"Good Hair:" Let It Speak for Itself

Chris Rock is apparently walking out on thin ice in some circles. From his daughter's pleadings to his research and interviews, and now to this documentary, he is pulling aside the veil of secrecy between some and others, but not so between others and others. Hair care is a multi-billion dollar industry in this country, for African Americans and for others of all genders and ethnicities. It's both humorous, engaging, moving, and informing.

On the white side, just look sometimes at the lengths that we men will go to do keep, replace, or make younger our hair, and that's just on the male side of the spectrum. I'll have to ask my wife about the female side of the equation.

In the meantime, I've watched and listened from the side lines the issues that Rock addresses in this documentary. It's been a learning experience, and it's time for all of us to learn more out of respect, decency, and all. Let me know what you think about this trailer and/or the documentary.

Struck by Quotes from Merton and Cone

In my surfing through various pages of readings today, these two quotes stood out:

From Thomas Merton:

For me--the betrayal I have to look out for is that which would consist simply in attaching myself to a "cause" that happens to be operating at this time, and getting involved, and letting myself be carried along with it, simply making appropriate noises from time to time, at a distance. -- End of 1965, V.342-43 as cited in A Year with Thomas Merton: Daily Meditations from His Journals.

From James Cone:

Because Black Theology's Christology is based on the biblical portrayal of Jesus Christ and Jesus' past and present involvement in the struggle of oppressed peoples, it affirms that who Jesus Christ is for us today is connected with the divine future as disclosed in the liberation fight of the poor. When connected with the person of Jesus, hope is not an intellectual idea; rather, it is the praxis of freedom in the oppressed community. -- God of the Oppressed

Nobel Peace, Present and Future

Rapping for health

The Committee to Save Education

Our last event in North Carolina was also one of the more interesting. We know that community involvement and education are important to Gary Grant, and we knew that he was serving on a committee to save community schools a few miles away.

Tired though we were, we traveled where he traveled, this man of boundless energy. We drove to the New Birth Tabernacle Church, Scotland Neck, NC, for a 7:00 pm meeting chaired by Clure Evans. A full agenda was printed for all, and with the crowd small, and the meeting not yet begun, we followed Gary's lead and met all attendees. The crowd got larger as the evening wore on. Young and old, men and women. Workers and retired. All were there.

Gary asked me to speak extemporaneously about the value of research. I stumblingly did so.

Seems like the county superintendent has left town, perhaps under pressure, and now the school board is selecting a new one, and at the top of the agenda is revisiting the closure of schools in this predominantly black area of rural NC. Middle School kids will begin the day after riding buses to school across the county, literally across the county. By report, these kids will get on the bus at 6:10 and not get home until after 5:00. The time on the bus will be approximately 4+hours for each kid. Now what's right about that? School buses are cool, but not when you have to live 1/5 of your day on them. I hear it's a major challenge for school bus drivers and for parents as well.

Several things were remarkable: 1) there were several Black men who were leaders there, one the mayor, another the committee leader, another an officer at the local armory who volunteered the armory for a meeting, and an experienced community organizer; 2) the passion with which people were willing to be organized in a meaningful effort; and 3) the amazing skills of the senior gentleman in the crowd, a man I referred to under my breath to my wife as "the consummate community organizer."

Normally in the Black community is led by women. Not a bad thing. That's a good thing. Good women are needed in righteous causes. It is not the normal for some many young men to step up to the plate to lead important matters. Gary wanted us to note that. We did. They all spoke, they were informed, and my prayers are with them.

To top off the evening, we had great fried chicken at the best restaurant in the town, and we got to spend time with a young man with a bright future as a community organizer. He is young and unassuming, but he is willing to be tutored by Mr. Grant. Clure Evans will be a force to be dealt with over the next few years. I didn't get the officer's name.

Another gift to this community is a community organizer who had just moved to Scotland Neck with her husband who was originally from this area. Ms. Norfleet did the same things back in New York. Lord, bless her efforts. And, she is a licensed minister of the gospel.

I hear that 30+ attended this particular protest march and another 75+ attended a protest march at another school in the area. Who is watching?

"So, Lord, if indeed it's the case that people rise up at certain moments, in certain times for certain causes, could it just be that your hand is upon Gary Grant, Clure Evans, the officer, Ms. Norfleet, and the others who were there and not there that evening? Thanks for allowing us to see community organization in action. Bless that community. Bless that committee. Bless those kids as they endure long hours on the bus. Bless that school board and lead them to reopening those closed schools and opening up those closed neighborhoods. May your Kingdom come and your will be done in Scotland Neck, NC, as it also should be done in Ada, OK."

A Day of Celebration and More

It was a day that my wife and I had been anticipating for a while. This day was to be a day of celebration in honor of Gary Grant, President of the Black Farmers and Agriculturists Association, on his 66th birthday. We had not been in Tillery since February. It was good to be back.

We reminisced as we drove along country roads in rural North Carolina. The corn looked about ready to harvest. The soybeans and cotton looked to be the beneficiaries of a decent amount of rain of late. Old curin' barns along that stretch of land. Ramshackle houses, no longer occupied by those who worked the land. Large houses up lanes off the road looked to be well kept much of the time. We were in an area that was 97% African American.

As we pulled into an area known as the "Tillery Resettlement Community," things became even more familiar. "Over the Farm Road" was among the roads over which we'd passed in recent years. We pulled up to resettlement section 46, and on it we saw a pair of resettlement houses pieced together by the occupant, the gentleman we'd celebrate. Parking was across the road, adjacent to his parents' house and final resting place. We parked. As we crossed the road and walked up the lane, Cary came out to greet us with his warm smile and gracious hug. He had been there for a while getting prepared for the people who were soon to arrive.

Two large white tents were in the front yard, round tables were set under them, and folding chairs were ready for the seating. Spencer, our friend from Kansas was there, helping with finishing touches. Soon Gary emerged from his house. The party was on. Again, words of welcome and warm hugs fell upon both of us.

The crowd began to arrive. Diverse it was. A farmer's daughter and her three sons greeted us. We'd met in 2005. Her voice was unmistakable. She told her story within the context of her father the farmer's story of struggles in dealing with the USDA. She was proud to introduce her sons, and I was pleased to meet them. We talked of family, sports, and academics.

Off in the distance, up and over the trees that lined the Roanoke River, the clouds darkened, the wind began to blow, and we knew that rain was coming. First off in the distance, and then around us, and then blowing sideways into us, we were not terribly prepared for the interference that came.

By this time, numerous elderly friends had arrived. Those who were not able to get into the house before the rain came were forced to huddle in the middle of the tent.

But not even the rain could dim the joy of the day, and after all, aren't farmers generally glad for rain whenever it comes? Same on this day.

It was a day of food, BBQ, fried fish, birthday cake of other delicacies.

It was a day of celebration with music, singing, and dancing. Gospel and R & B sounds came over the speakers. We marveled at how a 66 year old man still had moves.

Friends had come from across the country, Kansas, Massachusetts, New York, and Oklahoma. Politicians, ministers of the gospel, and advocates were there. Academics, farmers, and Concerned Citizens of Tillery were there. We were all in various ways connected to the man and the causes.

My honor was in leading the opening prayer. Others spoke words of tribute to this good man. Others quietly ate their food and enjoyed the festivities.

Some faces I missed seeing. They were elderly and feeble and couldn't get out. Others had passed.

We indeed celebrated his birthday. Even more, we celebrated the cause of righteousness for which he stands and for which he is laying down his life, environmental justice, Black farmers, the history of the Tillery Resettlement Community, saving a community school in a nearby community, and others.

The day ended with a walk across the road to the final resting place of the parents, Matthew and Florenza Grant, who had left an amazing legacy still lived out by their children. A group of us chatted, and then we formed a circle and a local pastor led us in prayer. As we opened our eyes, we turned to see a rainbow as it filled the sky off in the distance.

It was a birthday party. It was much more. It was held in the middle of a historic community. It was held on a farm. The crops looked good. It was a day of celebration and more.

Congratulations, Team IV and Friends

Though I've been away from ACU and the MFT program now for exactly a year, it was my fondness for the program, what it is all about, and the students who were graduating that drew us back into Abilene yesterday. Sure, we have family here, and it is more than sweet to share the time with them in their home. And, we have friends who love us here, and time is too short to see them all except for glimpses and bring hugs here and there.

The banquet always proceeds graduation for the MFT program at Abilene Christian University. Last night it was held in the Hunter Welcome Center. So, last night was one more in a long, long series of wonderful events in which God, gifts, and grace abound. Student representatives gave moving speeches. The graduating class offered their usual and customary spoof on the program and their love for each other, and, no, I do not zone out for ten minutes of rabbit chasing in class lectures; I only leave for five minutes. We need to keep an eye on the clock.

Comments by all indicated that it was an amazing year led by a Christ-spirited, servant-hearted second year class. Mathis Kennington received the Outstanding Second Year Student Award. Gretchen Etheredge was the recipient of the Spirit of the Counselor Award, both wonderful students from a great class of graduates. Among that group of world-changing people are three who formed Social Justice Team IV. We presented at two conferences, the second one with a bit of twist with Native Americana in it (amazing how similar land loss issues are for American Indians and Black Farmers), and met up once in Ada, Oklahoma, my new hometown, to fine tune where the project was going. Their contributions are chronicled elsewhere in these pages.

Daniel is going to College Station, Texas with his bride, Raquyyah is going to the University of Louisiana at Monroe to enter doctoral studies in family therapy, and Ty Mansfield is heading to Texas Tech, home of the Red Raiders, up in Lubbock to do the same. All three of these people are big-hearted and socially conscious, and will continue to make the world a better place, one social justice effort at a time.

I am looking forward to following these three into the next phases of their academic, personal, and social justice journeys; and I'm looking forward to all who will graduate tonight from Abilene Christian University.