Correction

RE: 1/27/06 Bein' Jesus

My memory fails me again. (Being 30+ really takes a toll on you!) Mel Gibson did not portray Jesus in Passion of the Christ, but he did fund the movie. A more correct way of saying it would have been: Mel Gibson paid for a little known actor to don the crown of thorns in "Passion of the Christ" and no one said a harsh word.

Going Postal

One of my favorite movies is Office Space. My brother turned me on to this offbeat, laugh-a-minute parody that pokes fun at life in the office. Every time I watch it, the jokes resonate with me because invariably I've experienced similar embarrassing, frustrating, or irritating moments as those portrayed in the movie. One of the funniest characters is a mousy-voiced, pimply-faced man who is always being overlooked. They change the location of his office so many times that he eventually ends up in the basement. All the while, he is muttering to himself: "They just don't know, I will burn this place down."

Have you ever felt like you wanted to just torch your place of employment? The big irritants pile up so high that little things like not getting a piece of cake at the office party take you to your breaking point? It's all fun & games when I watch "Office Space" or I dream about crazy stuff to get back at my boss. But, apparently, one female postal employee decided to turn her random thoughts into action after she was terminated from a California post office. Sadly, six people were killed during her violent tirade.

My friend's sister was telling me just the other day how she was under pressure from the powers-that-be at her job to fire four employees. Do these "authorities" not understand that these people have lives and families? If they didn't need extra personnel or they couldn't afford to pay their salaries, why did you hire them in the first place? When you try to be like God and control the future prosperity of others, be careful because it might come back to bite you - hard.

The Most Important Job

This morning I read about the passing of Coretta Scott King. There are many words I can use to describe her but ultimately I must say she was a strong mother. She epitomized strength. She was the wind beneath her husband's wings during an era most wouldn't want to go back and revisit. After his passing, she assumed leadership of a household, raising four kids alone. (As a single mother I'm just trying to imagine all that motherhood entails and multiply it by four - SCARY!)

I wonder if Coretta knew what she was getting herself into when she married the good Rev. Dr. King. Was she prepared for the hatred that would soon be directed toward her and her family because of her husband's leadership? And then, after his death, the fight was only beginning for Coretta as she pushed for a federal holiday in honor of her late husband. I am awestruck by the efforts she made to preserve the legacy of Dr. King. She and her children helped to ensure that Dr. King's work and dream was not forgotten. And, in her strength and courage, she gave hope to woman, mothers all across the world.

Yet, unfortunately our society produces notable mothers (and fathers) who are not remembered for their positive contributions to society, as the late Mrs. Coretta Scott King. But, these mothers gain notoriety for their cruel treatment of young ones entrusted into their care. My heart weeps for the little children who are suffering at the hands of abusive parents (and baby daddies, and momma's boyfriends).

I pause for ROLL CALL: Rest in peace Quachon Brown, Nixzmary Brown, Angela Coleman, Tyreek Davis, Christian Norris, Crissmis Noelle Reese Jones, and La'Monica Douglas. (These stories of these fatal child abuse cases were reported in Washington Post news stories during the month of January.)

I'm so far from being a perfect mother. There are nights I'm too tired to cook, sometimes I yell and fly off the handle, I get impatient, I fuss and nag. But, at the end of the day, I take the role of parenting seriously. Despite my faults, I always strive to put my son first. I still feel shame for those times when I did not. I've learned the hard way that a mother must be watchful and mindful of the people she brings into her son's life. And, I've been to a place where I could understand the mindset of mothers who abuse their newborn babies - exhausted and weary, you're trying to comfort a screaming child whose relentless cries pierce you to your very soul. Oh, I've been there. You want to just throw the kid. But, instead you make sure your baby is safe in their crib or playpen, and you walk away for a few moments. You scream, cry, shout to the heavens, and pray for relief. And then you go back and try again. And you love.

That's mothering. It's the most important job title a woman can hold. Thank God for mothers like Coretta, and my mother and grandmothers, who show us what it's like to do it and do it right.

"God could not be everywhere and therefore he made mothers. " -Jewish proverb

Suffer the Little Children

Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:13-14)

I'm grappling with the notion of "unexplained suffering" and why God allows it to happen. My Disciple bible study class studied the book of Job last week. We extensively discussed Job's reaction to being subjected to unbearable suffering although he was an "upright and blameless" man.

I haven't a clue about the righteousness and blamelessness of the Fla. woman who lost all five of her children and two nieces in a tragic car accident, not to mention suffered the death of her father who died of a grief-induced heart attack. Nor am I familiar with the spiritual walk of a saintly woman in my church who lost her 5 kids in a house fire. But, if I had to point to modern day examples of Job-like people, I would point to persons such as these. And, in each instance, their suffering seems unfair, severe, and is, undoubtedly, irreversible.

I find myself asking questions similar to the ones Job expressed after losing his family, prosperity, and physical health. The age-old question of "why do good things happen to bad people?" comes to mind.

And the kicker is, that at the end of Job's story, God Himself appears. God tells Job, in a nutshell, that HE IS GOD and Job does not have the authority to question Him. God completely shuts Job up by saying it's His world and Job is just a squirrel. When I was little and I would ask my mother a question and her answer wasn't affirmative, I'd ask why and she'd say "because I said so." That's what God told Job and the story abruptly came to an end.

Even as an adult, I can't stand not knowing "why." But, when we witness tragedies befall good people, we learn lessons about acceptance and gratitude. We learn to be patient. And, we are reminded that only God is sovereign and just.

Bein' Jesus

I happened upon it today as I scanned the news. Right there, bright as day before my eyes was Kanye West posing as Jesus on the cover of Rolling Stones magazine.

I already predict that countless people will be up in arms over this most recent brazen display by Kanye, the rapper everyone loves to hate. But, I say, WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL?!? Mel Gibson donned the crown of thorns in "Passion of the Christ" and no one said a harsh word. Crowds cheered his adaptation of Jesus' last days on earth.

I'll save a full analysis of Kanye's rendition for after I've read the full article, in hopes of gaining clarity about his modus operandi. I'll refrain from jumping to the easy conclusion that this is another one of Kanye's ploys to self-promote (if so, SHAME ON YOU KANYE !) But, regardless of his motives, I pray there is no public outcry over Kanye-as-Jesus, because if so I'll be forced to cry discrimination.

What's in a Name?

Yesterday, my friend and I had a rousing discussion that began with exploring race and how people in certain ethnic groups designate names for themselves. Specifically, we talked about Black vs. African American. Unfortunately, we disagreed on many points, including his point that one should not call oneself African American because it only serves to widen the divide between people of different races. He contends that we should all be lumped together under the umbrella of one all-encompassing category - American! While I agreed that we are all Americans living in America, that's about where our consensus ended. I 've always believed that pride in one's heritage or culture, whether reflected through the designation of a name or cultural activities, does not impede progress, nor does it lead to separation. In the instance of African Americans (or Black people, if you will), this is especially important because of our history. We were oppressed for so long by a society that claimed "White is right." We were treated as less than animals. Now that we can finally walk with head held high in this society, we are ridiculed for creating entities (publications, media outlets, etc.) that reflect our unique culture, heritage and BLACK faces. Why do people object to Black History Month and Black Entertainment Television?? No one objected when all that was taught in schools was European history. It's just that White folks called European history "History" thereby inherently identifying White history with the right history. All Black folks did was call a spade a spade. If we had created a television channel that showcased the talents and faces of people with brown skin but called it "Entertainment TV," the majority would still take issue with it because they would say that it doesn't feature people of all races. How many shows do I watch on television every day that only have White faces? Why is it that anything that's solely White is not exclusionary or segregationist or racist, but something that's all-Black is!?!

I also emphatically disagree with the Pollyanna-ish notion that Black people are now equal to Whites and the playing field is level. My friend tried to convince me that Black people just need to work harder and through hard work they will get their just reward. Spiritually speaking that may be true, but earthly injustices certainly persist and we cannot turn a blind eye to them. Racial profiling, felony disenfranchisement, housing and employment discrimination, disproportionate imprisonment, police brutality - these are real issues that are happening TODAY! According to an article by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Racial Justice in the 21st Century: New Remedies for Persistent Problems, "it would be a mistake to assume that because formal equality exists, current skin-color and ethnic discrimination does not. "

Fast forward to today - after I've had a few still moments to think: I still hold those views and pose those questions. But, I've also started thinking about some of the very salient points that my friend made. For instance, he questioned whether I truly believe in what Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said in his speeches about freedom, nonviolence and equality. I most certainly do. However, I also contend that many of the ideals preached by Dr. King have yet to be realized in this country. As long as there are headlines such as this: Five Md. Cases of Racist Graffiti Linked: Black Churches, Schools Vandalized, we all should be wondering "What Would Dr. King Think?" I don't think Dr. King would be up in arms because Blacks called themselves African Americans - not when there are so many other unjust, unequal, and just plain racist acts taking place today. And, I mean, Black against White, vice versa, and everything in between.

One thing I can say is that my dear friend did make me pause and think about how I feel on certain aspects of race. My friend has a close childhood friend who is White and their friendship defies logic. They are in many ways stark opposites but they have found common ground over the years and now have a friendship more solid and supportive than many people of the same race. It is an inspiration and testament to loving people no matter their color. For the most part I'd like to think that I don't have an inner bitterness toward White people, but if I'm completely honest with myself I'd have to say that there are some feelings I need to address.

I think society as a whole is in need of self-assessment, instead of blindly holding views in need of fine tuning. Perhaps then the headlines will no longer feature example after example of pervasive racial justice. And Dr. King might rest knowing the "dream" about which he passionately spoke years ago has been fully realized.

"Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself." ~Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoy

P.S. - So now, in case you didn't notice, I've changed my header to read: "Musings of a 30-something, Christian, BLACK single mother..." How about that?

Painting for Personal Power

I know that house painting, while a bit challenging, can also be cathartic. But, I never bargained for an experience so utterly life-changing. Simply by tackling a home improvement project, which involved painting the walls of my townhome, I learned about myself and revealed strengths and weaknesses in my character I never knew existed. I'm tempted to write Oprah and suggest a show topic about finding yourself and discovering your inner power through house painting. (She really goes for the self-help stuff). And if this isn't enough reason to stop reading right now and pick up a paintbrush, I learned today that someone very special in my life witnessed traits in me that helped to change his perspective of me, to see me in a different light. In the midst of my project, which at times I felt less than qualified to complete, I connected with an inner strength I'd lost touch with some time ago. For me, it was a turning point in my life. And each time I sit in the comfort of my newly renovated living space, I remember the struggles and obstacles I encountered along the way. So, I realized, painting is much like life - although there are bumps in the road along the journey, what is important is staying the course and finishing the journey. Only then can you bask in the joy of a job well done and reap the benefits of endurance that come from running the race.

Blissful Ignorance

Would someone please wake up our nation’s leader from his dream state? Then again, when it comes to rebuilding New Orleans, he’d probably rather sleep through it. The fact that he observed the devastated city in its present state and commented, “It’s a heck of a place to bring your family,” proves Bush was sleepwalking through his recent visit and loving every minute of it.

Opting to spend his time hobnobbing with political officials in the Garden District, a “neighborhood largely untouched by the floodwaters of Hurricane Katrina,” Bush’s motorcade cruised through the “nice” parts of town, avoiding the lower 9th Ward altogether. But, poor blacks shouldn’t complain about being overlooked during the presidential stopover since good ol’ Dubya equally ignored upper class white students in Jackson Square protesting for stronger levees. Now, that’s what I refer to as equal opportunity kissing off.

And why did it take three months for him to make a return appearance? No need to ponder how to evade questions about the city’s new rebuilding plan; he has such a strong role model for evasiveness in his alter-ego, Alito. The “visit” (and I use that term loosely) was just a pit stop to render a dramatic show of insincere goodwill to a place and a people that are of little consequence in his mind.

A vivid image comes to mind of the leader of the Free World sitting on his private jet headed from New Orleans to Palm Beach, Fla., where a multi-million dollar fundraiser for the Republican National Committee is about to begin. He turns to his adviser and exclaims, “Today, I learned that ignorance truly is bliss!”

Wanted: Realistic New Orleans Rebuilding Plan

The headline reads: “Hostility Greets Katrina Recovery Plan.” No surprises here.

Rebuilding strategies proposed by the “Bring Back New Orleans Commission,” a panel established by Mayor Nagin in September, are outrageous. Apparently, the Commission is advocating for establishing a “powerful new authority that could use eminent domain to seize homes in neighborhoods that will not be rebuilt” and creating a new, downtown jazz district. And if those grandiose ideas aren’t enough, there are talks of creating a new light rail system to “spark redevelopment in areas of the city that were flooded.”

Families, living in hotel rooms or cramped in overcrowded houses with extended relatives or hospitable strangers, are battling with insurance companies for just compensation and yearning for heirlooms and keepsakes buried in New Orleans’ sludge- and debris-covered streets.

It is painfully obvious that the report from the Nagin-appointed Commission is another attempt to stamp out black neighborhoods, primarily those in the lower 9th Ward, and low-income housing areas in general. I mean, let’s look at the facts: the Commission’s urban planning chairman is a real estate developer and major fundraiser for Bush; the contractor who drafted the Commission’s plan was hired with monies from an unnamed, private foundation; and, the Commission’s redevelopment plan strips power from the City Council and redirects it to a newly-created, autonomous housing authority.

Conspicuously absent from the Commission’s seven-part report are viable solutions for the men, women, and children of color facing an arduous journey home. With FEMA funding nearing an end, and time limits expiring on temporary housing situations, New Orleans’ residents are running out of time. The single most urgent issue for thousands of survivors is returning to the city they call home and rebuilding their hurricane-ravaged homes. It’s time Mayor Nagin and his misguided Commission realized it.

Post-Mortem Justice

Instead of choosing to give a political voice to 243,000 living Virginians, on-his-way-out-the-door Governor Mark Warner has decided he’d rather run DNA tests to prove the innocence (or confirm the guilt) of a dead man. Is it just me, or are his priorities a bit skewed in the wrong direction? In my estimation, when Gov. Warner thinks about his daily to do’s for his last week in this office, post-mortem activities should fall to the latter part of the list.

Governor Warner has the authority by executive order to restore voting rights, thereby sending a message of redemption to those who have served their time and paid their debt to society. And, I maintain that redemption is possible in America, despite what Stanley “Tookie” Williams’ execution in California leads us to believe.

With the stroke of a pen, Gov. Warner could grant thousands of residents the right to participate in the democratic process. If Gov. Warner busied himself with enacting critical legislation to benefit schoolchildren (the living, breathing types, of course) or increasing funding to social service agencies serving mentally disabled adults (with a pulse), my objections would be considerably less intense. There’s only one week left, what is he waiting for? If these same individuals were still incarcerated and scheduled for execution before week’s end, perhaps the odds of their getting on Gov. Warner’s closing agenda would improve significantly.

Freedom for Some

The recent death of civil rights activist Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King, Jr.’s upcoming birthday are shifting our focus to the ongoing fight for civil rights in America. While it is no secret that we’re still fighting against racial injustices prevalent during the heyday of Parks and King, it is painfully aware that African Americans and Latinos are not the only targets on the battlefield.

I was struck by an article in the Metro section of the Post this morning (Off-Duty Officers Sued in Club Incident, B04) describing brutal attacks by two off-duty D.C. police officers on a Lebanese man in a D.C. nightclub. While hanging out with friends on a Friday night, as many of us in the DC Metro area like to do, this man was accosted by the officers who called him “al Qaeda” and beat him until he had to be rushed to the hospital. Did they think that the events of September 11, 2001 give them license to discriminate against and harm Middle Easterners?

I do not intend to diminish in any way the horror and tragedy of what happened that fateful morning of 9/11. The terrorist crimes committed that day are unconscionable. But, we can’t blame an entire group of people for the sins of a few. There are many decent, law-abiding Middle Eastern citizens who deserve the same respect we’d give any other person in this country. And, by the same token, these citizens deserve to be free from harassment by individuals who have sworn to serve and protect all people.

When Dr. King penned the words, “Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred,” he was speaking about freedom for all races and nationalities. He wasn’t talking about liberating a select group of people, or those with certain qualities. It’s time we recognized and respected the inalienable rights afforded to us in this democratic nation.