On this day and all days

Here's one of my favorite clips of Dr. King. May it resonate with us all.

Another exchange of ideas about hair

Sometimes it's important to sit back and let someone who knows what they're talking about to provide instruction. Following the last post on Kid Rock's documentary, a good friend made some provocative comments via email. It is with her permission that the following quote is placed here. Thanks, Janice, for once more making me think about things that matter.

I think Rock (didn't see the movie) tried to bring awareness through humor. I was struck by your comments about the business industry part of it. No doubt that money has been made, but I think that really oversimplifies the issue. The brief discussion shared between a friend and myself had to do with how much "hair" is related to slavery and the position/privilege aligned with your hair-the socialization or unconscious carryover to present. In short...those with straighter hair (more white hair) were usually the master's children, although not claimed. Those children were often the house slaves and "afforded" more privilege b/c of their relation to the master. They also had a tendency to perceive themselves as better although they were still slaves. Whites had a tendency to see them as prettier and b/c self image was highly influenced by the master race-for example, children begin to develop an idea of self in relation to how the parent views them. So, if whites didn't see black as pretty and the lighter you were, the less black you were, therefore, you must be pretty or prettier. The hair thing is very similar to the color thing-it all ties together. The fairer blacks obviously were the children of the master. If white is beautiful, then black must not be, so the less black you are, the prettier you are. It's crazy! So, here we are in the 21st century still talking about what (how one) defines beauty or status based on years of slavery, dissociating from things that make you more black-more acceptable. Probably mostly doing life in some form of "self hate" not realizing it nor being able to give it a name. Unconsciously playing out on a daily basis. --- Janice Hayes

"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."