in the heavens above witnessing no greater love on earth that that which a mother has for her children. So God called Mary and offered to go in half on a baby.  And Mary said, “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38a).

Knowing Jesus’ identity and purpose was all Mary needed to enable Him to fulfill it. As a child, Jesus wandered off to the temple while Mary and stepfather Joseph were returning from Jerusalem to Nazareth. They didn’t have a car to turn around. The entire caravan had to double back after walking for a day on dirt roads in sandals and search for Jesus in Jerusalem for three days. And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business? (Luke 2:49 KJV). (Only The King James Version captures how God really spake it).

That kind of sass would not go over well with an earthly father, especially in the presence of so many witnesses. A man would have to send a message to preserve his ego, but Mary understood and supported Jesus’ ministry—even unto the cross.

She was right there with him at the wedding at Cana. And you know how parents love to embarrass us at weddings. No, Mary didn’t go there about why Jesus was 30 and not yet married yet. She knew that was not his destiny. More pressing matters were at hand:

When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.”  And Jesus said to her, Woman, what does that have to do with us? My hour has not yet come.”  His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”

This account has three important elements. First, Mary saw a need and knew her child resolve it—no questions asked. Mothers know their children’s gifts and limitations. A few are delusional about what a genius or saint their offspring may be. However, for the most part, your mother will give you the unadulterated truth about yourself. In this case, the wine ran out and Mary knew her baby could hook some up to keep the party going.

Secondly, Jesus demurred. He knew he had the power, but wanted to preserve his miracles for something more redemptive. Mary knew that nothing would be more memorable for Jesus’ first miracle than to perform this act. And she was right.

Third, Mary set the stage for Jesus to perform. “Whatever He says to you, do it.” There is something authoritative about a mother’s command. The wait staff launched into action getting jars and filling them with water. Then Jesus touched them.

TThe ruler of the feast was astonished at how good Jesus’ wine was. People—from the beginning to this day—usually serve the good libations first and break out the cheap stuff after the crowd is drunk. He never lacked for followers after this. It’s not that the multitudes understood fully what Jesus’ mission was. They were holding out for some more of that really good wine.

That’s just the kind of mother I have had. I cannot imagine being the person I have become without her unconditional love, constant nurturing, and straight gangsta intervention. God bless mothers everywhere for making life so abundant for us.