To Dr. #LaryciaHawkins: An Open Letter from Black Muslim Women

Last updated on: December 18, 2015 at 1:50 pm By blog admin

Earlier this week, Larycia Hawkins, a tenured Professor of Political Science at Wheaton College was placed on administrative leave following remarks she made about the “relationship of Christianity to Islam.” The specific remarks in question, “We worship the same God,” were shared on Dr. Hawkins private Facebook account in a post she wrote decrying the most recent anti-Muslim rhetoric and the responsibility of Christians in showing solidarity to other people of faith. This originally appeared on Make It Plain. “I stand... Read more

#WheatonCollege: “Have You Got Good Religion?”

Last updated on: December 17, 2015 at 4:50 pm By Fredrick Robinson

Dr. Larycia Hawkins’ decision to wear a hijab during Advent to express solidarity with our Muslim sisters and brothers is one of the most Christian acts a believer could perform in these anti-Islamic times. Yet Wheaton College suspended the tenured professor, which proves that some expressions of Christianity need to be born again. Jesus once asked the scribes and Pharisees: “Why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?” (Matt. 15:3). That’s a good question... Read more

If I Die in Police Custody: A Lament for #SandraBland

Last updated on: December 17, 2015 at 5:06 pm By Guest Contributor

by Thelathia “Nikki” Young First posted at Symposium Ethics. On July 13, 2015, Sandra Bland mysteriously died in a Waller County, Texas jail cell. In light of the video evidence of her detainment and circumstances surrounding her death, Sandra Bland’s family, friends, and community do not accept police officials’ claim that she committed suicide in her cell. After preliminary investigations, on December 11, a grand jury heard evidence related to Sandra Bland’s death in order to decide whether or not to issue... Read more

#MemphisMassacre1866: #DanielHoltzclaw: Doing It Like Its 1866

Last updated on: December 23, 2015 at 5:12 pm By Andre E. Johnson

On Thursday, December 10, a jury found former Police Officer Daniel Holtzclaw guilty of multiple counts of rape — first and second degree — as well as sexual battery, procuring lewd exhibition, and forcible oral sodomy. Except for Roland Martin of News One Now and a faithful cadre of folks on Twitter and other social media outlets providing us updates, this case where 13 women came forward to testify against this man, went largely unnoticed. On an episode of the Melissa... Read more

#JoshWilliams: Will They Still Love Me or Forget About Me?

Last updated on: December 12, 2015 at 2:12 pm By blog admin

On Thursday, December 10, a St. Louis Circuit Court Judge sentences Josh Williams to eight years in prison for “arson, burglary and stealing.” The charges stemmed from Williams’ involvement with a December 23, 2014 protest that resulted in the burning of a QuikTrip. AME pastor, Rev. Renita Marie visited Josh and shares this reflection. Parenting is hard. We are constantly messing it up. No one comes through this life without pain, for sure. We parent in our own brokenness. We screw up... Read more

#DonaldTrump: Has America Seen This Before?

Last updated on: December 9, 2015 at 7:11 pm By Andre E. Johnson

Friends of R3 offered some reflections on the recent comments and actions from GOP presidential front runner Donald Trump. If you have any reflection you would like to share, please email us at [email protected]. If there’s one thing I appreciate about Donald Trump…I know right? How crazy is it that I could appreciate anything about him…it’s that he has done more in the past 6 months to pull the cover/blindness off those who think racism doesn’t really exist anymore than... Read more

Will Black Men Ever #SayHerName?

Last updated on: December 9, 2015 at 3:27 pm By Andre E. Johnson

We are here; we are here riding for you. We are here, from history and even today in the trenches; women are always there, in the streets, in the marches, as if any black man in America is my son, my brother, my father. And I think it’s just a disappointment that black men are not offering us (women) that same treatment.-Traci Braden In my African American Rhetoric class this semester, one of my students, Traci Braden put together this... Read more

An Urgent Message to the Church

Last updated on: December 9, 2015 at 12:57 pm By Guest Contributor

by Traci Blackmon We simply must respond to this heightened and hateful display of Islamaphobia with more than silent prayers and sad thoughts. These attacks on a people of faith because of the actions of a rogue constituency is unconscionable and, from Christians, it is beyond hypocritical since we have conveniently found a way to disassociate our faith from the long legacy of murderous and sinful acts perpetrated by the KKK in our nation. The venom now being wielded at... Read more

#DonaldTrump: Mothering in the Time of Trump

Last updated on: December 9, 2015 at 11:02 am By Guest Contributor

by Najeeba Syeed My seven year old told me this story this morning, “A first grader was telling me why they wanted a teacher in 2nd grade, my friends said its because of how pretty they were. Mama I told them it’s not what they look like that matters it’s about how they teach and if they are kind” Just after telling me this story she said” “Mama, are Muslims not allowed in our country that is what I just... Read more

Spiritual Growth and Seeing the Image of God

Last updated on: December 8, 2015 at 12:42 pm By Guest Contributor

by Jennifer Hayes In high school through the beginning of college, I would tell racist jokes, make homophobic comments, and interact as a superior being with those from another religion and/or culture. I would make the people around me laugh all while ignoring the pain, hurt, fear, and hate I was perpetuating for those who did not look like, think like, or believe like I did. Then, something happened— I stopped. I lost friends, was mocked, and people tried (and... Read more