by Jervette R. Ward I have an academic friend, Charles, who was recently told by a white childhood friend that he has become angry and that she wondered what happened to the happy boy from childhood. She posted the message publicly on his Facebook page approximately four times. Apparently, the message got lost in Facebook purgatory, so she copied and pasted the same message over and over again, then she placed a sentence at the top of her last post... Read more
by Matthew Vega Black uprisings have become an annual part of our media diet in the news. In 2014, our nation’s greatest evils resurfaced as our attention was focused on a city just outside of St. Louis, Missouri: Ferguson. The threefold beast that Dr. King warned us about – racism, poverty, and militarization – demanded our attention once again as we were forced to reckon with a racially and economically segregated ghetto occupied by a hyper-militarized police force and National... Read more
My name is Matthew Vega and I am the Assistant Director of the Office of Christian Outreach at Wheaton College. As a Black and Brown Christian who is the son of a police officer, a brother of a prison inmate, and a minister of the gospel, the intersection of faith and race is especially important to me. I graduated with a degree in Biblical & Theological Studies from Wheaton and I am happily married to my wife Dominique Maxey Vega.... Read more
To raise awareness to issues of police brutality, economic injustices, and other community concerns, on Monday evening August 15, 2016, the Memphis Coalition of Concern Citizens led a demonstration at Graceland during Elvis Week in Memphis, Tennessee. Below is a reflection from one of the protesters from that evening. by Edie Love I went to Graceland last night. Why is this noteworthy, you may ask? I, along with many others, had been planning for a few weeks now to protest... Read more
Below is the Higher Ground Moral Declaration in conjunction with “The Revival: Time for a Moral Revolution of Values”; a national tour to redefine morality in American politics and challenge leaders of faith and moral courage to be more vocally opposed to harmful policies that disproportionately impact the poor, people who are ill, children, immigrants, communities of color, and religious minorities. WE NEED YOUR BODIES!! *Note: On September 12, 2016 underpaid workers, people of faith, students, union members, clergy and many... Read more
by Peter Gathje The morning (August 4) was heavy with heat, humidity, and the grief of this past week. “It’s worse in the summer than in the winter,” a guest said. Memphis in early August is oppressive. The clothing of the men who came to shower was so soiled that most of it had to be thrown away. No amount of washing would take away the stains and stench from the sweat and grime of life on the streets. “I’m... Read more
by Lawrence Rodgers Poverty is not a sin. It is not a necessary evil. Poverty is the product of greed. However, capitalism is a religion to itself, Santa Claus is one of its patron saints, greed is its creed, and the cardinal sin is poverty. However, it takes a seriously warped view of Jesus to mesh his ethic with capitalism. Among the most misused passages by capitalists are Luke 7:37-39; Matthew 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9; and John 12:1-8. These verses describe... Read more
Lawrence W. Rodgers is a writer deeply concerned with the plight of those who are treated as if they are invisible. Lawrence’s work seeks to raise awareness, challenge, and convict society to develop a conscience for the disinherited and the dispossessed. He is the pastor of the Westside Church of Christ in Baltimore, MD. He is a Masters of Divinity candidate at Howard University School of Divinity where he is the recipient of the Howard Thurman and Benjamin Mays Trustee... Read more
by Michael Bowe Recently, I picked up a book because the title caught my eye. I have yet to open it yet, as I have some several other readings that I need to accomplish. However, I did buy it and I will eventually make my way to reading it. Its title is Forgotten God by Francis Chan. The subtitle has leadings that it will talk of the Holy Spirit, but I do not know its contents. However, I would like... Read more
An Appeal to Christian Congregations and Christians Worldwide The authors and signatories of The Ferguson Declaration: A Black Lives Matter Creed declare the revealed truth that God is a God of the Oppressed for the salvation of the entire World. Black Churches and Christians worldwide affirm the statement that #BlackLivesMatter. We invite all who are working peaceably for justice to participate in the Black Lives Matter movement and other like minded organizations. We, the heirs of Black Churches and their... Read more
Rhetoric Race and Religion
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