The Creative Encounter

Recently my youngest brother has suggested that I write more about the church in the 21st century. Recent events in California politics requires that make a few comments. Proposition 19 (the legalization of marijuana) is supported by the NAACP and there more than 20 African leaders are now calling for the resignation to the president of the NAACP.
Bishop Ron Allen was among the members of the International Faith-Based Coalition who stated that Proposition 19 on the November ballot would be harmful to African Americans. "Why would the state NAACP advocate for blacks to stay high?" Allen said. "It's going to cause crime to go up. There will be more drug babies." Quite frankly, I do not understand the logic of Bishop Allen’s statement. I must assume that Bishop Allen is relying on religious dogma verse’s examining the data. According to a study by the Drug Policy Alliance, a group that supports the legalization of marijuana, African Americans make up less than 7% of California's population, but represent 22% of the arrests for marijuana possession. The War on Drugs has become a war on black America, leading to a serious mass incarceration problem that has threatened to undermine the black family across America. Needless to say, that a byproduct of drug policy our children are attending failing schools. Moreover, the verdict is still out on marijuana use. At the very least, sending people to prison over the possession of marijuana makes me pause and wonder if the police don't have more important work to do. “Herb heads” that I have known generally want some candy, now “crack heads” are another story.
Professor Boyce Watkins characterized our community thusly, “Let's be clear: The black community is a church-going group of relatively conservative people. They don't collectively support gay rights, abortion, the separation of church and state or many of the other issues that liberals hold dear. Many African Americans are stuck with being liberal because liberals are the group that doesn't hate us as much as the conservatives do. If the Republicans could find a bit more compassion for the poor and respect for issues like Affirmative Action, they'd get a whole lot more black voters.” This is at the core of my philosophic conflict with Christians; they often do not have “the creative encounter” with individuals who question their conclusions. I would gladly support Bishop Allen’s proposition if all churches would give up their “tax exempt status.” I would gladly support Bishop Allen’s proposition if those churches who are receiving “tax exempt status” would demonstrate their Christian charity by daily feeding those who are hungry. I would gladly support Bishop Allen’s proposition if all of those Church members began to practice this simple commandment from Jesus: “love thy neighbor as thy self.”

It is a business!

Like so many Americans I watch ESPN program announcing the decision of LaBron James. Regardless of how he made this decision, it is difficult for me to understand the comments of the fans more importantly the owner. Does not Mr. James have the right to do what is best for him? What about Mr. Gilbert’s economic decisions? Clearly the decisions were made in the best interest of Mr. Gilbert. He happens to be the Chairman and Founder of Quicken Loans, Inc. and Rock Financial, mortgage lenders. “He quit,” Gilbert said “not just in game 5, but in game 2, 4, and 6……he believes James quit on the Cavs in game 6 of 2009 series against Orlando. The questions become why would you want James, Mr. Gilbert? Please read the letter and draw your own conclusions.
I guess when a black man makes a decision for himself; he will face these adjectives that Mr. Gilbert espoused in his letter.
Dear Cleveland, all of Northeast Ohio and Cleveland Cavaliers supporters wherever you may be tonight;
As you now know, our former hero, who grew up in the very region that he deserted this evening, is no longer a Cleveland Cavalier. This was announced with a several-day, narcissistic, self-promotional build-up culminating with a national TV special of his "decision" unlike anything ever "witnessed" in the history of sports and probably the history of entertainment. Clearly, this is bitterly disappointing to all of us.
The good news is that the ownership team and the rest of the hard-working, loyal, and driven staff over here at your hometown Cavaliers have not betrayed you nor NEVER will betray you.
There is so much more to tell you about the events of the recent past and our more than exciting future. Over the next several days and weeks, we will be communicating much of that to you. You simply don't deserve this kind of cowardly betrayal. You have given so much and deserve so much more.
In the meantime, I want to make one statement to you tonight: "I personally guarantee that the Cleveland Cavaliers will win an NBA Championship before the self-titled former 'king' wins one." You can take it to the bank.
If you thought we were motivated before tonight to bring the hardware to Cleveland, I can tell you that this shameful display of selfishness and betrayal by one of our very own has shifted our "motivation" to previously unknown and previously never experienced levels. Some people think they should go to heaven but NOT have to die to get there. Sorry, but that's simply not how it works.
This shocking act of disloyalty from our homegrown "chosen one" sends the exact opposite lesson of what we would want our children to learn. And "who" we would want them to grow up to become.
But the good news is that this heartless and callous action can only serve as the antidote to the so-called "curse" on Cleveland, Ohio. The self-declared former "King" will be taking the "curse" with him down south. And until he does "right" by Cleveland and Ohio, James (and the town where he plays) will unfortunately own this dreaded spell and bad karma. Just watch.
Sleep well, Cleveland. Tomorrow is a new and much brighter day... I PROMISE you that our energy, focus, capital, knowledge and experience will be directed at one thing and one thing only:
DELIVERING YOU the championship you have long deserved and is long overdue...
Dan Gilbert
Majority Owner

Want to go home or go to jail?

History tells us that the forefathers of all African Americans were brought here for the sole purpose of free labor. The question becomes what does a society do with that labor pool when their talents are no longer useful to that society? A secondary question must address this sociological phenomenon called the “melting pot.”
Malcolm X stated it best when he said; “you’re not to be so blind with patriotism that you can’t face reality. Wrong is wrong, no matter who does it or says it.” Consider these revealing statistics; the racial composition of the US prison and jail population as of 2008 was 33.44% White American (non-Hispanic), 40.21% African American (non-Hispanic), 20.29% Hispanic, and 6.06% Other (American Indian, Alaska Native, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander American, and Multiracial American. Pause for a moment and reread these statistics. What does this say about American society? Many readers will conclude that everyone in American prison deserved to be there. To some degree you are correct, however, when these statistics are viewed from the frame work of the failed “melting pot” phenomenon, then wrong is wrong. To this writer it time for African Americans to control over our own destiny. Why are our leaders asleep at the wheel? Lao Tzu characterized it this way; “an ant on the move does more than a dozing ox.” Is it not strange that during the past 42 years an ever increasing number of our ministers have fostered a Christian philosophy of passively waiting on the return of Jesus? What we need are some ‘ants on the move’! Where is the next Fannie Lou Hammer? Where is the next Martin King? Where are our ‘drum majors?
P.S. Thank you Eric for becoming a follower of this blog.

We The People

During last Sunday’s “Update” show we explored a very intriguing topic; “The New We the People”. 234 years ago when this Republic was established, it was founded upon a simple philosophy: The term “we the people” referred to Europeans presently living in the United States of America and more importantly, future Europeans who would assimilated into the majority culture beliefs system. It is clear that a sociological experiment referred to as “the melting pot” was created to provide some degree of hope for non Europeans assimilating into American Society.
Consider 66 years ago Gunner Myrdal published his influential and landmark book An American Dilemma: The Negro Problem and Modern Democracy. The dilemma is between high ideals on the one hand and poor performance on the other. In the two generations since the civil war, the United States had not been able to put its “we the people” ideals into practice for its black citizens. Fast forward 66 years and we faced with a similar dilemma: As Mr. Phillip Jackson, CEO of Black Stars Project, stated: “in Chicago and many large urban cities our children are living in a war zone.” Panelist Ezrah Aharone characterized a “war zone” as an ungovernable territory. It is our responsibility, not the government, to exert the necessary control over our children and those institutions that educate them so that our neighborhoods become oases of growth rather than war zone. Let the discussion begin! Become a follower of my blog!


Please check out the following:
John Henrik Clarke and the power of Africana History by Dr. Ahati Toure
www.blackstar1000@ameritech.net. Follow the work of Phillip Jackson
The video links of Atty. Michelle Alexander discussion her book 'The New Jim Crow' Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgM5NAq6cGI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYgxkt6-JNc&feature=related