Archive for April, 2012

Housing dilemma and the injustice of residential segregation pt 3

Posted: April 27, 2012 in change, culture, justice, Race
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Analysis and deconstruction is fine but they can often lead to navel gazing and perpetuating the problem through inertia and making it so complex no one wants to take action to solve the problem. When it comes to residential segregation the question remains………

What r we going to do about it?

Usually the first option I hear is to move into the hood. This is a very great option especially when there is a plan for holistic development along the lines of CCDA and World Impact

On the other hand I think it It goes both ways. Not only do we need folks to move into the hood and pray for transformation we also need folks to engage in transforming the suburbs as well. As much as poor folks need help richer people need to see their spiritual blindness, apathy, and prejudice.

Because the goal is not just improving life for one group or ethnicity. The goal is equality and community for all.

“We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny.”-Martin Luther King Jr.

After researching this housing issue I have found some programs that are helping here in Pittsburgh and there are many more like them all over the United States:

URA The Urban Development Authority of Pittsburgh gives out loans with no income limits, second mortgages for home improvements, and assistance with down payment and closing costs. The program is available for all of Pittsburgh but focuses on specific urban target areas.

NACA NACA is an organization that offers help in a similar vein as the URA and works to provide the best mortgages for first time homebuyers. The best thing about NACA is they work with you in creating and maintaining a budget as well as requiring you to volunteer in order to see someone else’s home ownership dream come true.

Finally, a good look at a new perspective on gentrification can be a kickstarter for how we can piggyback off of this phenomenon in order to see true and lasting equality and community.

Even Christians want to get rid of religion???

Posted: April 27, 2012 in bible, culture, faith, spirituality
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The thoughts in this post are a work in progress so any feedback is definitely welcome

Often I hear Christians say something to the effect of “It’s not about religion it’s about relationship” or “I said goodbye to religion and hello to a relationship with God”. Apart from the triteness and obnoxiousness of the sayings (thinking you can reduce the mystery of the human encounter with God to a slogan) I have a problem with these sayings because I think it creates a false dichotomy between religion and “relationship” in order to sell the gospel. It makes religion out to be legalism and I don’t think legalism is a good definition of religion. Legalism is an approach you can take towards religion but it is not one and the same thing. Besides that, I believe that religion is a natural outgrowth of our human nature. As a Christian I have a vested interest in this because as Daniel Milgore has put it

“a Christian theology of religions has the distinct task of asking about the place of the plurality of world religions within the purposes of God made known in Jesus Christ” Faith Seeking Understanding p301

One of the Biblical texts that explores how followers of Christ ought to understand and relate to other religions is Acts 17 particularly Paul’s speech at the Areopagus. Here is an excerpt which I think points toward a better way to relate to other religions and Christianity as a religion:

The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, (Acts 17:24-27 ESV)

Religion is a natural response to the human condition. Paul says in his speech that God determined humanity’s “allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place”. This suggests the finitude of humanity and how we are limited by geography, history, suffering, and most of all death in the next phrase he shows how this condition is the foundation of the desire for transcendence. We use religion to overcome this finitude and find the transcendent.

Religion is a culturally located response to the human condition. Seeing that humans are limited by the “allotted times and the boundaries of their dwelling place” the response of religion will look different in different geographic locations and different periods in history. Religion is expressed differently in different cultures while aiming at the same thing: transcendence

Religion is an imperfect response to to the human condition. While religion is to be affirmed as a natural and culturally relevant response to the human condition Paul also critiques it and shows that religion (and I would add Christian religion) comes up short. It is not the best way to reach the goal of transcendence. He says this search that God orchestrated contained the possibility that people might feel their way toward him. That word “feel” metaphorically means to mentally seek after tokens of a person or a thing. What Paul is saying is that religion can only give you tokens of God but not the full picture or experience of God. It is imperfect. At the same time he says that that “he is actually not far from each one of us” and he can be found in the person of Jesus Christ.

Now you might say because religion is an imperfect response then we don’t need it but I say think again. Although it is imperfect that does not negate the need for it. It is an imperfect response but it is a response and it helps to order our world. It brings people together in community and establishes the need for transcendence i.e. God Although Christians claim to have a “relationship” and not religion I would have to pushback and say that everything that is done within Christianity is religion: a natural, culturally located imperfect response to the human condition. And outside of the person of Christ everything else that is practiced within Christianity can only give us a token of the full picture or experience of God

What do you think?

Religion and the search for legitimacy

Posted: April 25, 2012 in culture, faith, spirituality
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After thinking of all the bad things that have been motivated and influenced by religion I would have to conclude that the idea of religion is neutral. To understand life and the universe from a metaphysical perspective and to let that understanding guide you is a very human and a very legitimate aim even in the 21st century.

Why then does a metaphysical understanding of the universe and a life aligned with that understanding engender such atrocities as the Crusades, Christian persecution, and American slavery? I believe the answer is to be found in the lack of legitimacy for other illegitimate yet altogether frequent human pursuits: the pursuit of power and money.

Religion by itself is neutral but it has been used to justify the domination of one group over another and the amassing of resources for one particular group. What better way to provide legitimacy for conquest and oppression than by covering it up with the idea that “God told you so” (think Crusades, Manifest Destiny, Jihad, Atlantic Slave Trade, Third Reich etc.)

In actuality, it is not only covering up the illegitimate pursuit of power and money (money and power are also not bad in and of themselves) but it is also covering up something else that is altogether too human…an overwhelming sense of insecurity and insignificance. On a small scale I have witnessed this in church settings where an insecure person tries to justify everything they do (especially when it is in opposition to someone else’s desires and needs) by saying “God told me so”. On a larger scale, this sense of insecurity and insignificance is what causes people to do insane things in the name of religion. To gain significance and security religious adherents have ostracized others, practiced murder and torture, sent flaming emails, and acted like overall rude jerks. Now these actions can all be done without religion but human beings find legitimacy for these actions in religion. It has been used as a mask for our dysfunction. Ironically, this sense of insignificance and insecurity is one of the things religion is supposed to solve. Religion is designed to give legitimacy to our existence. There must be a reason why it doesn’t scratch the itch we have had since the beginning of time. Any thoughts?

What if there was no religion?

Posted: April 25, 2012 in faith, justice, spirituality
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The argument

So I’ve heard this argument from well intentioned and good hearted friends and co workers: If there was no religion the world would be a better place. We would have no more wars or abuse of children and old ladies and people overall would be at peace with one another and treat each other with civility. It is religion-not the love of money-that is the root of all evil and we need to get rid of it.

The reality

The reality is this: religion is not the ultimate problem of humanity; humanity is the problem of humanity. Although my friends and coworkers mean well I think they are way off track. It is true that religion had been a major factor in much of the world’s evil and suffering but I would not go far as to say it is the source of most of the world’s evil and suffering. I say this because religion for humanity is irresistible and at its best helps stir us to our fullest human potential.

A quote from Martin Luther although focused on wine seems apropo here:

“Do not suppose that abuses are eliminated by destroying the object which is abused. Men can go wrong with wine and women. Shall we then prohibit and abolish women? The sun, the moon, and the stars have been worshiped. Shall we then pluck them out of the sky?”

So much bad had come from religion: crusades and jihads, hate crimes, child abuse, misogyny, witch hunts, inquisitions, televangelist scams and the list goes on and on. But I think these things have to be classified as things done in the name of religion.

Martin Luther nailed it on the head by pointing to our penchant for all or nothing thinking. That line of thought goes like this. If people abuse something then we need to get rid of it….this makes no sense! If we went with that line of thinking then we would have to wipe the human species off the planet.

Religion-all religion- has done much good in the world and the abuse of it is no reason to ban it from our existence especially because as human beings we can’t help but worship something. The abuse of religion does not negate the beauty of Jewish festivals and the wisdom of rabbis, the powerful poetry of the Psalms and the rhythmic protest of the Black church. The abuse of religion is no reason to do away with the tranquil contemplation of Zen Buddhism or the otherworldly magic of Amazon tribal rituals.

Ultimately….

“Whatever your heart clings to and confides in, that is really your God.”

Now imagine with me a world where there is no religion. It is a world where people pride themselves on how intelligent they are for not being religious-for not worshipping a higher power or being and not believing in a specific set of principles which govern life or a specific cosmology of how the universe works. Every day they pledge an oath to not be religious and award those persons whose lives are most absent of religion. This whole society is permeated with one controlling idea: the idea that having no religion is a good thing. The problem with this world is not that there is no religion. The problem is that by being religious about not having a religion a religion itself has been created. We as humans must worship something. Our existence demands it.

Housing Dilemma and Residential Segregation Pt 2

Posted: April 20, 2012 in justice, materialism, Race, racism
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As I dig deeper into the history of residential segregation I begin to see that although we can change laws and institutions we cannot change people’s hearts. Many make the assumption that those who live in the ghetto are there because of their own bad choices. In one sense this is true. Everyone is responsible for the choices they make in life. That being said all of our choices have a historical context and some people’s context expose them to only a few options.

So here is over 100 years of history in a few paragraphs…

The Historical context of Residential Segregation

Overt discrimination. From the early 1900′s blacks faced increasing discrimination in Northern cities. This usually turned into violence and at its worst race riots. This was often due to African Americans being used as scabs during employee strikes. This was because African Americans were also discriminated against when it came to employment. This rise in violence on te borders of black and white neighborhoods made many African Americans fearful. I personally have experienced this fear in California and now here in Pittsburgh (I wonder if folks in Black Mecca AKA the ATL have to think about this). There are places where I hesitate to move because of the threat of violence not just to me but also to my children.

Public policy. The track record of United States public policy on the federal and local level is also a main suspect when it comes to the creation of the black ghetto. We will focus on two policies for right now although there are many others. The first policy is urban renewal AKA Negro removal. Many cities sought to revitalize their business and cultural centers and this translated into moving people into the projects to make it happen. The result was a whole group of people isolated from the rest of society not only by race but by class.

The second policy is very indirect but it still affected the creation of the African American ghetto. Remember the War on Poverty??? Let’s just call it a misdirected skirmish. First off, Lyndon B. Johnson’s War on Poverty targeted white rural areas. After the Civil Rights movement began to gain ground the focus changed to inner city African Americans. Secondly, this “war” never got started due to Money being diverted to the War on Vietnam. As a result many families remained trapped in a cycle of poverty. Let’s explode the myth that America tried to help African Americans in poverty and nothing could be done. Kaboom!!!

Economics. Lastly, the historical context of the ghetto is heavily influenced by economics. After 1970 there were no longer as many jobs for unskilled workers. Companies began to manufacture outside of the U.S. for a cheaper cost of labor. The loss of jobs in the ghetto meant a loss in wages which meant a loss in taxes which meant a loss in quality of education. It ends up being a never ending cycle as the lack of jobs for laborers with no skills and education contributes to more laborers with no skills and education and on and on and on.

These are just a few factors influencing the historical context of the African American ghetto but the biggest present factor is people’s hearts:

Why is it that when the African American population rises to 8% white people move out?

To be continued….

Much of this knowledge came from a book called Urban Injustice: How Ghettos Happen by David Hilfiker. If you have the time check it out. Very good read.

If I was stranded on a desert island…spiritual survival kit

Posted: April 17, 2012 in bible, faith, inspiration, personal, spirituality
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One of my favorite movies is Castaway. Besides the great acting by Tom Hanks one of the reasons why I love it so much is the impossible situation he is faced with and how he managed to forge a life from the scarce resources that he could gather on the island. I am a big fan of shows like Survivor Manand Man vs. Wild (they need a female version of these shows just to balance things out. Women have to survive too. I’m just sayin) because they bring you back to the essentials you need to live-to survive.

One of my recent projects has been the altoid survival kit. It’s almost complete and will include:

20 iodine tablets
Magnesium fire starting stick and striker
Para Cord (wrap around tin)
Reflective tape (across top)
Ultra thin mirror (glue on inside bottom)
Ultra thin 20 millimeter AA liquid filled button compass
Anti diarrhea pills,
6 ibuprofen tablets
1 small packet of antibiotic ointment,
A small suture kit
A small wad duct tape neatly rolled over itself shiny side up
2 safety pins
2 feet aluminum foil into a tiny rectangle

But the most important thing I would take with me would be a copy of Romans 8. Why? Because I believe it is the greatest chapter in the Bible. It is poetic, inspirational, and theologically thick all at once. It is the gospel and the Christian life all compressed into one chapter. But the one thing that I believe is the shining quality of Romans 8 is it’s capacity to buoy hope.

Personally I have been in need of hope. After taking a paycut and experiencing a dark night of the soul brought on by a boatload of ministry stresses and failures it has been hard to see past the next day. Then I started memorizing and meditating on Romans 8 and things changed. I wasn’t even expecting them to and was only deciding to be faithful in digesting the Word. Grace can surprise us.

Let’s face it. Between the wars, natural disasters, racism, classism, divorce, poverty, and just plain old random bad days this life can be unrelentingly depressing and if you don’t have any hope you will be submerged in that depression. This world is desperately in need of hope and not just individualistic materialistic hope. No we need a hope that the birth pains we are experiencing will soon transition into cries of joy. That’s the kind of hope I would need on a deserted island and it is the ultimate hope for an entire planet stranded in a sea of despair

Housing dilemma and the injustice of residential segregation

Posted: April 12, 2012 in culture, justice, Race
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I love Pittsburgh. I love the bridges. I love the hills. I love the quirkiness. I love the Pittsburghese. I love the emerging “Rust Belt Revival”. I love Pittsburgh except for one thing…residential segregation.

Our dilemma

We have begun to pursue buying a house since the prices here are amazingly low. Our problem is this: the areas that are safe and affordable are known to be racist and hostile towards non Euro Americans while the places that are diverse are either out of our price range or crime ridden and rundown. Not only has this been frustrating it also has surfaced some tense questions in my own mind about my own fears and prejudices.

Am I prejudiced against the poor? Am I guilty of classism while adamantly opposed to racism?

Does one need to be called to a more “urban” situation or is waiting for a calling part of the problem?

Are racist or even moderately prejudiced Euro Americans more of a danger than lower class African Americans?

A bigger question

How did this become a problem not only in Pittsburgh but in many places across the United States? We changed the laws and people are “free” to live anywhere they choose but this dilemma of residential segregation is much deeper than a legal issue. It actually has to do with a few things:

1) The laws have changed but the people are not changed

One of the biggest blind spots in eradicating racism is the blindness to the depravity of humanity. From a biblical perspective we are not only broken by sin but due to this brokenness we have a hard time seeing things correctly-even our own brokenness. This is especially true in the area of residential segregation. How many times has someone said “I’m not a racist. I have black friends”. Yet their attitude changes when they know a family of another ethnicity is moving into the neighborhood and their kids could potentially date their daughter or cause their property value to go down.

2) African American flight and the economic options of those left behind.

This issue is also complicated because of the flight of middle class African Americans. Due to integration, those who could left the hood leaving behind those who couldn’t. There is a nagging understanding that due to class divisions many blacks are prejudiced against other blacks as seen by the rants of Bill Cosby and Chris Rock. This in house racism has served to keep 25% of the African American population disenfranchised.

3) Fear of the unknown (on both sides)

Related to reason 1 is the sad truth that we do not know each other. In a country that is known for its welcoming of the other our private lives are clouded with xenophobia. As an African American I must admit that there are neighborhoods that I do not feel comfortable in because I fear that deep down inside the people do not want me there. On the other end of the spectrum I can understand a Euro American’s fear of being in a diverse neighborhood and being the victim of a crime or just the desire for a good education for your children.

It is a very complex situation that needs a solution. The kingdom vision is for every one to have their own vine and fig tree (1 Kings 4:25) and for the nations to “beat their swords into plowshares,
and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war anymore;” (Micah 4:3 ESV). I think that the new trend of gentrification may give us some possibilities but only in certain doses with provisions for the poor.

What do you think? Are there any other solutions?

Post Easter Blues: I am not worm food

Posted: April 11, 2012 in bible, faith, inspiration, personal, spirituality
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“Let’s fight for every breath and tell death to go to hell”-Che Guevara in The Motorcycle Diaries

This past Sunday I enjoyed my 34th Easter service (yes I said Easter for all of you purists out there) which means that I have not missed one Easter Sunday since I was born. I even went to church on Easter when I was an almost certified heathen (I mean I didn’t do any jail time but I was in the holding tank :) This Easter was the most unusual because it was the first time I celebrated it as a citizen of the Burgh. It was also unusual because I went to two churches that day. At one service I worshipped outside early in the Pittsburgh cold at 6:30 in the morning. The next service was in New Castle, PA at my mother in law Rose Chapman’s church Prevailing Word. This service gave me the highlight of the day as the kids sang along to Jay Z’s “Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)”. A very eventful Easter but even more eventful because of the season I am experiencing in my life. A dry season. A dark night of the soul. Whatever you want to call it…it hurts

It amounts to many things that I am uncertain of. Whether or not at critical junctures in my life I heard the voice of God or was it just me really wanting something so bad that I made it “the voice of God”. I often question what approach to ministry I should have and whether I should ever be in “full time”ministry (whatever that means) ever again. I question whether getting a PhD is right for me or whether I will be squandering the most productive years of my life.

During this season I have had to struggle with the grim reality that I have lived a life that is not perfect. Nobody expected it to be but I can’t help but compare myself to others who have more money, education, fame, and success. They seem to have done well with their imperfection while I live with the sad consequences of mine.

The biggest question that I have had to struggle with: Is this all worth it? Why do I keep going on? Why even wrestle with these questions? Why continue to hang on to a God who actually promises pain and suffering as the natural outcome of living a life devoted to him (Mark 8:34)

Why?

The quick answer: I am not worm food. After all I have been through in the short time I have been on this earth the resurrection is the only thing that makes sense. Not that I was there 2000 years ago. None of us were there. No one can prove it either way. I just know that I am not worm food. Life is too beautiful to end that ugly. I will rise again. That is the only reason I have right now to not throw in the towel and give up. It is the hope that lies within me (1 Peter 3:15). So I sing the Post Easter blues knowing my hope lies ahead and I still have to go through some thangs before I reach my goal. It’s a hard knock life.

Hip Hop Hermeneutics: NI**AS IN PARIS vs NI**AS IN POOREST

Posted: April 6, 2012 in bible, culture, faith, justice, spirituality
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This is the first of many installments of Hip Hop Hermeneutics. I will be taking a look at popular and underground Hip Hop songs and asking questions in order to analyze, critique, and interpret them from a Christian theological perspective. Hopefully we can gain greater insight into the plight and gifts of the youth of today. That being said, if you care more about the cuss words in these songs than learning from and listening to the voice of young people today then you got some mixed up priorities!

Let’s get it in…….

Ni**as in Paris

[Jay-Z]
So I ball so hard muhf*ckas wanna fine me
But first ni**as gotta find me
What’s 50 grand to a muhf*kaa like me
Can you please remind me?
This sh*t crazy
Ya’ll don’t know that don’t sh*t phase me
The Nets could go 0-82 and I look at you like this sh*t gravy Ball so hard,
This sh*t weird
We ain’t even spose to be here,
Ball so hard, Since we here
It’s only right that we be fair
Psycho, I’m liable to be go Michael
Take your pick, Jackson, Tyson, Jordan, Game 6
Got a broke clock, Rolleys that don’t tick tok
Audemars that losing time, Hidden behind all these big rocks I’m shocked
Too, I’m supposed to be locked up too
If you escaped what I’ve escaped
You’d be in Paris getting f*cked up too
Let’s get faded, Le Meurice for like 6 days
Gold bottles, scold models, Spillin’ Ace on my sick J’s
B**ch behave, Just might let you meet Ye,
Chi towns D. Rose, I’m movin’ the Nets to BK

[Hook]
Ball so hard muhf*ckas wanna fine me
That sh*t crazy (x6)

She said Ye can we get married at the mall?
I said look you need to crawl ‘fore you ball
Come and meet me in the bathroom stall
And show me why you deserve to have it all
That sh*t crazy, Ain’t it Jay?
What she order, fish filet
Your whip so cold, this old thing Act like you’ll ever be around muhf***as
Like this again
Bougie girl, grab her hand
F**k ol girl she don’t wanna dance
Excuse my French but I’m in France (I’m just sayin)
Prince William’s ain’t do it right if you ask me
Cause if I was him I would have married Kate &a Ashley
What’s Gucci my ni**a?
What’s Louie my killa?
What’s drugs my deala?
What’s that jacket, Margiela?
Doctors say I’m the illest
Cause I’m suffering from realness
Got my niggas in Paris
And they going gorillas, huh!

[Jay-Z]
Ball so hard muhf*ckas wanna fine me
Ball so hard muhf*ckas wanna fine me

[Kanye West]
You are now watching the throne
Don’t let me get in my zone (x3)
These other niggaas is lyin
Actin’ like the summer ain’t mine

[Jay-Z]
I got that hot b**ch in my home

[Kanye West]
You know how many hot b**ches I own
Don’t let me in my zone (x4)
The stars is in the building
They hands is to the ceiling
I know I’m bout to kill it
How you know, I got that feeling
You are now watching the throne
Don’t let me into my zone (x2)

[Jay-Z & Kanye West]
I’m definitely in my zone

Mos Def’s Ni**as in Poorest

[Intro]
Live From America
Yasiin, Yasiin, Yasiin
N.I.P, Sing It

[Verse 1]
Ball So Hard, Clean Clothes Look Grimy, Pretty Women Don’t Mind Me
So What’s Fifty Grand To A Young ni**a Like Me? More Than My Annual Salary
Ball So Hard, This S**t Crazy, Walk Outside, The Whole World Hate Me
Nervous Stares At The Thoroughfare, Surveillance Cameras Police Tracing
Ball So Hard, This S**t Weird, We Be Home And Still Be Scared
Its Grief Here, Its Peace Here, Its Easy And Hard To Be Here
Psycho, Liable To Turn Michael, Take Your Pick, Myers, Myers, Myers, Same Shit
Ball So Hard, Got Holey Socks, Dope Block On My Stove Top
Jumbotrons For Astronauts, High In Orbit Off Planet Rock, Say
Ball So Hard, This Chopper Chew, Its Starving Marvin, You Hot Food
Its Birds Of Prey, No Escape, Open-air Prison, Local Zoo
Ball So Hard, Who Getting Faded? Little Maurice In The Sixth Grade
No Mama, No Father, Role Model The Dope Game, Say
Ball So Hard, B**ch Behave, Standing Behind The Deuce-deuce-trey
Ice-cold, Heat Blow, Closed Casket, Cold Case

[Hook]
Ball So Hard, That S**t Cray
That S**t Cray, That S**t Cray, That S**t Cray
That S**t Cray, That S**t Cray, That S**t Cray

[Verse 2]
These Young Bloods Is Looking Scary At The Mall
They Wearing Pants, You Can Still See They Drawers
They Rob A Ni**a In The Bathroom Stall
They Took His Life Cause He Ain’t Want To Take It Off
Singing, Ball So Hard, That Shit Cray, Ain’t It, Bey? Diabetics, Fish Filet
Ball So Hard, Your House So Cold, Ni**a It Ain’t Spring
Every Winter F*cking With My Heat Again
Bougie Girl, Grab Your Hand, Show You How To Do This Ghetto Dance
F*ck Your French, We Ain’t In France, I’m Just Saying
Prince Williams Ain’t Do It Right, If You Ask Me
If I Was Him, I’d Put Some Black Up In My Family
Fake Gucci, My Ni**a, Fake Louis, My Killa
Real Drugs, My Dealer, Who The Fuck Is Margiela?
Doctors Say I’m The Illest, I Ain’t Got No Insurance
It’s Them Ni**as Who Poorest, Be Them Rebel Guerillas, Huh

[Interlude: Malcolm X]
I Don’t Worry. I Tell You, I Am A Man Who Believed That I Died 20 Years Ago
And I Live Like A Man Who Is Dead Already. I Have No Fear Whatsoever Of Anybody Or Anything

[Hook]

[Verse 3]
To The Kings And Queens And Everyone In Every Place, Yo
Don’t Get Caught Up In No Throne, Don’t Get Caught Up In No Throne
Don’t Get Caught Up In No Throne
Towers Of Babylon Rise Up And So They Shall Fall
As It Was Written Before, Amen, The Show Goes On
Don’t Get Caught Up In No Throne, Don’t Get Caught Up In No Throne
Don’t Get Caught Up In No Throne
These Devils Out Here Lying, Acting Like The People Ain’t Dying
They Silver And They Gold, Ain’t Never Saved A Soul
Don’t Get Caught Up In No Throne, Don’t Get Caught Up In No Throne
Don’t Get Caught Up In No Throne
Signs Through The Earth And Through The Heavens, Lunar, Solar Eclipses
We Seeking For Forgiveness And Safety For Our Children
Don’t Get Caught Up In No Throne, Don’t Get Caught Up In No Throne
Don’t Get Caught Up In No Throne, Allah Is In Control

To get a better feel for the rhythm and style of the songs check out the video
for Ni**as in Paris here and for Ni**as in Poorest here

Questions to ask:

Is Ni**as in Poorest a dis song critiquing the excessive materialism of Ni**as in Paris? How can that be when Yaasin (Mos Def) is signed to Kanye West’ label?

In what ways is the excessive materialism of Ni**as in Paris related to the larger problem of excessive materialism in Western culture?

How is the overall message of Ni**as in Poorest aligned with Jesus’ message in the gospels?

Can you think of any more questions to ask of these texts?

April 4th, 1968: In memory of MLK Jr

Posted: April 4, 2012 in culture, faith, inspiration, justice, Race
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This post is in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.

On this day April 4th, 1968 King was in Memphis supporting a sanitation worker’s strike. And this is what most of us don’t realize: that assassin’s bullet was intended for a radical. King’s dream was much bigger than holding hands and singing cumbayah. It was much bigger than being politically correct. It was much bigger than getting a three day weekend for everyone and a street named after him. It was a radical dream of justice.

How far have we come toward realizing King’s dream?

Racism

While society as a whole looks down on racism it has now turned into something that is hard to define much less accuse someone or an institution of. It is hard to believe that in 2012 we have incidents such as these:

Racist white teen girls

Obama Re-Nig

Pittsburgh Basketball and Banana Suits

Materialism

In the areas of materialism we have not made any important strides and have actually grown worse over the years.

Our priorities reflect this:

The richest 5% (United States, Europe, Japan) spend more globally on pet food, ice cream and perfume than basic social services like health care and basic education for all. Read more http://www.globalissues.org/issue/235/consumption-and-consumerism

Militarism

On that note, global military spending has reached a gargantuan 780 billion USD! Around the world we spend more on taking life than helping people live!

There has been significant progress in overcoming the triple threat to human flourishing-racism, materialism, and militarism-we still have a long way to go. While it would be nice to imagine what King would do if he were here I want to encourage anyone reading this to think about what they are doing to honor King’s vision right now. How are you living life so that every one lives under their own vine and fig tree (1 Kings 4:25)? Are you living so that nations

“shall beat their swords into plowshares,
and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war anymore; (Micah 4:3 ESV)

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