I must confess that I was skeptical initially of Chris Rock's attempt to do a documentary. Nevertheless I believe the message is timely and one that is needed in this millennial generation. The documentary Good Hair presents its viewers with real stereotypes and real issues of identity. So, what is good hair really?
Good hair is that which is deemed not only acceptable but preferred by society to the point of the preference becoming normative. When you really think about it, everything that we view today as normative was at one time or another acquired, learned, or an unfamiliar behavior, action, or style. As we look at our urban culture as blacks in America especially, we notice that style is of utmost importance. People are ostracized for their lack of style. We are invited in when our style is both unique and permissible. You feel good when you know you look appropriate in the site of those around you. You walk with confidence when you are a part of an organization or group that will have your back in all situations. Simply put, we find ourselves feeling most comfortable when we are within the confines of the normative view.
The issue here is that by us conforming to the normative prescriptive for beauty, wealth, and style we are not living the life we were created to live. The bible declares in Romans 12:2 "be not conformed to this world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind to what is that good, perfect, and acceptable will of God." In other words, we are called to be nonconformists. We are not supposed to just acquiesce to the status quo. Christ calls and compels us to be better than that. We are to rise above it, above all stereotypes, all societal constructions, and all normative beliefs. We are to rise above it by allowing Christ to penetrate our minds with his audacious Spirit enabling us to know the will of God for our lives. We must have a renewed outlook, one that lays aside all notions of beauty that do not emanate from within. I believe India Arie said it best, "I am not my hair." No matter what you see in the media or the big screen, no matter which hip hop artist has that latest style, you have to remember one thing--you are not your hair!
11 December 2009
25 June 2009
Searching for Fathers
There is a difference, believe it or not, between a true father and one who merely fathers a child. I know it may seem like common knowledge to some but the reality is that there are many men walking around today calling themselves fathers when in reality they are merely sperm donors. It takes a lot to fulfill the duties and the mandates of fatherhood. It is more than just a notion that the father is truly the head of the household. In other words, it is the father who is commissioned by God to move, make decisions, and lead by divinely ordered directives. There arises a serious chasm, however, a rift, disjointedness, a regressive rebuttal when those who do what is necessary to become a father do not take on the responsibility required to secure one’s place as a true father. There are far too many “dead beat dads” in this country today and particularly in the black community. It makes no sense for so many black babies to be born without a male father figure in their lives. Please believe, I’m not pretending for one moment that there are not those who simply are not ready for fatherhood; however, I want to serve notice today that it’s time for the real fathers to please stand up. There are those who are not fathers yet have the spirit of a father and could easily mentor these young boys especially who grow up without a father at home. It is truly time out for playing games with this thing. We as men need to reassert ourselves and repent for shirking our God-given responsibilities so that we might be able to continue to lead our communities the way God intended for us to lead. How do we do this? Well, it starts with a true connection with God. I by no means wish to lump all fathers into one not so admirable category, but I am calling for all men and women to be aware of what has been plaguing our communities for years and to recognize that there is already a solution, but it involves some work.We must strive tirelessly to reclaim our communities, and I believe there is no better launching pad then with the men, particularly the fathers.
02 May 2009
Equal Justice Under the Law
http://blog.sojo.net/2009/04/22/equal-justice-under-the-law-the-case-for-cocaine-sentencing-reform/
Equal Justice Under the Law: The Case for Cocaine Sentencing Reformby Andrew Wilkes 04-22-2009
A false balance is an abomination to the LORD, but an accurate weight is his delight. (Proverbs 11:1)
I call upon all people of goodwill to support H.R. 1459, the Fairness in Cocaine Sentencing Act of 2009. Senator Jim Webb recently sounded the alarm about the brokenness of our prison systems. His pronouncement, of course, is nothing new, but it lends visible and much-needed support to the cause of prison reform. And, to be sure, altering cocaine sentencing policy lies at heart of prison reform.
But why, inquiring citizens ask, should we use every available means at our disposal to contact our respective members of the House Judiciary and House Committee on Energy and Commerce and express support for H.R. 1459? Briefly phrased, cocaine sentencing disparities disproportionately impact minorities, interrogating our national commitment to equal justice under the law. H.R. 1459 aims to alter the Controlled Substances Act and eliminate two things. First, it aims to “eliminate increased penalties for cocaine offenses where the cocaine involved is cocaine base.” And secondly, it aspires to eradicate “minimum mandatory imprisonment penalties for cocaine offenses.” The title of H.R. 1459, Fairness in Cocaine Sentencing Act, assumes that a gross inequity exists within current sentencing policy (the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986, PL 99-570, to be exact). The inequity, referred to by many as the “100:1 quantity ratio”, means that “it takes 100 times more powder cocaine than crack cocaine to trigger … harsh five and ten-year mandatory minimum sentences.” According to a report by the 2009 Criminal Justice Transition Coalition, the disparity, despite being “facially neutral,” unevenly penalizes minorities.
If we are to “achieve our country,” as the eloquent James Baldwin once said, then policies championed by the White House must not unfairly punish those who go to the crackhouse. If we are to achieve our country, let us call on Vice President Joe Biden, a repentant architect of this sentencing policy, and the White House Office of Urban Policy to proudly and persistently support this bill. All too often, the penal structure of our criminal justice is a modern-day example of unbalanced scales. Although not always in intent, cocaine sentencing consistently—and adversely—impacts minorities in ways that are so horrifically disproportionate that the words of the black bard Tupac Shakur come to mind: “Lady Liberty needs glasses/ And so does Mrs. Justice by her side.” Let us move from aspiring to equal justice under the law to its actuality, and achieve our country by supporting H.R. 1459.
Shoutout to James Rucker and colorofchange.org for being a drum major for justice on this critical issue.
Andrew Wilkes is a former Sojourners policy and organizing intern and second-year student at Princeton Theological Seminary.
Equal Justice Under the Law: The Case for Cocaine Sentencing Reformby Andrew Wilkes 04-22-2009
A false balance is an abomination to the LORD, but an accurate weight is his delight. (Proverbs 11:1)
I call upon all people of goodwill to support H.R. 1459, the Fairness in Cocaine Sentencing Act of 2009. Senator Jim Webb recently sounded the alarm about the brokenness of our prison systems. His pronouncement, of course, is nothing new, but it lends visible and much-needed support to the cause of prison reform. And, to be sure, altering cocaine sentencing policy lies at heart of prison reform.
But why, inquiring citizens ask, should we use every available means at our disposal to contact our respective members of the House Judiciary and House Committee on Energy and Commerce and express support for H.R. 1459? Briefly phrased, cocaine sentencing disparities disproportionately impact minorities, interrogating our national commitment to equal justice under the law. H.R. 1459 aims to alter the Controlled Substances Act and eliminate two things. First, it aims to “eliminate increased penalties for cocaine offenses where the cocaine involved is cocaine base.” And secondly, it aspires to eradicate “minimum mandatory imprisonment penalties for cocaine offenses.” The title of H.R. 1459, Fairness in Cocaine Sentencing Act, assumes that a gross inequity exists within current sentencing policy (the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986, PL 99-570, to be exact). The inequity, referred to by many as the “100:1 quantity ratio”, means that “it takes 100 times more powder cocaine than crack cocaine to trigger … harsh five and ten-year mandatory minimum sentences.” According to a report by the 2009 Criminal Justice Transition Coalition, the disparity, despite being “facially neutral,” unevenly penalizes minorities.
If we are to “achieve our country,” as the eloquent James Baldwin once said, then policies championed by the White House must not unfairly punish those who go to the crackhouse. If we are to achieve our country, let us call on Vice President Joe Biden, a repentant architect of this sentencing policy, and the White House Office of Urban Policy to proudly and persistently support this bill. All too often, the penal structure of our criminal justice is a modern-day example of unbalanced scales. Although not always in intent, cocaine sentencing consistently—and adversely—impacts minorities in ways that are so horrifically disproportionate that the words of the black bard Tupac Shakur come to mind: “Lady Liberty needs glasses/ And so does Mrs. Justice by her side.” Let us move from aspiring to equal justice under the law to its actuality, and achieve our country by supporting H.R. 1459.
Shoutout to James Rucker and colorofchange.org for being a drum major for justice on this critical issue.
Andrew Wilkes is a former Sojourners policy and organizing intern and second-year student at Princeton Theological Seminary.
09 February 2009
Facing Tomorrow
Someone once made the claim that “To borrow from tomorrow is to be in debt to time.” Simply put, worrying about tomorrow is not beneficial or productive. In other words, it is not good for us to worry about what tomorrow will bring; however, being told not to worry is counter-cultural. We live in a society and a nation in which planning is a valuable practice. We plan for trips. We plan for going to college. We plan for applying to jobs and schools. We plan for parties and social events. We even plan when we are playing sports; what is practice other than a planning session for a game. We plan to get married. Some of us plan to have children. We plan for their education, and then we try to plan for retirement. Life is spent in either a planning mode or an enacting mode. We fear remaining still; we thrive on forward progress and upward mobility. That is the culture in which we live, a culture that is founded upon action.
The Constitution is supposed to be an active document. The Pledge of Allegiance is a statement of active commitment. The Emancipation Proclamation was a document calling for action. Even in the midst of the current economic situation, our President Barack Obama has pulled together an economic team. The significance behind this is that a team has a goal, a mission, a prize for which is the object of their striving. The members of a team are conditioned to keep pressing in the midst of adversity. They are commissioned to go out there and play the game in the manner dictated by the coach. As long as the coach’s game-plan is followed, the team will in the end emerge victorious. Similarly, our God has prepared a game-plan for us in his Son, Jesus who taught and showed us the way to win in life. Yes, we are in the midst of difficult times. Yes, we are on the cusp of uncertainty. Nevertheless, we are in a position of potential. We are on the brink of a transformative move of God, but in order for the transformation to take place, we have to be able to accept the fact that we do not have any dominion whatsoever over tomorrow.
The Constitution is supposed to be an active document. The Pledge of Allegiance is a statement of active commitment. The Emancipation Proclamation was a document calling for action. Even in the midst of the current economic situation, our President Barack Obama has pulled together an economic team. The significance behind this is that a team has a goal, a mission, a prize for which is the object of their striving. The members of a team are conditioned to keep pressing in the midst of adversity. They are commissioned to go out there and play the game in the manner dictated by the coach. As long as the coach’s game-plan is followed, the team will in the end emerge victorious. Similarly, our God has prepared a game-plan for us in his Son, Jesus who taught and showed us the way to win in life. Yes, we are in the midst of difficult times. Yes, we are on the cusp of uncertainty. Nevertheless, we are in a position of potential. We are on the brink of a transformative move of God, but in order for the transformation to take place, we have to be able to accept the fact that we do not have any dominion whatsoever over tomorrow.
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