Good After noon folks. I was watching the Tony Brown show this morning (channel 32 in dc). I was interested by some of the things this cat ( Bishop Harry R. Jackson Jr)was saying about reform in black america. Now this dude is Preacher which one strike against him, but hes also a republican which is another strike against him but he was saying some things that made sense.
Now I dont care for republicans much because I feel like they think thier above the rules they insist everyone else follow and when I see a black republican I am usually annoyed after listening them even briefly. Anyway black reblicans are humans too and although I aint feeling the repblicans if any black indiviual republican or demonocrat has something progressive to say or are trying to do I am willing to listen. Although I agreed with much of what he was saying I found him extremely annoying especially when he started talking about George Bush.
However he did propose something very interesting ideas including called the moral contract with black america. Most of the points made in this document I agree with. I do not agree with his naming it " the moral contract with black america" however. Although I may agree in spirit with such a contract the name should be changed to something more positive I thnk the implication that could be taking from such a name is that black people are immoral and that is a message that is not acceptable to put out thier. The name may or not be and I can take it or leave it what I cant take is any implication that all or most blacks are immoral.
Lastly as one of his points he mentions school vouchers and creation of charter schools. I am against school vouchers and charter schools if they take money and resources away from the public schools. If they dont take from the public schools then I am all for the creation of them. Either way the african american communty needs to make education an urgent priority. The black church needs to put as much focus and attention into doing for education what it does for music, the excellence the black church produces in the areas of music should be matched in education. Anyway below is a copy of the contract. Take a look and let me know what you think.
Also I dont agree with them focusing on prohibiting same sex marraige I think thats a non issue.
" Marriage: Focus on prohibiting same-sex marriage.
• Wealth creation: Private Social Security investment accounts and encouraging homeownership.
• Education: School vouchers, charter schools and boosting black enrollment in higher education.
• Prison reform: Including a "Second Chance Act," reentry programs and laws restoring the rights of felons.
• Africa: Intervention in Sudan and penalties against corporations that explore for oil in the region.
• Healthcare overhaul: Including programs to cover the poor."
Source: Bishop Harry R. Jackson Jr., Hope Christian Church, College Park, Md.
Los Angeles Times
4 comments:
Its name is too reminiscent of Newt Gingrich's Contract with America.
I agree that the first item is a non issue and also the implied immorality.
What many forget that is even many middle class people don't fully understand how to invest in the market. What many black people like my grandparents relied on in the past, were pass book saving accounts. They were simple, safe and had earnings that are equivalent to many mutual funds of today. I am afraid that a set of sophisticated industries would pop up to take advantage of unknowledgeable people, if they changed Social Security with those kind of accounts.
I take issue with the theory that vouchers would improve the public school system. What I see it doing is benefiting the parents who are already doing whatever they can now to provide a better education for their children. In some cases it would also restrict a parent's ability for choice. For instance in our school district, private schools cost almost twice as much as the public system spends on a child. The only exceptions are parochial schools. What bugs me that for black people it is assumed that you would want to send your child to a Catholic or Christian school. It is also assumed that the public school would thrive too. How can that be, when the the most invested parents are encourage to leave the public schools?
I feel charters schools are undermining the other public schools. The State's put enough public money into the charter school and create conditions which are conducive to education; such as creating small class rooms and more control from the principal. Then they hold the school up in comparison to the other public school and criticize. I think if they had of put that public money into the regular school tried to redefine the roll of the principals and teachers, it would help.
To me this contract isn't any more than a feel good set points that fit into a conservative agenda. I don't what his church is doing, but instead of a contract, I would prefer that his church were providing workshops in the black community; giving the knowledge and resources to learn how to invest, organize successfully to change the school system and how to lobby against policies that encourage genocide, such as in Dafur.
We need action instead of the re-enforcing the mantra from the right about our morals and inadequacies.
" I would prefer that his church were providing workshops in the black community; giving the knowledge and resources to learn how to invest, organize successfully to change the school system and how to lobby against policies that encourage genocide, such as in Dafur."
MARK BEY: You know what hathor I think this is a good idea. The church should be training people to do these things as well as clean up the neghborhoods and create programs to keep kids occupied and off of the streets. You know the deal some kids learn actual music with instrument, some kids can be taught digital music, some football, basketball, ect. But these young folks(but really the entire black community. Should be engaged perpetually with activities that are aimed at community, local, state and world improvement.
Like you said instead the preaching directly leading so many things the preacher should be engaged in setting up programs that teach those skills to the congregants. This will multiply the affect and impact on those interest.
Lastly you are correct about alternative schools recieving more funding and investing thier social security just dosent make any sense when consider the fundemental logic in order for group a investors to make money another group (perhaps group Y) has to lose money. Some churches would be competent at invest money others wouldnt some people would lose thier lifes savins.
What would you think of a black Clergies contract with black america?
I think genuine leadership evolves from interest. I wouldn't want a contract that some may have difficulties fulfilling. I would want each church to define its ministry. I am not a person thats looks to the church, but I think there are many people that do. The church should see what the needs of its congregation and as it lives in the community. The Clergy should not try to set a national agenda unless the community wishes such. That is, as in the civil rights era and Martin L. King Jr. was called to lead. I think progress is sometime made with small steps at a time, not some grandiose scheme. It may not seem so, but the civil rights movement was that way, both with a religious organization, SCLC and other secular ones, SNCC and CORE. Of course you had the Urban League and the NAACP. These organizations all had different niches; attacking the problems one at a time.
Along with the black church, I do think we need more secular organizations. I think black churches are too conservative in theology to tackle the issue of AIDS, but I do think the black church should not fight any efforts against sex and AIDS education or for abstinence as public policy. They could also talk about the responsibility that beginning sexual activity requires, rather than it is a sin and you shouldn't do it because it is against god. They way it is preached, it is a standard that is required of a cloistered individual who had vowed to give up all desire.
" I wouldn't want a contract that some may have difficulties fulfilling. I would want each church to define its ministry."
mark bey: I wouldnt want the morals contract either. What I would prefer is that he create programs designed to go out and teach those values packaged in the form of mentoring, education and other types of progressive community improvement programs.
" he church should see what the needs of its congregation and as it lives in the community. The Clergy should not try to set a national agenda unless the community wishes such."
mark bey: Yep this is true but the church must also insist that the congregation play a role in the overall vision of the church. The preachers should be training thier congregations to help the church includng the preacher himself to stay on point.
The church has to take more leadership on the aids issue. One of the churches fundemental missions is supposed to be healing the sick, literally. Black folks are a lot sicker than other americans. Thier ignorance of the issues is criminal in my oppinion.
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