The BEAUTY of an Illness:
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS Chicago BAPTIST Pastor Supports
SAME-SEX MARRIAGE RAPE NO MORE
The Amazing Grace of
HAITIAN WOMEN
REV. JUDGE PENNY BROWN REYNOLDS
Balancing Religion and Justice WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH
2 | TRUMPET NEWSMAGAZINE • MARCH 2013
CONTENTS | MARCH 2013 F EATU R E S 18 Rev. Judge Penny Brown Reynolds: Balancing the Scales of Religion and Justice 32
The Beauty of An Illness…MS
36
Bottom 47 | Rape No More: The Amazing Grace of Haitian Women
D E PA R T M E N T S 6
FROM THE PUBLISHER Shining the Light on Women, the Epidemic of Multiple Sclerosis
8
WRIGHTINGS | The Great Mind Challenge
10
A MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE EDITOR Thank You, Lord, For Creating the Black Woman
GLOBAL NOTES 12 Breaking the Chains of Debt Peonage 16 Let Them Fight … Right? 22 Teenage Civil Rights Activist Sings Her Way to Womanhood: The Story of Bettie Mae Fikes SOUND ADVICE 26 Ask the Dentist… Cold Sores 28 Manage Your Money Well: The Ins and Outs of Cash PHENOMENAL LIVING 24 Burned or Bald, You’re Still Beautiful! 30 Behold Your Own Beauty: You’re More Than Your Hair SOUNDING ON 34 Loving Our Black Sisters 38 A Tribute to the Black Woman 40 BLACKWARDS African Woman | More than a Va-JJ REAR VIEW 42 Standing Alone: Chicago Baptist Pastor Supports Same Sex Marriage
MARCH 2013 • TRUMPET NEWSMAGAZINE | 3
PUBLISHER/EDITOR IN CHIEF Jeri L. Wright EXECUTIVE EDITOR Dr. L. Bernard Jakes MANAGING EDITOR Janet B. Wright COLUMNISTS Colleen Birchett, Ph. D., Erika Bracey, Marjorie Clark, Patryce Denson, Kim Dulaney, Melody Ferguson, Keenan Glover, Jazmin Hall, Dr. L. Bernard Jakes, Rev. Rae Lewis-Thornton, Terry Mason, M.D., Rev. Waltrina Middleton, Rev. Derrick Rice, Natasha L. Robinson, Esq., Dr. Susan K. Smith, Brenda Taylor, D.M.D., Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr. CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Chris Hedges, Rev. Judge Penny Brown Reynolds, Jeri Wright ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER/DIGITAL SALES & MARKETING DIRECTOR Nakia Green CREATIVE DIRECTOR LaShaunn Tappler JERI WRIGHT AND REV. DR. JEREMIAH A. WRIGHT, JR. PHOTOS Rodney Wright/Image Makers Photography BOTTOM 47: RAPE NO MORE PHOTOS CNN Heroes FOUNDER Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr. FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: TRUMPET NEWSMAGAZINE 939 W. North Avenue, Chicago, IL 60642 Nakia Green, Associate Publisher 312.646.2144 | infor@thetrumpetmag.com | www.thetrumpetmag.com
Contents may NOT be printed or duplicated without prior written permission from Trumpet Newsmagazine.
MARCH 2013 • TRUMPET NEWSMAGAZINE | 5
FROM THE PUBLISHER
SHINING THE LIGHT
ON WOMEN, THE EPIDEMIC OF MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS JERI L. WRIGHT
A
s we move into the month of March celebrating Women’s Month, Women’s History Month, and coming to grips with the reality of MS being an epidemic in the African American community among women, I realized there was no way I could publish this issue without having my aunt’s voice in it, even if only a small portion of her story. Because my business partner was diagnosed a few years ago, she was looking forward to interviewing my aunt. As the time began drawing near to compiling articles for the March issue, I began playing telephone tag with my aunt, Cynthia. Knowing she was recently released from the hospital, I began to get concerned when it took longer than three days to receive a response to the last voice message I’d left. I then followed up with an email. I was introduced to Cynthia as God
more and more amazed by her spirit, her love for the Lord, life, our family, and her commitment to ministry, yet even in the
blessed my father (her
midst of her sometimes painfully uncomfortable reality. Cynthia
“brother from another
became my aunt and partner in media ministry while being
mother”) over 25 years
wheelchair bound, living in Moraga, California. She offered
ago with an angel
herself completely to the work of ministry as she helped make
whose love for life
my job as media director much easier. As we talked about the
and the Lord is simply
work I was doing, Cynthia took the responsibility of compiling
amazing! She entered my life as a woman living through what seemed to be the horrors of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Wheelchair bound, unable to perform any personal daily activities on her own, including getting out of bed or even moving from the bed to her chair, the wife of Ron Carter, a man who
a catalog of every sermon title my father had preached since 1981, as all his sermons on cassette tape prior to ’81 had been destroyed in a church flood. Through painful bouts and progressions of new symptoms, Cynthia never complained, and completed a catalog of over 5,000 sermon titles. Because Cynthia is who she is, a loving angel, full of life, positive energy and encouragement, performing monumental tasks as if she has full functioning capacity of her central nervous system, never disgruntled or showing any sign of negativity, and always displaying the love of Christ in all she does, I did not
loved her unconditionally until his
realize the impact MS had on her life because she lives as though
death and proved his love daily as
none of the major changes in her life have taken place. She is a
he took exceptional care of her,
support system and beacon of hope for many women, especially
Cynthia spoke life into everyone
younger women diagnosed and living with MS. Even in her
she encountered. With every encounter of Cynthia, I became
6 | TRUMPET NEWSMAGAZINE • MARCH 2013
response to my email asking how she is doing, she still seeks to offer herself:
Jeri, I’m so sorry I just opened this, and must have
about it. You would be amazed to learn of the people you know
missed the 24-hour deadline. As you may know I’m
living with MS, who simply have not disclosed their diagnosis.
managing serious escalating MS issues, combined
In fact, there’s probably more education about MS encountering
with Narcolepsy, which robs a major portion of each
this disease personally or through the lives of loved ones than is
day by sleeping.
offered through current scientific findings.
Sweetheart, by the Grace of God, supportive family and friends at 70, I’m managing. Truthfully by giving an honest report of my current state, bowel incontinence—colon rectal surgeon isn’t sure I can live through abdominal surgery for a colostomy, recent hospitalization for inability to digest solids or liquids,
MS has really become an epidemic among African American women, and we need to take notice, become aware, and get educated about the disease…
and total requirement for assistance to transfer, as well as perform personal requirements. I sleep in my
As I encounter my loved ones living with MS, I have learned
Lift Chair, unable to transfer to a bed. Medicare does
more from their experiences about the multiple ways it shows
not pay for my health aide, or significant costs I’m
itself than any information I have found researching MS. I
experiencing, but I’m Blessed by having enough funds
continue to glean from the blessing of the women I encounter
to pay for them. These factors might depress others
with MS, as well as the love they display. In fact, it occurred to me
with MS, realizing “they too may pass this way.”
as I was writing some of Cynthia’s characteristics, these are some
It is manageable, and MS is aptly named—it hits “Multiple” people in “Multiple” ways. After being diagnosed in 1968, remission until 1973, and then
of the same characteristics of other living angels God has blessed me to encounter who happen to be living with MS. MS has really become an epidemic among African American
worldwide travel, married to a Fantastic Man Ron
women, and we need to take notice, become aware, and get
Carter in 1981, and in 1983 exacerbation occurred,
educated about the disease, what it looks like, the symptoms,
but remission remained until my health declined from
and the treatments. Have you or someone you love come
1989 to present. The Good News is it’s been a slow
face-to-face with MS? Keep your eyes open for the women in
process giving me time to adjust!
your lives showing or complaining of some of the following
Perhaps my health will improve, and I can contribute to another “Trumpet …“ Issue.
symptoms:
I didn’t
• migraines
realize “Trumpet…“ was being published. How can I get
• imbalance
a subscription?
• numbness in the extremities
Love You,
• tingling of the fingers/hands
Cynthia
• loss of memory • many other symptoms.
This is actually the first time Cynthia has communicated in
Although you or your loved one experiencing MS might
detail what she’s dealing with. How perfect the timing of her
not talk about what it feels like living with MS, presence and a
sharing and the words perfectly placed to share …MS is aptly
listening ear just might be all the support needed to make life
named—it hits “Multiple” people in “Multiple” ways. Since my
more meaningful during the process.
life-changing encounter with Cynthia, I have encountered more young women suddenly diagnosed and now living with MS.
Be intentional about honoring all the women in your life this month!
n
Because we generally do not take time to get educated about the disease until and unless we, or someone we love, are affected by it, I am grateful we pause to nationally recognize MS education and awareness during this month, the same month we recognize Women’s History Month. Knowing the cause of this chronic, often disabling disease is still unfounded is reason enough to take notice, learn the symptoms, and get educated MARCH 2013 • TRUMPET NEWSMAGAZINE | 7
WRIGHTINGS
THE GREAT
MIND CHALLENGE T R E V E R E N D D R . J E R E M I A H A . W R I G H T, J R .
his month we celebrate the end of the Lenten Season, the Passion Week, and the week that is called “Holy Week” in the Christian tradition. The fourth Sunday in March is Palm Sunday and the last day of March is Easter Sunday. During this Sacred Month, I am challenging our readers. Many of our readers are not Christians and do
Our Hollywood representations of the crucifixion have hidden
not recognize this month as a Sacred Month.
from us the fact that the dehumanizing and degradation of the
I realize that. My challenge, however, is to all
persons who were crucified was just like the lynchings carried
of our readers—Christian and non-Christian.
out by the Klu Klux Klan in the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries!
Beginning this month, I challenge you to read at least one book a month about the African American experience. I
You and I have seen pictures with Jesus wearing a robe on the Cross, or wearing a garment that is draped across his privates. Crucified persons were not covered up like that for modesty’s
honestly believe that you have the
sake. They were butt-naked as they hung on their crosses to die a
ability to read at least one book a
slow, painful and humiliating death!
week; but since you are no longer in
Stripping the prisoner naked was meant to embarrass him, to
school (most of you), I will hold my
shame her and to reduce their humanity to “less than human.”
challenge to one book each month
They were treated like animals—left hanging out naked “to dry”
this year!
for the whole world to see! Dr. James Cone’s book will open
Now for those who have not read at least one book about our history, our heritage, and our Legacy in January and February of 2013, that means that you are playing “catch-up.” That is all right.
your eyes to the reality of crucifixion (lynching) and to the true meaning of the Cross of Calvary! Dr. Cone’s book will also open your eyes to the nexus
You have nine more months to catch-up and to make your total
of religion and politics. Because of our tendency to “spiritualize”
for the year 2013, twelve books read, digested, discussed, and
the story of Jesus, far too many of us think that politics and
internalized.
religion have nothing to do with each other. Those who think
This month, since we Christians celebrate the last days of Jesus’ life on Earth, I would like for you to read James Cone’s, The Cross and The Lynching Tree.
that way are absolutely wrong in their thinking. Politics and Religion are inextricably intertwined! Ched Meyers’ book, Binding the Strong Man, and Obery
We have so “spiritualized” the story of Jesus that we have
Hendricks’ book, The Politics of Jesus, go into great detail to
divorced it from its context and done great violence to its true
show the average Christian (who does not have a clue) just
meaning. Jesus was lynched!
how political the life, the ministry, the birth, the death, and the
Jesus was lynched just like hundreds of African Americans were lynched in the United States of America. The Roman
Resurrection of Jesus were and are! (For those readers who are eager to accept my weekly
crucifixion in the first century was an act of terror committed
challenge, you can read Meyers’ and Hendricks’ books as your
by European oppressors in North Africa! Public execution was
other two books for the month of March!)
meant to terrorize the people under oppression!
8 | TRUMPET NEWSMAGAZINE • MARCH 2013
Reading Aldon Morris’ book, The
For those readers who are Christians, my challenge to you is to become a
Origins of the Civil Rights Movement and
critical thinker in 2013. I want you to
Paula Giddings’, When and Where I Enter,
come to grips with different authors’
give you facts that the “sound bites” and
scholarly studies, run them through the
the reduction of Dr. King’s ministry and
data bank of your own life’s experiences
the entire Civil Rights Movement keep
and our collective experiences as Africans
from you!
in Diaspora, and see what it is that God is
Don’t worry! I am not assigning those
saying to us in this second decade of the
books for next month. These are just
21st century.
examples of the kind of critical thinkers I
To give you an example of what I mean
am challenging you to become!
(and maybe even a preview of articles in
We start this month with Jim Cone’s,
the coming months in 2013), consider
The Cross and Lynching Tree, but speaking
this: when you read C. Vann Woodward’s,
of lynching, how much have you read
The Strange Career of Jim Crow, and
about Ida B. Wells? Paula Giddings’, Ida,
Lerone Bennett’s, Forced Into Glory: Abraham Lincoln’s White
A Sword Among Lions, is also a “must-read” for those who would
Dream, what you will come away with is a very different picture
know more about this giant of a woman who led the campaign
of Abraham Lincoln than the picture that Hollywood gives you.
to stop lynchings of African Americans in this country.
Steven Spielberg’s “Lincoln,” is an American historical drama
Did you know how Ida. B. Wells was ignored and “dissed”
film. It is not historical fact. It is a drama put on the silver screen
by the Black leaders of her time—including W.E.B. DuBois? Do
to make money. What Woodward and Bennett do is not to make
you know which Black pastors here in the city of Chicago stood
money; it is to make sense of a very complicated and complex
with Ida? Stood against Ida? Wished Ida would go away quietly
set of circumstances that forced Abraham Lincoln into doing
somewhere and just leave that “touchy issue” alone?
many things that he had serious misgivings about! Did you know that Abraham Lincoln never intended for the Black and white races to be equal? Did you know that Abraham Lincoln says that plainly, clearly, and is quoted and cited as having so said by both Woodward and Bennett? Have you ever read the Emancipation Proclamation? Did you know the 13th Amendment does not free all persons in this country? Next month we are going to be celebrating and remembering
(Dr. King was not the first national African American leader to have Black preachers in the city of Chicago who opposed what they were trying to do for our people!) Dr. Miles Jerome Jones, the Professor of Homiletics at the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology, said many years ago, “thinking people need to shout sometimes.” He also said, “shouting people need to think sometimes!” Translated into “everyday” language, Dr. Jones was saying those of us who are uninhibited in our praise of our God need to
the multiple meanings of April 4, 1968, when Dr. Martin Luther
read, need to think, and need to analyze the context in which we
King, Jr., was gunned down on the balcony of the Lorraine Hotel
live. He was also saying that those of us who do engage in critical
in Memphis, Tennessee.
thinking need to praise God every now and then, and stop being
Have you read the sermon he preached on April 4, 1967, at the Riverside Church, one year to the date before he was gunned
so uptight about praising God! I challenge you to take Miles Jerome Jones seriously. I
down? Do you know the difference between the Martin Luther
challenge you to use the mind God gave you. I challenge you to
King, Jr., who started a movement and the Martin Luther King, Jr.,
listen to and take seriously the words of Jesus—even if you are
who is now enshrined in a monument?
not a Christian. Jesus said that we were to love God with all our
Have you read the inscriptions on the monument and compared them to Dr. King’s stance against militarism, capitalism and racism? Do you know who the first woman was who was going to be
hearts, souls and minds! This year I challenge you to develop the mind that God has given you to the fullest by exercising your mind just like you exercise to build a stronger body.
n
the woman to challenge the Montgomery Bus Company and its segregated policies? It was not Rosa Parks! MARCH 2013 • TRUMPET NEWSMAGAZINE | 9
A MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Thank You, Lord, For Creating the
BLACK WOMAN
R E V. D R . L . B E R N A R D J A K E S
M
arch is Women’s History Month. This time has been designated to honor the myriad of contributions made by women, both past and present. In keeping with this month, but adding my own contribution to the designation, I am using this as an opportunity to celebrate God’s greatest creation—the Black woman. As the Mother of civilization,
is, and the importance of her place in society—past, present,
the Black woman has always
and future. It is easy to begin with the Black woman being
shown herself as strong and
created as an equal partner of Adamah in the Garden of Eden.
determined, yet nurturing and
Her role, although reduced by those who seek to blame her
compassionate. God endowed
for the plight of humankind because of disobedience, remains
her with God’s image, whereby
critically important to humankind. If it were not for the Black
she is able to walk in the
woman, civilization would not exist, as I understand it in the
presence of royalty, because she,
history of creation. In the history of Black women in America,
too, is royalty, but also sit with
if it were not for her serving as midwives and nannies to White
those who have not been invited
people’s children, I dread to imagine what would have been
to the palace, because they
the outcome. The Black woman, while serving White people’s
live in shacks in shantytowns. I
children, continued to serve her husband, if applicable, and
surmise God has given the Black
children as well. She was notorious for making much out of
woman an added something that
little, and making sense out of things that were nonsensical.
scripture does not mention. She
She is, and continues to be, the backbone of Black society and
is enigmatic, but revealing. She
the face of how a society can overcome. The success of Black
is a symbol of strength, power, and authority, yet she is humble.
people relies heavily upon the Black woman. Moreover, the
She has created kings, princes, preachers, and politicians, but
success of historically Black institutions relies heavily upon the
accepts the role of being the means by which this Black man
Black woman’s support. The Black church is a testament to this
is supposed to shine and liberate his people. She compliments
support.
men through The Order of the Eastern Star, while collectively
The Black church has found her supportive base in Black
serving with other Black women through Alpha Kappa Alpha,
women. When Black men would attend Black churches and serve
Delta Sigma Theta, Zeta Phi Beta, and Sigma Gamma Rho. She
as respective heads of boards and committees, coupled with
works tirelessly through other civic and social organizations,
serving as pastor, the Black woman was supporting the church in
while also working silently within her community. The Black
time, talents and treasures. Her contribution to the Black church
woman is God’s greatest creation.
was ensuring the doors remained opened, and this was done
I am sure many would attempt to argue that the Black
through a myriad of fundraising efforts. It was Black women
woman is not God’s greatest creation. This may arise out of
who would prepare weekly meals, whereas the profits would
racism, sexism, or misinformation about who the Black woman
be allocated to take care of the church. It was Black women’s
10 | TRUMPET NEWSMAGAZINE • MARCH 2013
laborious efforts that made church teas and banquets a success.
well as through the prayers of the Mothers Ministry of our local
In addition to fundraising, Black women would comprise the
congregation.
majority of attendees on any given Sunday, and this remains factual today. It is for this reason why I cannot fathom the continual
In the Black women’s ability to lift with prayer, she couples that prayer with love. There is nothing more powerful than the love of Black women. Her love can often be misconstrued as
struggles in many historically Black congregations, as it relates
gullible, because she continues to keep the faith despite the
to women serving in all aspects of the church. Irrespective of
evidence set before her. Her love is so unconditional that she will
the historical understanding of Black men being “in charge,”
love to the point it hurts her. It brings tears, fears, complications
because the only place he could serve as head or leader was
and uncertainties. However, she understands that when she
in the church, many men-led Black congregations continue
ceases to love whomever she is willing to sow this seed, it can
holding fast to Biblical illiteracy, while maintaining a Neanderthal
have a damaging impact on the person’s life.
practice of holding women hostage. The truth, as I see it, is that many Black churches would close if not for the attendance and sweat equity of Black women. Amid the scriptural abuse offered to women across many pulpits in the Black church, Black women continue to remain steadfast and unmovable in their faith and their local congregations. This speaks to the Black woman’s
Her love is so unconditional that she will love to the point it hurts her. It brings tears, fears, complications and uncertainties.
relentless spirit to continue pressing forward, despite the obstacles placed in her path. I would be remised if I didn’t speak to the Black woman’s faith, whereas she has lifted her people
Much more can be offered about the Black woman and my
from the depths of obscurity through prayer. My personal and
gratefulness to God for creating her. However, due to the lack
pastoral experience has taught me that a praying Black woman
of space, coupled with her continuing to be instrumental in our
is as dangerous as weapons of mass destruction, because God
present and future, I will conclude by using the lyrics of Beyoncé,
honors her prayers. There is a special connectivity Black women
with an added twist: Who run the world? Black Girls! Thank you,
have with God, whereby God responds to the petition of her
Lord, for creating the Black woman.
n
heart. I have witnessed it in my own life through my mother, as MARCH 2013 • TRUMPET NEWSMAGAZINE | 11
GLOBAL NOTES
BREAKING THE CHAINS
OF DEBT PEONAGE
CHRIS HEDGES
Chris Hedges gave this talk Saturday night in Brooklyn at the People’s Recovery Summit.
T
he corporate state has made it clear there will be no more Occupy encampments. The corporate state is seeking through the persistent harassment of activists and the passage of draconian laws such as Section 1021(b)(2) of the National Defense Authorization Act—and we will be in court next Wednesday to fight the Obama administration’s appeal of the Southern District Court of New York’s ruling declaring Section 1021 unconstitutional—to shut down all legitimate dissent. The corporate state is counting, most importantly, on its system of debt peonage to keep citizens— especially the 30 million people who make up the working poor—from joining our revolt. Workers who are unable to meet their debts, who are victimized by constantly rising interest rates that can climb to as high as 30 percent on credit cards, are far more likely to
a life of perpetual debt. It soon becomes impossible to escape the mounting interest rates that necessitate new borrowing. Debt peonage is a familiar form of political control. And
remain submissive and compliant. Debt peonage is and always
today it is used by banks and corporate financiers to enslave not
has been a form of political control. Native Americans, forced
only individuals but also cities, municipalities, states and the
by the U.S. government onto tribal agencies, were required to
federal government. As the economist Michael Hudson points
buy their goods, usually on credit, at agency stores. Coal miners
out, the steady rise in interest rates, coupled with declining
in southern West Virginia and Kentucky were paid in scrip by
public revenues, has become a way to extract the last bits of
the coal companies and kept in perpetual debt servitude by
capital from citizens as well as government. Once individuals, or
the company store. African Americans in the cotton fields in the
states or federal agencies, cannot pay their bills—and for many
South were forced to borrow during the agricultural season from
Americans this often means medical bills—assets are sold to
their white landlords for their seed and farm equipment, creating
corporations or seized. Public land, property and infrastructure,
12 | TRUMPET NEWSMAGAZINE • MARCH 2013
along with pension plans, are privatized. Individuals are pushed
the job insecurity means that workers are reduced to doing
out of their homes and into financial and personal distress.
little more than eating, sleeping—never enough—and working.
Debt peonage is a fundamental tool for control. This debt peonage must be broken if we are going to build a mass movement to paralyze systems of corporate power. And the
And, most importantly, they are kept in a constant state of fear. Ehrenreich writes: When someone works for less pay than she can live on—
most effective weapon we have to liberate ourselves as well as
when, for example, she goes hungry so that you can eat more
the 30 million Americans who make up the working poor is a
cheaply and conveniently—then she has made a great sacrifice
sustained movement to raise the minimum wage nationally to at
for you, she has made you a gift of some part of her abilities, her
least $11 an hour. Most of these 30 million low-wage workers are
health, and her life. The “working poor,” as they are approvingly
women and people of color. They and their families struggle at a
termed, are in fact the major philanthropists of our society. They
subsistence level and play one lender off another to survive. By
neglect their own children so that the children of others will be
raising their wages we raise not only the quality of their lives but
cared for; they live in substandard housing so that other homes
we increase their capacity for personal and political power. We
will be shiny and perfect; they endure privation so that inflation
break one of the most important shackles used by the corporate
will be low and stock prices high. To be a member of the working
state to prevent organized resistance. Ralph Nader, whom I
poor is to be an anonymous donor, a nameless benefactor, to
spoke with on Thursday, has been pushing activists to mobilize
everyone else.
around raising the minimum wage. Nader, who knows more about corporate power and has been fighting it longer than any other American, has singled out, I believe, the key to building a broad-based national movement. There is among these underpaid 30 million workers—and some of them are with us tonight—a mounting despair at being unable to meet even the basic requirements to maintain a family. Nader points out that Walmart’s 1 million workers, like most of the 30 million low-wage workers, are making less per hour, adjusted for inflation, than
It is time to halt the sacrifice of the working poor. It is time to empower the 30 million low-wage workers—twothirds of which are employed by large corporations such as Walmart and McDonald’s—to fight back.
workers made in 1968, although these Walmart workers do the work required of two Walmart workers 40 years ago. If the federal minimum wage from 1968 were adjusted for
It is time to halt the sacrifice of the working poor. It is time to empower the 30 million low-wage workers—two-thirds of
inflation it would be $10.50. Instead, although costs and prices
which are employed by large corporations such as Walmart and
have risen sharply, the federal minimum wage remains stuck at
McDonald’s—to fight back.
$7.25 an hour. It is the lowest of the major industrial countries.
Joe Sacco and I spent the last two years in the poorest pockets
Meanwhile, Mike Duke, the CEO of Walmart, makes $11,000 an
of the United States, our nation’s sacrifice zones, for our book
hour. And he is not alone. These corporate chiefs make this much
“Days of Destruction, Days of Revolt.” We saw in Pine Ridge, S.D.,
money because they have been able to keep in place a system
Camden, N.J.—the poorest and the most dangerous city in the
by which workers are effectively disempowered, forced to work
nation—the coalfields of southern West Virginia and the produce
for substandard wages and denied the possibility through
fields of Immokalee, Fla., how this brutal system of corporate
unions or the formal electoral systems of power to defend
exploitation works. In these sacrifice zones no one has legal
workers’ rights. This is why corporations lavish these CEOs with
protection. All institutions, from the press to the political class
obscene salaries. These CEOs are the masters of plantations. And
to the judiciary, are wholly owned subsidiaries of the corporate
the moment workers rise up and demand justice is the moment
state. And what has been done to those in these sacrifice zones,
the staggering inequality of wealth begins to be reversed.
those places corporations devastated first, is now being done to
Being a member of the working poor, as Barbara Ehrenreich chronicles in her important book “Nickel and Dimed,” is “a state of
all of us. There are no impediments within the electoral process or
emergency.” It is “acute distress.” It is a daily and weekly lurching
the formal structures of power to prevent predatory capitalism.
from crisis to crisis. The stress, the suffering, the humiliation and
We are all being forced to kneel before the dictates of the
MARCH 2013 • TRUMPET NEWSMAGAZINE | 13
marketplace. The human cost, the attendant problems of drug
the
and alcohol abuse, the neglect of children, the early deaths—in
market
Pine Ridge the average life expectancy of a male is 48, the lowest
administration of
in the Western Hemisphere outside of Haiti—is justified by the
purchasing power would periodically
need to make greater and greater profit. And these costs are
liquidate business enterprise, for shortages
now being felt across the nation. The phrase “the consent of
and surfeits of money would prove as disastrous
the governed” has become a cruel joke. We use a language to
to business as floods and droughts in primitive society.
describe our systems of governance that no longer correspond
Undoubtedly, labor, land, and money markets are essential to a
to reality. The disconnect between illusion and reality makes us
market economy. But no society could stand the effects of such
one of the most self-deluded populations on the planet.
a system of crude fictions even for the shortest stretch of time
The Weimarization of the American working class, and increasingly the middle class, is by design. It is part of a corporate reconfiguration of the national and global economy
unless its human and natural substance as well as its business organizations was protected against the ravages of this satanic mill. The global and national economy because of this “satanic
into a form of neofeudalism. It is about creating a world of
mill” continues to deteriorate, and yet, curiously, stock market
masters and serfs, of empowered oligarchic elites and broken
levels are close to their highs in 2007 before the global financial
disempowered masses. And it is not only our wealth that is taken
meltdown. This is because these corporations have been able to
from us. It is our liberty. The so-called self-regulating market, as
suppress wages, slash social programs and bilk the government
the economist Karl Polanyi wrote in “The Great Transformation,”
for staggering sums of money. The Federal Reserve purchases
always ends with mafia capitalism and a mafia political system.
about $85 billion worth of mortgage-backed securities and
This system of self-regulation, Polanyi wrote, always leads to “the
Treasury bills every month. This means that the Fed is printing
demolition of society.”
endless streams of money to buy up government debt and toxic assets from the banks. The Federal Reserve now owns assets,
The disconnect between illusion and reality makes us one of the most selfdeluded populations on the planet.
much of them worthless, of $3.01 trillion. This is triple what it was in 2008. And while corporations such as Citibank and General Electric loot the Treasury they exact more pounds of flesh in the name of austerity. General Electric, as Nader points out, is a net job
And this is what is happening—the demolition of our society
exporter. Over the past decade, as Citizens for Tax Justice
and the demolition of the ecosystem that sustains the human
has documented, GE’s effective federal income tax rate on its
species. In theological terms these corporate forces, driven by the
$81.2 billion in pretax U.S. profits has been at most 1.8 percent.
lust for ceaseless expansion and exploitation, are systems of death.
Because of the way General Electric’s accountants play with
They know no limits. They will not stop on their own. And unless
tax liabilities the company actually receives money from the
we stop them we are as a nation and finally as a species doomed.
Treasury. They have several billion dollars paid to them from the
Polanyi understood the destructive power of unregulated
federal government into company bank accounts—and these
corporate capitalism unleashed upon human society and the
are not tax refunds. The company, as Nader argues, is a net drain
ecosystem. He wrote: “In disposing of a man’s labor power the
on the Treasury and a net drain on jobs. It violates a host of
system would, incidentally, dispose of the physical, psychological,
environmental and criminal laws. And yet Jeffery Immelt, the CEO
and moral entity ‘man’ attached to the tag.”
of General Electric, was appointed to be the chairman of Obama’s
Polanyi wrote of a society that surrendered to the dictates
Jobs Council. Immelt’s only major contribution to the jobs
of the market. “Robbed of the protective covering of cultural
initiative was to get rid of 37,000 of his employees since 2001.
institutions, human beings would perish from the effects
Jim McNerney, president and CEO of Boeing, who also sat on the
of social exposure; they would die as victims of acute social
Jobs Council, has cut over 14,000 jobs since 2008, according to
dislocation through vice, perversion, crime, and starvation.
Public Campaign. The only jobs the CEOs on the Jobs Council
Nature would be reduced to its elements, neighborhoods and
were concerned with were the ones these CEOs eradicated. The
landscapes defiled, rivers polluted, military safety jeopardized,
Jobs Council, which Obama disbanded this week, is a microcosm
the power to produce food and raw materials destroyed. Finally,
of what is happening within the corridors of power. Corporations
14 | TRUMPET NEWSMAGAZINE • MARCH 2013
increasingly terminate jobs here to hire grossly underpaid workers in India or China while at the same time stealing as much as fast as they can on the way out the door. As Michael Hudson has pointed out, financialization has created a new kind of class war. The old class warfare took place between workers and bosses. Workers organized to fight for fair
political control by the corporate state—is to raise the minimum wage. There are other solutions—forgiving mortgage and student debt, instituting universal health care, establishing a nationwide jobs program to rebuild the country’s Third World infrastructure, and green energy—but none of this will happen until we are able to mount a sustained mass movement that discredits the corporate state. This mass movement will arise, as Nader says, when we mobilize around the minimum wage.
wages, better work hours and safety conditions in the workplace as well as adequate pensions and medical benefits. But with a country of debtors and a government that must also borrow to continue operating, Hudson says, we have changed the way class warfare works. Finance, he points out, controls state and federal
We are bound with many chains and shackles. We will have to break them one at a time.
policy as well as the lives of ordinary workers. It is able to dictate working conditions. The financiers, who insist that cuts be made so governments can repay loans, impose draconian austerity and long-term unemployment to, as Hudson told a Greek newspaper, “drive down wages to a degree that could not occur in the company-by-company clash between industrial employers and their workers.” The former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, testifying before Congress, was quite open about the role of debt peonage in keeping workers passive. Greenspan pointed out that since 1980 labor productivity has increased by about 83 percent. Yet real wages have stagnated. Greenspan said this was because workers were too burdened with mortgage debts, college loans, auto payments and credit-card debt to risk losing a job. Household debt in the United States is around $13 trillion. This is only $2 trillion less than the country’s total yearly economic output. Greenspan was right. Miss a payment on your credit card and your interest rates jumps to 30 percent. Fail to pay your mortgage and you lose your home. Miss your health insurance payments, which have been spiraling upwards, and if you are seriously ill you go into bankruptcy, as 1 million Americans who get sick do every year. Trash your credit rating and your fragile financial edifice, built on managing debt, collapses. Since most Americans feel, on some level, as Hudson points out, that they are a step or two away from being homeless, they are deeply averse to challenging corporate power. It is not worth the risk. And the corporate state knows it. Absolute power, the philosopher Thomas Hobbes wrote, depends on fear and passivity. The only way to break this fear and passivity is to organize workers to break the cycle of mounting debt. And the first step
The lowest-grade worker at the General Electric plant that makes high-tech health care devices outside Paterson in Totowa [New Jersey]—a pay grade known as the D 04—was just raised to $14,555 a year. That is under $8 an hour. The plant’s highestpaid hourly employee, known as D 16, earns $22,000. Immelt makes over $11 million a year. This vast disparity in income, and this wage abuse, is played out in every corporation in the country. No one in Washington intends to challenge it. Only 11.3 percent of workers in this country belong to unions. This is the lowest percentage in 80 years. And nearly all these unions, and especially the AFL-CIO, have been emasculated by corporate power. Nader is right when he warns that we are not going to be assisted in this effort by established unions. Union leaders are bought off. They are comfortable. They are pulling down at least five times what rank-and-file workers make. Nader says we have to mount protests not only outside the doors of Walmarts and General Electric plants, not only outside congressional offices, but outside the doors of the AFL-CIO. There is no established institution inside or outside government that will help us. They are all broken or complicit. But there are the 30 million working poor who, if we organize to break the system of debt peonage that holds them hostage, may be willing to rise up. We are bound with many chains and shackles. We will have to break them one at a time. But once we rise up, once we are able to threaten the corporate systems that keep us supine through fear, we will unleash a torrent of energy and passion that will confirm the worst nightmares of our corporate overlords.
n
Published on Monday, February 4, 2013 by TruthDig. Reprinted with permission from author.
to achieving independence from debt—the primary form of
MARCH 2013 • TRUMPET NEWSMAGAZINE | 15
GLOBAL NOTES
Let Them Fight … Right? KEENAN GLOVER
T
hroughout history, women have shown their strength and resilience against injustice. They took a stand to be represented at the polling booths. Because of their tenacity, the nineteenth amendment allowed women of America to finally vote. Women proved they are more than capable to be part of the workforce when they took the place of men in factories during World War II. Moreover, women have advocated for better treatment for rape victims, thus yielding rape hotlines and crisis centers. Women have demanded equal pay for job positions. Women have exceeded old societal standards by holding public office, playing in professional “men’s” sports, and serving as chief executive officers. Even today, in the question of whether a woman should have control over child birth, they still fight. Almost 65 years ago, former President Harry Truman signed Executive Order 9981. This historical article of legislation ended all racial and gender discrimination, segregation and quotas
it was convincing enough to keep female soldiers beneath men who served. I’m sure that women, men, and those who believe in justice
within the United States’ military. Many rejoiced over the victory
sounded off in disagreement with this Pentagon policy. For
and hope of a unified nation was renewed. In particular, the
the most part, it went unattested. Not much attention was
gender roles of women were beginning to shift. They were now
brought to the rule until 2011 when the Military Leadership
able to fight in order to serve and protect the United States.
Diversity Committee (MLDC) conducted a study of diversity in the military. While they found that lower level ranks were racially
She put a dead soldier in a body bag and organized defense drills to lead the unit to safety.
and ethnically diverse, the same could not be said about the top ranks of the military - white men disproportionately obtained the highest positions. Some may argue that the numbers just happened to work out the way they did. Perhaps white men just excelled the best in the military. The MLDC took the opposition. They highlighted that women were greatly underrepresented in
In spite of this revolutionary Executive Order, women
the top ranking positions. The fact that women were excluded
encountered yet another setback. In 1994, a ban on women
from front-line combat—which is frequently a resource for
serving in direct combat was put into effect. The order directs
promotion-—seemed to be the cause.
that “women shall be excluded from assignment to units below
One solution to this quandary was to uplift the ban on
the brigade level whose primary mission is to engage in direct
women in combat. With the belief that women should be able
combat on the ground.” Did those who advocated for this ban
to perform jobs such as infantry, armor and special services,
believe that women were physically incapable of fulfilling those
those with the pro belief wrote furiously to their elected officials.
duties? Maybe they assumed women could not withstand the
Groups dedicatedly lobbied Congress to sway legislation in
intense environments and activities combat soldiers endure.
their favor and hurry processes along. Gradually, awareness
One who supported the ban could have possibly supposed that
was spread throughout the nation about the issue. Many
females would slow down the combat unit as a whole, putting
supporters joined the fight for equality, and just as many took
the entire troop in grave danger. Whatever the concerns were,
the opposition.
16 | TRUMPET NEWSMAGAZINE • MARCH 2013
On January 28, 2013, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta
female counterpart. It is human nature for a man to help the
scribed the signature that ended the 1994 ban that kept women
“damsel in distress.” Of the 280,000 women who have served in
from serving in combat. This was not done without controversy
the War on Terror, over 1,000 have been wounded or killed. Have
and conflicting opinions, however.
any of the male comrades felt they were putting themselves and
Many believe this was long overdue. Why should women
others in danger by coming to the aid of a fellow female soldier?
not be allowed the opportunity to perform the same military
Why would it be any different than coming to the aid of a male
duties as their male counterparts? If one could prove to be
soldier? Perhaps during training, this mindset of emotions can
physically and mentally capable of serving a role, why should
be numbed so that the American soldier can be seen without
gender matter? Women should have the chance to whole
having a gender. For example, it is human nature to flee from the
heartedly serve their country as any other citizen of the nation.
sound of a gunshot. However, through basic training, one grows
Whoever meets the qualifications of the position should earn
accustomed to the sound, acquiring the inclination of drawing
it. This eliminates all gender predispositions and leaves results
towards enemy fire to eliminate the threat. Perhaps specialists
based on a participant’s performance. Dan Glass, a retired
can devise a type of training that would enable men to become
Marine Corps Sergeant, recalls fighting alongside a woman in
accustomed to fighting alongside women in combat, and vice
Iraq during an ambush. He says that “she took control of the
versa. There is hope that the integration of men and women on
situation.” She put a dead soldier in a body bag and organized
the frontlines can be regulated.
defense drills to lead the unit to safety. This shows the amount
Despite the conflicting views and arguments of the
of strength and courage a woman possesses, even in the context
affirmative and the negative, the uplifting of the 1994 ban is
of a threatening combat situation. With the ban lifted, women
revolutionary. It will change the fabric of the United States
will further be able to prove their leadership to fellow soldiers.
military and that of others. The Pentagon will be a busy place of
Consequently, more women will have the opportunity to move
business as officials try to apply the provision without stepping
up the ranks of the armed services.
on the toes of more people. While the dust has not settled yet
While there are those who believe the removal of the 1994 policy will prove beneficial, others believe that it is detrimental. Among those concerned are soldiers. Some deem that women will not be ready to withstand the physical taxing of combat fighting - traveling daily with 150
and no one can clearly see where this unbarring is going, we can expect great changes in due time. Personally, I am proud to say that years from now, if my daughter decides she wants to be a part of special services in our nation’s military, I
pounds of equipment on their backs,
can tell her that her dream
using makeshift restrooms, and using
can be her reality. n
baby wipes to bathe—to name just a few. Some say that men will be put in danger if trying to save their
MARCH 2013 • TRUMPET NEWSMAGAZINE | 17
COVER STORY
REV. JUDGE PENNY BROWN REYNOLDS BALANCING THE SCALES OF RELIGION AND JUSTICE JERI WRIGHT
U
ntil you come to the point in your life where you know you are worthy, you will never find the satisfaction you’re looking for. It can’t be found in other people, in a lifestyle, in a career, or in possessions. Once you have true self-worth, you will be released from the opinions of others and you will find the life you’re searching for. —Rev. Judge Penny Brown Reynolds From being broken-hearted in third grade by the mother of her classmate who told her she was not going to have a bastard child at her daughter’s birthday party, then not only put her out, but slammed the door behind her, to a legacy of empowerment and purpose, Rev. Judge Penny Brown Reynolds epitomizes the embodiment of true self-worth, living free from the opinions of others. This woman of substance recently took time out to share her essence with Trumpet Newsmagazine. Experience Rev. Judge Penny Brown Reynolds as she details meaningful moments on her journey. A LONELY JOURNEY… “I received my call to ministry and went to seminary while I was on the bench full-time as a trial court judge. It’s amazing how God has managed to keep me, and the very unusual route I had to take, in order to follow Jesus. In so many ways, it was necessary for me to observe the many atrocities and injustices in our criminal justice system in order to give a true witness of need for people to be treated fairly. “It has been quite a journey for me; a lonely one at that. Lonely because the legal profession is one of logic and critical 18 | TRUMPET NEWSMAGAZINE • MARCH 2013
thinking, built on facts and evidence. Although the ministry is one that uses critical thinking, it relies on the premise of faith. The Holy Scriptures tell us that faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen. The two professions, on the outside, seemed contradictory in so many ways, but not to me. It felt natural. I have always felt different. It is my differences that have allowed me to peer into both sides of the world of oppression. For those of us in ministry, the loneliness we experience, in terms of our walk, is a necessary component as we grow ever so close to God. It is a walk of destiny, one in which we’re almost compelled to take each and every day. “I saw the movie Crash, and my call came immediately after watching that movie. Scenes from my life began to flash across the windshield of my car, and tears began to fall. I realized in that instant everything in my life, in which I had lived through, was so I could live a life that included ministry in some form. I accepted my call. I knew I had to go to seminary. I went to seminary after my mother died at a young age, because I was not happy with God. I went to the academy in search of God and found me instead. I didn’t go into ministry because people thought I could preach well. I went into ministry to fulfill what clearly was my purpose. I ran from ministry for many years. I knew my calling was to be a jurist and have come to understand there is room in this life to do ministry on many different levels. “My call to the bench was a life-long dream. I went to law school for the sole purpose of becoming a judge. I came out of a vey deprived kind of childhood. My mother was a single parent, and both she and my grandmother raised me. We were poor but very religious. Her life wasn’t easy. My mother suffered the indignities of being disrespected and the victim of domestic violence. She loved people who weren’t worthy of her love. God allowed her to live long enough to hold the Bible I used to take my oath of office as a judge. Becoming a judge represented the fulfillment of what my mother couldn’t do in her lifetime because she didn’t have the strength or the will to do so. She poured everything into me. Being judge allowed me to right a great deal of wrongs that had been done to her and women like her. The profession became a part of my identity. “Initially, I resisted going into ministry. I wanted to prove to the world that my mother and I both were worthy. After all, how many people could hold the esteemed position of serving as a sitting judge? I didn’t see the ministry as a place of high honor. There were so many scandals and a vast sea of hypocrisy. It wasn’t until I spent time in seminary that I came to a complete understanding of the tremendous honor ministry could provide to me. Ultimately, ministry helped me to understand I couldn’t MARCH 2013 • TRUMPET NEWSMAGAZINE | 19
do enough to right all the
“I spend a great deal of time telling young girls and other
wrongs that had been done
women I mentor, the best is yet to come in their lives. Adversities
in the past. It was through an
really can make a woman stronger. It’s important to me for
understanding of the character
young women to understand the true meaning of womanhood.
of God, the true meaning of
I want women to find themselves on the world stage by
liberation as manifestation in the
accepting themselves for who they are and for understanding
life and teachings of Jesus Christ,
their true worth. I believe the hand of God is with us and God
that I was able to appreciate my
has a marvelous plan for our lives if we can trust God, believe in
true role in ministry.
ourselves, be willing to take strategic risks and work hard.
After a recent birthday, Rev. Judge Penny reflected, “When
I spent my whole life searching, and living out a cause that was really from my own making.
“One of my greatest memories of God’s plan for our lives had
I turned 50 something clicked
to do with the fact that I would read your father’s magazine
inside of my spirit as a woman.
years ago. This was before I even thought of going into ministry.
It was a place of peace like no
Your father would be the annual revival preacher at the historic
other. It was a centering of
Ebenezer Baptist Church, Atlanta, GA. My husband was associate
myself. I understood my worth.
pastor there and I remember thinking to myself, one day, I would
It gave me the opportunity to
be a part of the publication. Now, all of these many years later,
finally be open and not feel
God continues to remind me that God listens and the prophecy
the need to be in control of
was already in my spirit.
every single thing around me.
“I reflect on my mother, Deforest Marie Brown and I know she
I realized that I was never in
would be pleased at how the story of my life continues to unfold.
complete control anyway. I was
She did everything in her power to make my life better than the
finally willing to say to God
life she had. I am her dream. I have three sisters and we all are the
that I would go where God was
product of her hard work and her dedication to her children.
willing to send me. Now, I find
“I am grateful for the life I live and the contributions I’m able
myself in the position of seeing
to make. I can’t thank God enough. I can’t do enough. Even going
life as a series of unfolding
on television was a medium to be able to effectuate ministry,
opportunities. I will go wherever
while being able to stay true to my original calling.
I am called to serve. In the long
“One of the hardest lessons I had to learn occurred when I was
run, I’m no different than Peter, Matthew, or Mary Magdalene or
on the bench. Most African Americans have a story of when they
any of the other disciples. I am willing to go where God sends
were treated differently because of their race. One day while
me.
on the bench, I put my robe on and went out to the courtroom
“I finally surrendered. I must confess, it was hard to do but
for a hearing. Everything in my life had finally come together. I
I finally did it. I became free from a place of oppression, to a
was no longer feeling disenfranchised because of my past. I had
place of freedom. I spent my whole life searching and living out
finally arrived. I sat down after the bailiff instructed everyone to
a cause that was really from my own making. I had to prove to
rise. Within minutes, one of the Caucasian lawyers who appeared
so many other people I was worthy. I was reliving my entire life
before me began to speak to me in a disrespectful manner. It
on the outside of the birthday tea party. I had to prove I wasn’t
was obvious it was racial in nature. After the hearing, I walked
the little girl looking out of the screen door, never feeling like
back into my chambers and cried. I remember crying out to the
I belonged anywhere. I used the power of education and the
Lord and telling God it wasn’t fair. I earned the right to be there.
shear will to prove to the universe that I did, in fact, matter.
I worked hard. The robe and the position were supposed to be
“The greatest aspect of feeling as I did was the fact that I was in tuned to the oppression of many other people who lived
respected. “God’s voice came down in my spirit and said, ‘My darling, not
on the other side of the screen door. Because of all of my early
your education, not your title, not anything you have will give
suffering, I have a heart for those who have been marginalized.
you what you’re looking for. Until you love the woman I have created, nothing will matter.’ I got up and at that moment, I was
20 | TRUMPET NEWSMAGAZINE • MARCH 2013
There are growing images everyday in the media that constantly paint us as the angry Black woman. I will not participate in that image of Black Women. validated within myself. After that episode, I never looked to
started receiving calls from production companies offering me
anyone else to validate me. I never tried to prove anything else.
the opportunity to do a show, including an offer from Phil.
I had to grow-up in a totally different way. I realized the great
“I was completing my studies at ITC about the same time
equalizer in life could not be given by anyone who wanted to
and I saw the opportunity as an extension of ministry, but in a
oppress me. It is an important lesson for all of us to learn. We
different form. It gave me the best of two worlds, an ability to be
cannot look to those who want to keep us down and oppress us
on the bench, yet to a larger audience, while providing a positive
to give us freedom. They will not and cannot provide what is not
image of ministry on another dimension.
theirs to give. …TO A LIFE OF PRAISE! “After everything I’ve been through, I live my life on my own terms. I have finally achieved the peace of mind most people would give anything to possess. There is hardly a day that goes by that I don’t thank God for allowing me to have many options. There is no way a little black girl in the south, under the conditions I was brought into this world could be able to live life as I do. As an entrepreneur, I value the ability to be able to be self-sufficient and financially independent. As a dedicated public servant, I’m honored to serve and most importantly, as a minister, it is awesome to be able to help change lives. “There are thousands of women who want better lives for themselves and their children and they don’t know how to rise above their situations. Our challenge is not to forget about the people who weren’t able to get out from their circumstances. There are people with so many dreams that will never be realized because no one believes in them. I have created a foundation with a mission of restoring families though various programs, including educational summits, workshops and seminars on domestic violence, women’s health and empowerment, as well as HIV/AIDS awareness, and child empowerment activities.” Passing on a legacy of academic excellence to the next generation, Rev. Judge Brown Reynolds has provided scholarships for college bound high school students, for over ten years. Additionally, she founded the Girls in P.E.A.R.L.S. mentoring academy, teaching teens the principles of leadership, womanhood, and spirituality. Rev. Judge Brown Reynolds blesses millions of people through her syndicated daytime television court series. When asked about the series, Rev. Judge responded, “Family Court with Judge Penny came about after I did an appearance on Dr. Phil. Dr. Phil brought me on as a legal expert. After the show aired, I
“I decided to do a show contingent on the basis that I could own it. Rather than go with a traditional big Hollywood studio, I was in partnership with 3 other entities to produce the show. I served as an owner and Executive Producer. I am proud to say the show was Emmy Nominated. “The partners decided that it was not a venture we wanted to continue under the terms we originally agreed. I continue to own the show now running in syndication internationally. “It was a great business opportunity and allowed a different form of ministry on my part. Not many individuals on television can say that they owned their show. I have been very fortunate. However, television today has become somewhat of a dog and pony show with the domination of reality TV. There are growing images everyday in the media that constantly paints us as the angry Black woman. I will not participate in that image of Black women. “Profiting from the most irreprehensible behavior painting Black women in the ever-present stereotypes, with behavior perpetuated by indignities such as the use of vulgar language and fighting on screen, seems to be the new way to stardom. I think about the price my mother paid as a single mother and all the sacrifices made, for us to allow our legacy to be presented by a dishonest portrayal of who we are is not something I’m interested in participating. I believe not enough people are talking about it. “It is my hope, to the extent I do television again, it will be in a genre that doesn’t present a skewed perception of reality, but rather presents the reality of a true Black woman who knows where she came from and is proud of it on every level. I want to represent to the next generation of young women true success is possible when a woman works hard and dreams even harder. I represent a woman who overcame, against the odds, and still manages to have within my spirit a greater spiritual truth that we are only blessed so we can bless others.”
n
MARCH 2013 • TRUMPET NEWSMAGAZINE | 21
GLOBAL NOTES
Teenage Civil Rights Activist Sings Her Way to Womanhood
The Story of Bettie Mae Fikes R E V. S U S A N K . S M I T H
T
he complaint is frequently heard that we don’t hear enough about the role, the very important role, women played in the Civil Rights Movement. Who knew, for example, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King first heard the cadence of “I have a dream,” preached by a young Prathia Hall Wynn, in her father’s church? Or who really knows about the tenacity of Fannie Lou Hamer as she endured being beaten and lost just about everything she had ever owned, and yet still refused to give up fighting for the right of Black people to vote? The stories of women in the Movement are fascinating, but one story stuck out this week, the story of Bettie Mae Fikes. Bettie was from Selma, Alabama, and, like many African American children, was shielded from racism as much as possible by her parents. Her mother was a gospel singer and they traveled greatly, she remembers, but she still didn’t know there were such major problems between Black and white people. “The white community, as far as I was concerned, was friendly to us. My godfather was a white man,” she said. It wasn’t until she “went North” that she experienced racial injustice. Her family moved to Detroit, and there, she saw it, tasted it and didn’t like it. Her mother died while the family was in Detroit, so she was whisked off to California, but eventually ended up back in Selma. Bettie said she didn’t know exactly what was going on when she got back to Selma, but she knew something was amidst and it wasn’t good. She could hear her relatives talking about the bad things happening to Black people, and she grew afraid. In the early ‘60s, Bettie Mae Fikes became involved in the Movement, not because she had any special affinity or fondness for what was being done, but because she just wanted to get out of the house “to keep from going to church so much.” She listened to people she didn’t know talk about “the Movement,” including the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and grew interested, but not overly so. But then came a sense of urgency.
22 | TRUMPET NEWSMAGAZINE • MARCH 2013
“All of a sudden, people are
“We had our jeans, sweatshirts.
coming to town and they’re
I had went [sic] to church every day,
talking about voters’ rights,” she
dressed to go to jail, protesting.”
recalled. “I didn’t know what was
The day she was arrested, however,
happening – that our parents didn’t
she was not dressed for jail. She
have the right to vote,” she said.
had on “my little stockings and little
“There were a few Black people
pumps and skirt to go take care of
who were registered, mostly in
business.” She was not supposed
Selma. Lowndes County and all
to be doing “movement work” that
these surrounding counties were
day. Her aunt had given her money
unregistered. So these are the
and told her to go pay the bills, and
things that brought me into the
that’s what she was poised to do.
movement.”
But she stopped by the church
At first, Bettie says, she thought
and “the next thing I knew I was
the Movement, or being involved in it, was “just a good way to
leading a group of students out going to City Hall, protesting
get out of the house to keep from going to church.” But she said
and singing.” She says she was surprised when a state trooper
that her attitude changed before long. “…after things got serious
approached her and told her she was under arrest. “That was
– we was just being talked to at first, and we were going around
before Bloody Sunday,” she said. She said they had been taught
passing out leaflets, and that was fun, you know, for a teenager.
what to do, how to act, if ever arrested; they were supposed
Mass meetings started and I could sing. And I just thought that
to fall to their knees and make the police carry them to the
was all it was going to be like.”
busses that would take them to jail. If they stayed on their knees,
But she was wrong. In her own words, “things got nasty,” and
they were often branded with an electric cattle prodder. She
that’s when she saw the underbelly of the Movement. She began
didn’t want that; she and a friend of hers stayed on their knees
to see police brutality. “I had never seen it before; I just heard
as long as they could, but as the man with the cattle prodder
about it … I had never seen how the women, the older women,
approached, they got up.
the children, were disrespected, especially the older women.
She was taken back and forth to court during her three weeks’
And how people go in fear of their life. That’s what I mean – that
incarceration because she would not do as the court wanted her
it was serious. And when they were teaching us how to protect
to do. “They wanted us to say that Martin Luther King was our
ourselves, because we had to be non-violent, I didn’t figure it
leader so that they could charge him with ‘contributing to the
would (be) serious enough for us to be taking those types of
delinquency of a minor.’” Instead, they would say, when asked
lessons. Who would just hit you or beat me for no reason? Until I
about Dr. King, “Jesus lead me, and my mama feed me.” Back to
seen [sic] it happen. And once I saw that happen, I knew this was
jail they would go. Bettie found strength within she didn’t know
serious!”
she had. She refused to say “yes sir” and “no sir” when questioned
She joined the Freedom Singers, and offered her rich, deep, velvety voice to the Movement. Freedom songs were energizing
by the judge. So she, in fact, did let her light shine. Bettie did not stop singing. Born in 1946, she is still singing,
for those who were on the front lines, and Bettie’s voice was a
still using music to bring hope and feed courage to people who
force to contend with. In 1963, she was jailed for three weeks
need it. She has sung all over the world, and in this country, she
for singing “This Little Light of Mine.” Historian Vincent Harding
has given concerts in places Blacks were once not allowed, even
points out the song was written as a way to proactively answer
to perform, including Carnegie Hall.
segregationists. The song said those in the Movement would
She has had a brilliant career, all starting from a teen who
let the light within them shine, no matter the evil they ran up
joined the Movement to get out of the house so she wouldn’t
against, and when Bettie sang it, as a teenager, it was enough
have to go to church so much.
to make one’s skin crawl. It wasn’t just a song. It was a message, delivered by a teen messenger. She hadn’t planned on going to jail that day, though she had trained for it. “I had been prepared for days to go to jail,” she said.
Bettie says, “I travel around the country trying to deliver the message that my grandmother passed to me: ‘I am too strong to be broken down.’ … All I can say is, we know where we’ve been, but we don’t know where we’re going.”
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MARCH 2013 • TRUMPET NEWSMAGAZINE | 23
PHENOMENAL LIVING
Burned or Bald,
You’re Still Beautiful! ERIKA BRACEY
T
he words chemotherapy rippled through my spine when my Oncologist said them to me. Nausea, fatigue, hair loss? The idea of accepting I had cancer was one thing, but to face the possibility of a mastectomy, cancer, radiation and chemo all in one serving is a bit much even for an extraordinary woman to digest. Surely, I would need my bible and a wonder woman’s cape, because only a super hero could endure that kind of mental mayhem. My aunt Sis always told me, “Your hair is your glory!” I never
house. When she was all done the house went into a roar with
made the correlation, but the thought of giving up my glory was
whistles and claps. Champagne was flowing as glasses clicked
devastating. Then I met Elizabeth Rivera. Talk about a fighter!
together in toast to Lessie. She looked beautiful and super
Four months after we met I was standing in her living room
chic. We led her to a mirror and watched as she looked at her
waiting in a line for my chance to snip off a piece of her hair. She
chopped mane. Her head tilted to the right, then the left as her
had a haircutting party and it was off the chain. About 25 of her
fingers ran through her hair, “I love it!”
close friends and family gathered to celebrate her life. She had
Four weeks later the remnants of her hair were gone. Her
begun taking chemo and decided to cut off her hair before it fell
head was completely bald, but she still looked like Lessie to
out. I tell you, she’s a brave chic, because I don’t know if I would
me. She was still the same girl I met four months prior who was
have had the courage to do that.
dealing with more than cancer, mastectomy, and chemo. Lessie
Finally, It was my turn and I was so nervous. The room was
was dealing with a divorce. Her now ex-husband, never called
noisy, but the only thing I heard was India Ari singing, “I am not
her, visited her, or even went to a doctor’s appointment since the
my hair” in the background. It was a humbling experience for me
day she told him she had cancer.
as I took a piece of her hair and neatly tied a strip of pink ribbon
CHEMO knocked Lessie down and deceived her into thinking
around it and cut a patch out of her head. Butterflies swarmed
she wasn’t strong enough to make it through. She was ready
throughout my stomach, but Lessie didn’t flinch. She was calm
to give up, but in God’s quiet way, God stepped in and allowed
and at peace.
Lessie to rest her pain and problems on God’s lap. God took
One by one her guest snipped a piece of her glory and tucked
away the wickedness and deception and replaced it with faith,
it away in small zip lock bags. After the final snip Lessie closed
hope, and self-worth. She put on her makeup when she could
her eyes as the humming of the clipper’s rolled across her head
and did not miss a beat. I admire her beauty and endurance and
cutting off years of baggage. I saw pain, hurt, resentment, and
the way she placed value back in her own life. Most of us would
fear fall off her head that day. There was not a dry eye in the
have fallen down and never gotten back up, but Lessie walked through the valley and made it out and now her story, her testimony of life will help someone else. I recently threw away Lessie’s lock of hair because once I snipped it out her head it was worthless. It could never be a part of her present, only a part of her past and right now she is not looking back. The phenomenal woman you now see is a phenomenal woman by the name of Lessie. Always know your worth!
24 | TRUMPET NEWSMAGAZINE • MARCH 2013
MARCH 2013 • TRUMPET NEWSMAGAZINE | 25
SOUND ADVICE
ASK THE DENTIST
COLD SORES C D R . B R E N D A J . TAY L O R
old sores also commonly known as Fever Blisters, are clusters of fluid filled lesions. The most common place you can visually see them with the naked eye is on or around the oral cavity. But, they can occur inside the mouth, the cheeks, chin area or inside the nostrils. The causative agent of cold sores is the Herpes Simplex Virus-Type 1 (HSV-1). In literature, you may see reference to cold sores as Herpes Labialis. HSV-1 unsually enters the body through a break in the skin near the oral cavity. It is usually or commonly spread when a person has direct contact with the fluid of the lesion, kissing, or sharing eating utensils. Although not as frequent, it can also be spread by oral sex. More than half of the United Sates population will experience an outbreak by the age of 20. Although cold sores are self-limiting,
contain numbing agents will briefly provide
meaning they usually heal within two-three
relief and have to be applied often. An example
weeks, the HSV-1 remains dormant in the
would be Abreva. Prescription medications for
body, concentrated in the facial nerve and
management of HSV-1 are classified as anti-
will periodically reactivate creating new
viral medications and are prescribed for the
sores and symptoms often in the same
more severe and painful lesions. The anti-viral
areas. There is no cure for the HSV-1 that
medications speed healing and provide pain
causes cold sores. Once it enters the body,
relief. Examples of these are Acyclovir (Zovirax),
it will remain your lifetime.
Famciclovir (Famvir) and Valacyclovir (Valtrex).
Outbreaks may be influenced by stress,
The latter is more expensive, but clears the
menstruation, excessive sunlight, sunburn,
system faster. Another prescription medication
fevers, dental surgical procedures and
that dentists often use is an elixir compound,
other surgical procedures that manipulate
generically called Mary’s Magic Mouthwash. It
the oral and facial tissues, such as lip and face tattooing and
is equal concentrations of Benadryl: Visocus Lidocaine: Maalox.
Dermabrasion. Cold sores may be swollen, red, painful and sore.
The Benadryl is for swelling, the Lidocaine for numbing and pain
The lesions inside the oral cavity are most painful and may cause
relief and the Maalox coats the lesion to soothe irritation.
one to avoid eating and drinking. When the lesions leak fluid, the
Some effective measures to prevent contamination are
outer rim of the sore may form a crusty scab. If you experience
consistent hand washing with warm to hot soapy water for at
these symptoms or similar ones described here and are not sure
least one minute. Avoid touching an active outbreak site, abstain
what it is, or you have not been previously diagnosed, consult
from kissing and engaging in oral sex with an infected person.
your dentist or primary care physician, who can make the
Try to monitor stress levels and incorporate relaxation and
diagnosis.
meditation techniques in your daily routine. Eat foods that boost
Treatment for cold sores is palliative and includes over the counter (OTC) and prescription medications. One should also avoid spicy and acidic foods. OTC creams and ointments that
26 | TRUMPET NEWSMAGAZINE • MARCH 2013
your immune system, consume plenty of water, exercise weekly and lastly get plenty of rest. Be Healthy!
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SOUND ADVICE
MANAGE YOUR MONEY WELL
THE INS AND OUTS OF CASH
MELODY L. FERGUSON
Y
ou probably understand that managing your money is a brilliant plan, but you may also decide that if you handle paying your bills on time, you are doing very well. Unfortunately that may only be slightly true.
Ignoring, the bigger picture of your income, expenses, net
worth and debt can put you in an unexpected bind when you decide you are ready to take on large financial responsibilities such as buying a home or sending a child to college. Managing your money doesn’t mean creating a strict budget
financially in retirement, affording a good down payment on a home or paying for a college education without loans. Learn to understand and value money in an effort to reach your own financial freedoms. Financial independence is accomplished by what you do with what you make, not by what
and giving up the lifestyle you enjoy. What it does mean is that
you make. Let’s evaluate some unrealized secrets to reaching
when making decisions about what to spend your money on,
true financial independence. Complete these thoughts based on
you might want to consider how the spending will help you
your own experiences:
reduce your debt and accumulate more funds in the future. Even a conscientious person, who uses a lot of effort in
1. I make a lot of money, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that I will …
managing their personal finances, may still disregard their
2. By the same token, I don’t need a lot of money to …
income and spending as a form of cash flow. They may never
3. My Financial Independence requires me to respect and
even use the term and possibly think it is a term reserved for businesses only. But every person also has cash flow, and figuring out whether it is positive or negative is very important to effectively managing your money. Look at it scientifically as the positive flow (+) and negative flow (-) as in the energy of a battery. The constant movement can be termed the ins and outs of your money which makes up your cash flow. For instance, when you deposit your paycheck, money is coming in; when you buy something, money is going out. The difference between the two determines whether you have a positive or negative cash flow. To further demonstrate this concept, consider that for a year or so you earn approximately $50,000 in wages and spend approximately $40,000 in expenses. What you would have, as a result, is a positive cash flow of $10,000 because your ins was more than your outs. But if you spend $55,000, your cash flow is negative $5,000 and needs serious attention—an adjustment to the management of your money, so to speak. Having a positive cash flow means you can pay your bills on time and cover any other immediate expense, plus have money remaining to spend as you please. Most important to your financial future and its security is having and maintaining a positive cash flow that allows you to save for long-term goals. Included in these types of goals are being comfortable
28 | TRUMPET NEWSMAGAZINE • MARCH 2013
appreciate money by … VALUING MONEY MODEL • Nicole earns $500,000 per year but only saves and invests $2,000 a year. At that rate, by the end of 10 years with approximate 8% growth, she’ll have only $29,389 in savings. • Janice earns $75,000 per year but saves and invests $10,000 a year. At that rate by the end of 10 years with 8% growth, Janice will have $146,945 in retirement/savings. • Janice will have accumulated wealth of $117,556 more than Nicole despite Nicole’s greater earnings! In this paradigm, it is clear that Janice respects and appreciates her money, regardless of the amount she earned, while Nicole took what she earned and diminished its value, totally misunderstanding its purpose for her future. In order to gain financial independence, you have to become eager enough to see what the future embraces for you. You could benefit financially by following these very simple, yet serious, steps: • learn what goes into your cash flow and how to make sure it remains positive; • grasp the concept of valuing money by understanding how it works; and finally, • take action by managing your money so well that your future thanks you in advance.
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MARCH 2013 • TRUMPET NEWSMAGAZINE | 29
PHENOMENAL LIVING
Behold Your Own Beauty
YOU’RE MORE THAN YOUR HAIR C H R I S H AW N A . S P E L L E R , P H . D.
O
ver the past five to seven years, there has been a movement by women of all backgrounds to get back to natural hair. Not simply ceasing the use of harsh chemicals that straighten the hair, but adopting the use of more natural products that contain no silicone, parabens, phosphates or any of the other chemicals that we can not pronounce. There are entire websites and blogs devoted to helping women make the transition from chemically altered to natural hair. In response to this need, an entire industry that was word of mouth has now gone mainstream, touting products that will not only make the “transition” a smooth one, but will help in the management of natural hair. Over a year ago, I was introduced to one of these products by
understand why. I had cut my hair before, so what was the big
a close friend, and after trying it, I too decided to go natural. So,
deal? Then, I remembered. The last time I had cut my hair was
I swore off the creamy crack and vowed to embrace the natural
when my grandmother died. Cutting my hair was my way of
hair with which I was born. As the weeks passed and more of
grieving. This time, though, I was not grappling with a life-
my natural hair grew in, I started reading some of the blogs in
altering event, so I asked myself: Why am I holding on to this hair
which women chronicled their hair journey, and the one thread,
as if my life depends on it? My answer came immediately: Because
that tied them all together, was how going natural was such an
hair equals beauty. But more poignantly, long hair equals beauty.
emotional decision. At this point, I did not understand why or
For centuries, society has dictated what is and should be
how going natural was so emotional because, after all, it is only
considered beautiful, and this notion of beauty has varied from
hair. Right? Soon, however, after a trip to the salon, I would begin
region to region. Unfortunately, however, these beauty standards
to understand the very thing to which these women referred.
were not attainable by all. In centuries past, it was always the
As I sat in the salon and explained to my stylist that I was no
aristocracy who determined what was beautiful. Whether it was
longer relaxing my hair, I was going natural, she looked at me
the use of a lethal combination of vinegar and lead by women in
and replied, “Okay, I was wondering why your hair was looking so
the Elizabethan Age to make the skin porcelain white, or binding
fluffy.” Now, in my estimation, the word fluffy is used to describe
the feet of upper-class young girls in China, what is beautiful has
a cloud, a pillow, a towel or a poodle, not someone’s hair! After
always been dictated to us in one form or another. While many of
that, I became much more aware of the different textures of hair since I stopped relaxing it, and I came to the conclusion I would eventually have to get all of the relaxed hair cut off, but I decided I would do it gradually in an effort to retain as much of my length for as long as possible. I was not ready for the “big chop.” Weeks went by and then
these old standards of beauty have died out, for those of us here in America, our beauty standards are alive and well. Long flowing hair, thin bodies with long legs, small waists and round perky breasts are the criteria of beauty in our society. Moreover, having a light complexion, thin nose, light eyes and silky, not kinky, hair are even
months, and I still refused to
more important when it
cut my hair, and I could not
comes to determining who
30 | TRUMPET NEWSMAGAZINE • MARCH 2013
So, after nine months of indecision, I finally decided to cut the very thing that gave me a false sense of true beauty. I finally let go of everything I thought beauty to be and decided to embrace my inner beauty. is beautiful and who is not. As a result, generations of women,
raised a family, it was not only the beauty in her determination,
African American women, have grown up believing they are not
but the beauty of her accomplishments that showed me I, too,
beautiful because the standards by which beauty is assessed in
can do and be anything I choose.
our society are not attainable. Beauty was, and still is, seen through celebrities, so our
Still thinking of my mother, I began to think about all of my “aunties”—my mother’s band of “sisters”— and the community
great-grandmothers compared themselves to Greta Garbo and
of support they have been for one another. I thought about their
Marlene Dietrich. Our grandmothers compared themselves to
gab-fests and their prayer circles, but mostly, I thought about
Ingrid Bergman and Rita Hayworth, and our mothers compared
their confidence, both individually and collectively. During the
themselves to Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor. Granted,
late ‘70s and early ‘80s, my mom and her cohorts all donned
during the ‘40s, ‘50s, and ‘60s, African American women were
short, cropped hair at a time when it was not seen as particularly
also among those who were deemed beautiful. Women like
flattering on a woman. The beauty in their confidence, in their
Dorothy Dandridge, Lena Horne, Josephine Baker and Diane
defiance of what society considered beautiful, showed me
Carrol were not simply known for their beauty, but for their
“I Am Not My Hair” decades before it was something I could
talent as well. Still, despite their talent and intellect, their beauty
understand or accept.
was highlighted due to their European features. While this does
After seeing all of the beauty I had been surrounded by
not overshadow their talent or diminish their accomplishments
throughout my life, I did not have to think another minute about
and the contributions they have made to the African American
my hair. So, after nine months of indecision, I finally decided to
community or African American history, this goes to show how
cut the very thing that gave me a false sense of true beauty. I
our notions of beauty are deeply ingrained in us and in our
finally let go of everything I thought beauty to be and decided to
society. Even into the ‘70s and ‘80s, women like Farrah Fawcett,
embrace my inner beauty.
and Bo Derek, along with Brooke Shields, Madonna . . . get the
“Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder” is an old adage we have
picture? It wasn’t until Pam Grier appeared as Foxy Brown and
heard many times, but seldom take the time to truly understand
Teresa Graves appeared as Christi Love that African American
its message. While society may set the standard for what beauty
women and African American little girls, like me, began to see
is, we as individuals do not have to accept what society presents
in the media true representations of themselves that validated
to us. If we are unable to see the beauty within us, look at the
what they saw in the mirror everyday.
beauty that surrounds us. We should look to our mothers,
Despite all of this, for nine months, I struggled with the idea
fathers, grandparents and siblings. We should look to our aunts,
of cutting my hair until one day I had to take a long hard look
our uncles, our best friends and our children. Look at the things
at what beauty meant to me and decide who was going to set
that endear them to us; look at what makes them an integral part
that standard for me. That’s when I began to think about my
of our lives and our hearts, and focus on how they enrich our
community and all of the women who helped me become
lives, and make our lives more beautiful.
who I am. I thought of my grandmothers and the many hardships each
Does this mean we should not focus on the outside at all? Absolutely not! So, go on and get your hair done, get your mani
had to overcome in her life. I thought of the strength it took to
and your pedi. Put on that little black dress with your cha-cha
raise a family in a segregated city and not be deterred by the
heels and paint your face nice and pretty, but while you are
limits society set in place. It was this beauty in their strength that
doing all of that, know your true beauty comes from within.
helped me realize what others thought of me was not nearly as
Because when you become the beholder of your own beauty,
important as what I thought of myself.
everyone else will see it too.
I thought of my mother and the determination she displayed while pursuing her education. As she worked, went to school and
1
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Appears on India Arie’s 2006 CD Testimony: Vol.1 Life & Relationship
MARCH 2013 • TRUMPET NEWSMAGAZINE | 31
F E AT U R E
The Beauty of An Illness… NAKIA GREEN
H
MS
ave you ever found yourself in the midst of a situation where you were suddenly surrounded by illness? Illness, as defined by Dictionary.com, is an unhealthy condition of body or mind. Illnesses can be debilitating and often times, life-threatening.
I would hear her talk about having a headache, pain in her legs, and being tired. She still managed to push through without anyone ever knowing her secret.
of life, hilarious, kind, and such the go-getter! I couldn’t believe that she suffered with this illness. She does not look sick at all! Just about 30 days later, I too was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. I don’t look sick either. My best friend’s Mom has been dealing with MS, practically in silence. I watched her daily routine of going to work, raising three kids (plus me), being active in church, and being a loving wife and friend. We have been friends for 16 years, and it probably wasn’t until the last six years that I have known about her battle. She endures pain daily, and still manages to wear a
The beauty of an illness occurs when the outcome is life-
smile. I would hear her talk about having a headache, pain in her
changing verses being life-threatening. The real beauty shines
legs, and being tired. She still managed to push through without
through when the unhealthy conditions of the body act as
anyone ever knowing her secret.
drivers to completely enhance the disposition of the mind.
A newly transferred employee had a mother who walked with
To some that can appear as an oxymoron, however, I have
a cane, when we first met. A few short months later, she was
experienced it! I have experienced it through my encounters
wheelchair bound. I saw her often and we even went to the same
with an onslaught of revelation of one loved one after the next
hospital. We began to build a relationship. Each time I saw her
disclosing their experiences with Multiple Sclerosis. In every
it was draining for me. It literally made me sick. Not because of
aspect of my life, I am experiencing the beauty of an illness, as I,
anything she did wrong, but because I could not deal with the fact
too, am faced with the same life-changing diagnosis.
that I could also be wheelchair bound. I could also one day, what
MS was hitting me in my personal life, school, and work. My
I now see as a privilege, not be able to walk around in six-inch
best friend’s Mom has been battling MS for years. One of my
heels all day! (I am very proud of that!)☺ I could not stand to see
employee’s Mom was suffering with a progressive form of MS
anyone that had any form of ailment as it relates to his or her legs.
that caused her to be wheelchair bound, and one of my good
I saw her push through, and continue to have a sense of humor.
girlfriends was diagnosed a mere 10 years earlier. The interesting
However, I was not prepared to watch so I had to remove myself.
part of this story is that within a year each of the three diagnoses
My beautiful friend Kem, she, by design, is called by name.
was revealed to me. Most people don’t walk around shouting
Kem was the person that told me the truth, dragged me to c
their ailments from the rooftop. Instead, they keep the secret
onferences about MS, made me talk about it, first introduced
until it is time to share. They all have shared their experiences
me to glutton-free cheese, told me that I needed to work out,
with me. My good friend, Kem, was the last person to share with
I needed to change my diet, and I needed to get some rest. She
me about her illness. I remember it like it was yesterday. We sat
got on my last nerves!! “Kia, you need to listen to your body,” she
in an Italian restaurant drinking wine, confiding in one another
would say. When I couldn’t give myself injections, and was lying
about the troubles we faced, and then she told me. I looked at
to my family about whether or not I took my medicine, she not
Kem and I couldn’t believe it! She is beautiful! She is vibrant, full
only tried to help me through it, but threatened an intervention
32 | TRUMPET NEWSMAGAZINE • MARCH 2013
with my family every chance she got! Jeez! She got on my nerves! Kem, as my Godmother so aptly put, is my hope. She has been the consummate example of how to live this life with MS, take control of it, and not allow it to take control of her. As we honor women during National Women’s Month, I celebrate these women. These women have never met one another, but all carry the same torch kept lit by their strength, courage, love, and determination. It is a fire that can only so divinely be placed inside of the belly of a fighter by the hands of God. I celebrate these women! I have been blessed to have women in my life who epitomize what it means to be a woman. I have been blessed to be taught how to honor and affirm the gifts and talents of all of God’s children. I celebrate that even though their bodies have been afflicted with an illness, their minds and spirits have not. I celebrate the gift they have been to me! I recall the evening my Doctor called me at work, and demanded I come in right away. It was at that moment where I first experienced the beauty of illness. It was in this moment where I first heard the voice of God. The first time in my life where I can identify God was speaking directly to me. I heard God say to me, “You will be able to handle this, I got you!” I held on to that. I believe that. At least I like to believe I do. I normally don’t talk about it at all. It was brought to my attention the only time I do is when I am using it as an example to help other people. Today, I share it, just as those strong women shared with me. As I was preparing my article, I had no intentions on writing about this. I was all prepared to talk about the fabulous women in my life, and how they are one of a kind. I have a long laundry list of those women, so it was going to be great! However, God decided other wise. My Auntie Bud would say God wrote this article, and I would have to agree! Never in a million years did I think this would be how I would begin my own healing. Four years after being diagnosed, I finally have said it out loud. I have Multiple Sclerosis. I am not sure what’s next, but I anticipate and happily wait my healing. I await to experience, yet again the beauty of illness.
n MARCH 2013 • TRUMPET NEWSMAGAZINE | 33
SOUNDING ON
LOVING OUR BLACK SISTERS N ATA S H A L . R O B I N S O N Dat man ober dar say dat woman needs to be lifted ober ditches, and to have de best place every whar. Nobody eber helped me into carriages, or ober mud puddles, or gives me any best place and ar’n’t I a Woman? —Sojourner Truth
I
I’m a woman. Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman. That’s me. — Maya Angelou Bitches ain’t s*** and they ain’t sayin’ nothing, A hundred motherf****** can’t tell me nothing. I beez in the trap, bee beez in the trap. — Nicki Minaj
f someone were to ask me to name the eighth wonder of the world, I would unequivocally state, “the Black woman.” I believe with my whole heart no other creation has accomplished more, withstood more, endured more, and overcome more than the Black woman. As a Black woman, I know I stand on the shoulders of those women who were beaten, whipped, spat on, raped, marginalized, misunderstood, overlooked, and underappreciated. I stand on the shoulders of those women who have been celebrated, uplifted, encouraged, worshipped, admired, and adorned. The creation of the Black woman is arguably one of God’s greatest creations. This world, as we know it, would not exist without the Black
existence of the Black
woman. Black women have been leaders, fighters, queens,
woman, all in their words.
inventors, innovators, teachers, mothers, daughters, sisters,
By no means do I
and survivors. Black women have presided over countries and
suggest this is all there
colleges, fought for civil rights and against civil wrongs, birthed
is to how Black women
babies and bequeathed dreams, created something from
feel about
nothing, and managed to let the tracks of their tears be their launching pads as they travelled upwards and onwards. Despite the rich and resounding legacy of the Black woman,
themselves
there still remains the mystery of why there is still a struggle
or how they
in viewing her as the wonder she is. History shows how Black
are depicted.
women in this country were victims of the double whammy:
Nevertheless, I am
they were Black and they were female. It took a considerable
strategic about the
amount of strength to balance both racial and gender identities,
quotes I selected.
yet the black woman has been a formidable force in both,
Listed above are quotes
suggesting to many they will not be forced to choose whether
from a female Black
they are Black or whether they are female, but they are both. The
abolitionist, a world-
accomplishments achieved by Black women seem to suggest
renowned poet and
victories that benefit both their racial and gender counterparts.
author, and one of
But for every victory, there remains an opponent that has yet to
the highest grossing
be conquered: how Black women view themselves.
and arguably influential
I opened this article with a modest representation containing a continuum of thoughts relating to the experience and 34 | TRUMPET NEWSMAGAZINE • MARCH 2013
entertainers of this youthful generation. Why is there such
a disconnect between how we as Black women view ourselves,
Black woman who
how we value ourselves and each other? To answer these questions, we must engage in some truth telling. bell hooks, renowned teacher, author, and speaker on the politics of race, gender, and class, states in her book, Sisters of
graduates with a 4.0 G.P.A. from Howard University the same
the Yam: black women and self-recovery, “commitment to truth-
truth of the young Black woman who dropped out of high
telling is . . . the first step in any process of self-recovery.” Poet
school to care for her newborn? Does the word “bitch” mean
and essayist Audre Lorde echoes this sentiment. In her book,
the same for the Black woman who was a child of the Civil Rights
hooks quotes Lorde, who writes in the essay, “Eye to Eye,”
Movement as it does for the Black woman who is a child of the
We have to consciously study how to be tender with each other until it becomes a habit because what was native has been stolen from us, the love of Black women for each other…As we arm ourselves with ourselves and each other, we can stand toe to toe inside that rigorous loving and begin to speak the impossible—or what has always seemed like the impossible—to each other. The first step toward
Hip Hop generation? What is “the truth”? And to whom do we tell it? In this month’s issue of Trumpet, we honor and celebrate a woman’s worth. In sounding on, I join that salute to Black women. I would add, all Black women need to be celebrated. All includes the educated and uneducated, the poor and the rich, the refined and the rough-around-the-edges, those who believe
genuine change. Eventually, if we speak the truth
in the Lord and those who live life by their own religion, those
to each other, it will become unavoidable to
who refrain from using any language other than language for
ourselves.
the uplifting of their Black sisters, and those who use the word
Both women mention the concepts of truth and truth telling. In light of
“bitch” about as often as they take a breath of air into their lungs. Why would I suggest this? I do this because I believe it is high
all of the experiences and realities of
time we rid ourselves of the ideology of supremacy, the belief
an innumerable amount of Black
that there are those who are better than others. No one life is
women, what is our “truth”? Do
better or more expendable than another life. All Black women,
we have a singular “truth”? Or are
regardless of their lot in life, are valued and worthy! I do not have
our truths varied in time, space,
to believe in what you believe to honor you and celebrate you.
and location? Is the truth of the Black woman who has AIDS in South Africa the same truth as the Black woman who lives on the south side of Chicago with no education and three children? Is the truth of the Black woman billionaire who owns several homes around the world the same truth as the
We can agree to disagree, but that does not give me the right to disown or disvalue you! You are my sister and I am yours! I can shout to you all day long that there are ways in which to behave and the use of derogatory words and actions are beneath who you are and Whose you are. I can sign petitions and I can boycott the misogyny of Black women in society all I want, but if I have no love toward you, then my actions are meaningless. My Black sisters, we need the kind of reformative and
Black woman who
restorative love that changes, not simply chastises. We need to
stands in line
bring each other into the fold rather than cast each other onto
for hours,
the margins of society. As you reflect on this article, think of the
waiting for
ways you can be more loving to your Black sisters. Celebrate their
food to be
worth and their meaning in your lives. Encourage them and let
given
them know how you feel about them. Embrace them! Love them!
to her
Of all the revolutions I’ve read about, the ones that produced
and her
long lasting results were the ones where love was at the core and
family? Is
served as the foundation and impetus for change. So I say to you:
the truth
love’s in need! Let’s do our best to meet that need, one loving
of the
encounter at a time.
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young MARCH 2013 • TRUMPET NEWSMAGAZINE | 35
F E AT U R E
Bottom 47
RAPE NO MORE
THE AMAZING GRACE OF HAITIAN WOMEN
Malya Villard-Appolon, co-founder of KOFAVIV – Commission for Women Victims for Victims. Image on Page 37: CNN Heroes
MARJORIE CLARK
G
race is a wonder. Grace is sweet. Grace is powerful. Grace is a gift from our Creator. It is a weapon in which those who face insurmountable difficulties can tap to endure, overcome, and be transformed. Grace has its own energy. It is Heaven’s trembling, and to that end, in Grace, all things are possible. Grace empowers us to do anything, endure anything, and see the best in the most desperate spaces. Grace exposes ignorance
Rights in a country in which, since the earthquake, violence against women has escalated.
and Grace amplifies hard-won joy. Grace is the thread that binds
I was told a story about a man who endured unspeakable
hope in souls that are thirsty. And Grace is the crown that covers
abuse at the hand of his father. As a child, the man remembers
the heads of Haitian women as they fight to strengthen Women’s
many beatings. The man stated that, as a child, he wondered,
36 | TRUMPET NEWSMAGAZINE • MARCH 2013
where was God and why did God let this happen to him? He even questioned God’s love. One day, when his father was in one of his tyrannical rampages, in keeping with custom, the boy’s father began terrorizing the young boy. The father shoved the
change in the rape laws for Haiti. In 2005, KOFAVIV cofounders Malya Villard-Appolon and Jocie Philistin worked to bring attention to Haiti’s leaders with a first-time-ever law that sanctioned rape in the region.” Because many of these women lost
boy. The boy fell to the floor, curled
everything during the earthquake,
up in a tight ball; the young child
including their homes, they were
began to ready himself for what was
left precariously vulnerable to rape
to come. Only this time, God granted
and sexual assault. Meanwhile, more
him a gift. It was the gift of grace to “see” something he hadn’t seen before. What the little boy “saw,” as his father was beating him, was miraculous. The now grown man states that, as
women and their families found themselves in tent cities where violence against women proliferated. Thus, women’s safety has become a huge issue. Subsequently, KOFAVIV provides safety courses as well
his father was beating him, he could see Jesus descending. He
as whistles and flashlights to help deter would be offenders as
then saw Jesus cover his body while he was being beaten by
women go about their lives.
his father. Hence, the man, as a little boy, saw Jesus taking the
KOFAVIV also provides services such as medical, health,
beating for him. The little boy got the beating, but also realized
therapeutic and social support. They even offer micro lending
he wasn’t alone and Jesus was with him, even in that place that
to help women lift themselves from poverty. In Haiti, women
was so dark. There is something very therapeutic about knowing
make up nearly 50% of head of households. This means that they
we are not alone.
are disproportionately the ones, along with their children, most
While reflecting on this particular story, I thought about women all over the world enduring things that only deep
vulnerable to poverty and abuse of all kinds. “In 2011 KOFAVIV, with international partners, worked to
inaudible groans might articulate. I thought about my sisters in
bring more reform to Haiti’s rape law, where inconsistencies
Haiti who everyday wake up fighting for their lives, fighting for
in the application of the law caused slow progress with the
a place to call safe. I thought about how I might do them justice,
sentencing of rape crimes. While this is a victory for Haitian
albeit a morsel, by telling one story, or bringing awareness,
women much has to be done to change political and social
about an organization that’s on the frontlines, working for
attitudes surrounding violence against women and rape. To
social change.
paraphrase Ms. Appolon, it’s slow, it’s not easy. Effecting change
More and more women are organizing at the grassroots level,
is rather difficult, yet she still believes in the women she serves.
and empowering themselves to partner with other organizations
It’s obvious that Ms. Appolon operates under a blanket of Grace.
regarding women’s rights. One such organization is KOFAVIV,
As women, we know when we are in the flow of Grace because
founded in 2004 by Mayla Villard-Appolon, a CNN Heroes finalist
it compels us to keep going. It’s Grace that empowers and
for 2012. KOFAVIV is a grassroots organization whose mission is
furnishes endurance. It is Grace that refuses to allow potential
to help rape survivors find peace and justice. KOFFVIV partners
in young girls’ lives be lost by one devastating moment.
with human rights groups and other women’s groups to bring
Ms. Appolon shows us she is expert at using her weapon of
attention to the inequities in Haitian law as it pertains to rape
Grace. Her life’s work calls her to an unforgiving country to help
and violence against women. Appolon, a rape survivor herself,
Haitian women and girls keep sight of their personal Grace.
has made it her life’s mission to help rape survivors find dignity,
Tragedies oftentimes are opportunities for trajectory.
again. The organization operates on the premise that rape
Shout out to all of the women around the world and in our
survivors make the best supporters to victims of rape. Since the
back yards, quietly making the difference with Grace secretly
women of KOFAVIV have experienced similar acts of violence,
abounding. Grace, how sweet the sound! Grace - always looking
rape victims are being helped by women who know firsthand
to see what hasn’t been seen before, to endure, and finally, to
what the victims are going through. This element has been vital
save. Ms. Appolon is on fire!
to the organization’s impact. “This type of peer-to-peer advocacy works. It also worked to help bring attention to the need for
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http://womennewsnetwork.net/2012/12/03/ cnn-hero-finalist-malya-villard-appolon/ MARCH 2013 • TRUMPET NEWSMAGAZINE | 37
SOUNDING ON
A Tribute to the
BLACK WOMAN
DERRICK RICE
I
wondered what I would write this month when faced with the task of writing something about women. And, as only God can do, during the last week, several experiences reminded me of my love and appreciation for strong Black women. I was reminded that across shape, size and shade, era or expertise, the efficacy of strong Black women far supersedes the seemingly standard context of their role as loving and caring mothers. In one day, alone, two experiences reminded me of the layers of love I have for strong Black women that far supersede the
seemingly standard context of loving, caring mothers, or even beautiful wives or boos.
seemingly standard context of loving, caring mothers, or even
Later, on that same day, I ran across a poem penned by
beautiful wives and boos. Early in the day, a good friend, who
another good friend, Dr. Gerry White. Dr. White wrote a tribute
is a successful entrepreneur, posted on Facebook, pledging to
to Black women that reminded me again, of the layers of love I
choose work over people-pleasing in an effort to be prepared as
have for strong Black women who move well beyond seemingly
she plans to stand in her son’s college tuition line…ALONE! The
standard contexts. He wrote:
layers of love I have for strong Black women far supersede the From dark chocolate, black, brown, caramel, coffee to cream God new just what to do when he created the colors in you; And if blackness had a smell my sisters I’m sure that it would be The sweet scent of jasmine blowing through the summer breeze. Prima donna of the present, Cleopatra of the past, The rhythm of your strut and stride tells the story of our pain and glory. And so I rise to take this literary stand and to give the Black Woman a strong black hand. So stand up Black Moses I shall forever keep you in my heart, Mother Rosa Parks, And your words are just what we seem to need So I say, thank you, Maya Angelou, Jane Pitman and Phyllis Whitely; For your actions I admire, and determination inspires, It was no one but you, Ms. Fannie Lou Hamer, who would let them know We were sick and tired of being sick and tired. And all the mass lynching of Negroes would no longer prevail, For when all the dust settled the world knew that it was Ida B. Wells that has given them hell. Now, I do appreciate the Black man, and I know that we’ve come to be From Malcolm, Martin, Marcus, Mandela, all the way across to me. But long before their great impact, dynamic speeches and other historical facts, They all lay resting, runny-nosed, teary-eyed and ashy knees, on their mothers’ and grandmothers’ laps. Yet, I know throughout history, man has never given you the proper due So during this literary expression, I pay tribute and salute The Black Woman in You.
38 | TRUMPET NEWSMAGAZINE • MARCH 2013
I AM CLEAR...WE ARE SURROUNDED BY STRONG BLACK WOMEN, EVERYWHERE! In one day, alone, these two experiences reminded me of the layers of love I have for strong Black women that far supersede the seemingly standard contexts we are conditioned to use
and when you see these characteristics (I know you will) in the women around you, pay tribute to them. It’s very clear to me that Deborah knew God’s voice. This
when we consider women … loving, caring mothers, or even
sister was bold enough to tell Barak (read the story) to fight his
beautiful wives and boos. I thank God for strong Black women,
oppressor even though his resources seemed to be less than
who have the uncanny ability to comfort and console, while
enough. Listen to what she told Barak even though he had no
simultaneously correcting and codifying, like my mother. I
chariots, no weapons and the enemy had over 900 hundred
thank God for sisters, like my sister, who indelibly etch pictures
chariots… She said, “The Lord, the God of Israel, commands you,
of enlightenment, encouragement and excellence on the soul,
‘go, take position at Mt. Tabor, bringing ten thousand from the
psyche and minds of children who are willing to learn every day!
tribe of Naphtali and the tribe of Zebulun. I will draw out Sisera,
Beyond seemingly standard contexts, strong Black women have
the general of Jabin’s army, to meet you by the wadi Kishon with
been known to build up what’s been torn down, strengthen
his chariots and his troops; and I will give him into your hand.”
the weak and hold up what many times, desires to fall down. I
She had to know God’s voice! I thank God for her spirit and her
thank God for strong Black women so determined by yesterday’s
connection with God because I now can no longer ignore the
defeats that their lives illuminate prophecies of tomorrow’s
same driving trait that motivates sisters to push on, despite the
possibilities, not only for themselves, but the entire community!
opportunities the world calls odds.
The biblical witness of another strong Black woman, Deborah,
Deborah’s character trait that most impresses me is much like
the sister in the book of Judges who served as judge and
the trait that most Strong Black women get far too little credit
prophetess for the children of Israel, helped me, and I pray it
for. Deborah knew how to work with a brotha! ☺ There are many
does the same for you, identify often overlooked, yet quite
Strong Black women who know how to work with brothers, but
common, characteristics of the majority of strong Black women.
the news doesn’t report that. Barak didn’t want to go to war,
Deborah, like contemporary strong Black women, was more than
even though it was his responsibility to do so. And instead of
a wife or mother who loved her family.
blasting him—on Twitter or Facebook—Deborah decided to
In case you’re not familiar with Deborah, the Bible says she
work with this brother. Barak told her, “If you will go with me, I
sat beneath the fan-like leaves of a bow-backed palm tree
will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go.” Even though
somewhere between Ramah and Bethel in the foothills of Mt.
she could have suggested he was too weak for her to work with,
Ephraim. She was a well-respected woman of wisdom who was
listen to a strong Black woman’s response. She told Barak, “I will
open and approachable. Dr. Cain Hope Felder calls Deborah an
surely go with you.” Instead of withholding her partnership,
African Shemite prophetess. If you ever take the time to read
Deborah said, “I’ll go!”
her witness, you’ll find Deborah, in a real sense, was the engine
Deborah, like many strong Black women today was: strong,
that kept her entire community running. She was able to judge
like Shirley Chisholm, saying, I’ll Go! and blaze the trail in public
and discern righteousness and then do justice according to her
office for Black women! She was courageous, like Francis Harper,
findings. Deborah was a woman of divine intellect and passion
saying I’ll Go! and chart a crusade against the lynching of our
for her people—like Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and Reverend Dr. Iva
people during reconstruction. She was brave, like Augusta
Carruthers. She was powerful like the late Reverend Barabara J.
Savage, Katherine Dunham and Mahalia Jackson, saying We’ll Go!
Allen, Jarena Lee, Julia Foote, Vashti McKenzie and Meta Fuller, all
and birth artistic traditions that will change the world. Side by
rolled into one.
side, strong Black women have fought to make lasting change in
So, when Israel found itself oppressed by the king of Canaan for 20 long years, after they had survived 18 years of the same
our lives and communities—and continue to brave that battle! I thank God for the day I was reminded of the layers of love I
oppression at the hands of the Moabites, Deborah was the
have for strong Black women that far supersedes the seemingly
engine that helped deliver her people. And amazingly, if we pay
standard context of their being loving, caring mothers, or
close attention, her characteristics are on display whenever you
even beautiful wives and boos. I thank God for the witness of
encounter a Strong Black Woman today. Take a look at Deborah
Deborah, because I am clear about the fact we are surrounded by strong Black women, everywhere!
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MARCH 2013 • TRUMPET NEWSMAGAZINE | 39
SOUNDING ON
BLACKWARDS
AFRICAN WOMAN | MORE THAN A VA-JJ
KIM DULANEY
T
rying to raise a daughter in these contemporary times can be challenging. What she can, cannot, should, or should not do is prescribed for her, even before birth. The moment her little anatomy is decipherable and the pronouncement is made — “It’s a girl!” — everything around her kicks into its role of shaping her towards “womanhood.” It is a robotic system of support all based on, and in response to one small segment of her being—genitalia. If she is vagina-gifted, society has structured itself so that she will, for her entire time on this earth, be seen as, and responded to, as nothing more than that—a vagina: a baby VA-JJ, then a child VA-JJ, then an adult VA-JJ, an aging VA-JJ, and finally, a deceased VA-JJ. In fact, it’s no wonder there has not yet been the development of a VA-JJ stamp, irremovable, broad, and clearly distinguishable which could simply be steam pressed across a female’s forehead, in the birthing procedure, just before the snipping of the umbilical cord. This birth gender branding could eliminate the need for all of the other societal branding mechanisms, which can be quite tedious, time consuming, and costly. For centuries, people have gone to great lengths to ensure the vagina, more commonly referred to as the female, or woman, is aware of what she is and how she is to exist, in an earthly
undeniable gift of birth, lest she and her innate and inescapable wickedness might be deemed expendable. That is the primary narrative accepted by most folks. Again, it
realm. There are thousands, possibly millions of creation stories,
must be noted, this is only one of many creation stories, though
but none as popular and as widely accepted as the one recorded
most have similar core characteristics: there is One supreme God;
in the Bible. Through numerous and varied translations and
God created all things; at some point God is made manifest in
interpretations, it remains absolute that In the beginning God
some relatable form; and God is all powerful and reigns over all
created… and it was good… then He saw need for MAN, and
things. These points are consistent in the creation stories I have
so MAN (in his dominion over all things God made) would not
been exposed to, which include the Bible and many African tribal
be by himself, God put him to sleep, took a piece of him, and
creation stories. In fact, the only blatant inconsistency I found in
fashioned woman from that. Then it was woman, in her piece-
the Bible and other creation stories is the understanding of the
of-person, who created weak, yet, wickedly irresistible state,
“woman” and all that is implied about her and her roles, etc.
was responsible for the introduction of sin and corruption of
Much like race, most gender assignments are fallacies
perfect order, when she convinced Adam to eat the forbidden
given credence and made real by powerful, unrelenting social
apple. From that point to this, woman/vagina has been the sly,
structures built into the formations of current societies, for the
deleterious force at the core of all things gone wrong.
benefit of a few, at the cost of many. People blindly subscribe and
If you still yourself and listen closely, you can hear her sweet,
support these fallacies, never giving thought to the authenticity
yet deadly hiss. Her only reprieve is the fact that she was the
of the premises that created them. Men don’t cry. Ladies aren’t
vessel used to bring God, manifest in flesh, to earth through
loud. Boys do manual labor. Girls are too emotional. That’s just the
immaculate conception, and ultimately, birth. So then, birth
way it is. Everybody knows it. Right? Well, maybe not.
is good, and the woman/vagina is good for birth, and in that regard she is a spiritual being. Praise God for her unique and 40 | TRUMPET NEWSMAGAZINE • MARCH 2013
In her book titled The Invention of Women Making An African Sense Of Western Gender Discourses, Oyeronke Oyewumi
explains she “came to realize that the fundamental category
“Yeah, yeah… now you will finally get the message: cain’t [sic]
‘woman’ – which is foundational in Western gender discourses –
no girl – mhhhh – beat a Man!” He shouted “Man” directly down
simply did not exist in Yorubaland prior to its sustained contact
my eardrum. It echoed throughout my body, and it, the whole
with the West.” She asserts, “in Western societies, physical bodies
thing, was over. I knew it, and he should’ve known.
are always social bodies… As a consequence, there is really no distinction between sex and gender, despite the many
My body relaxed, went limp. He choked harder. Spoke louder. He was full of resolve. Victory was palatable!… “You made me do
A SYSTEM OF SUPPORT BASED ON…GENETALIA attempts by feminists to distinguish the two.” Recognizing the monumental difference in ideology and the social mandates
it! When will you learn your place, Girl! Huh?! Huh?!” Silence. Breaths… then, out of nowhere…“Ahhhhhhh!”
attached to definition and understanding, Oyewumi takes
Like a madwoman. Drum-busting! Siren-sounding! No words.
issue with the basic assumption that Western understanding of
“Ahhhhhhhhhh!” I peeled his fingers loose, pried his arm away
“woman” is an absolute worldview. To put it simply she writes,
from my body in slow “Popeye-after-spinach-like” form.
“Gender, like beauty, is often in the eye of the beholder.” So it is… I am not the only woman in the world to be socialized beyond the realms of Western rigid social fixings. I
He dropped his weight, drooping, attempting to will his arm into place using his whole being. Twists. Turns. Struggles. It lasted for several seconds, maybe even
thank God for my place in the birth order in my family, and my
a minute. Moments later, while still gasping for air we lay positioned
brother and male cousin for trying to equalize themselves with
on the floor, barely moving… me catching breaths I needed and
the power my age endowed me with, in accordance with my
had too long been denied, him trapped between my legs, back and
parents African-remnant-centered rearing style. Since I was only
stomach parallel to my thigh bone/bars – the Scissors! That’s what I
a few months older than my brother and cousin they didn’t like
called them. Every time I cut his breathing. Scissors!
having me as their leader. They challenged my power when and
“When will I learn?! Huh?! When? Huh?!”
wherever possible, and it was a pleasurable game that taught me
Press. Cut. Squeeze. Breathe. “Scissors!” Cut. “When YOU gon’
to exercise all aspects of my person. I’ve relished and repeated the story so often its recollection is
without effort. I see it clearly at this very moment.☺
“Uhhuu hhh mmhh”… His grip tightened. “Www-whhhen are”
learn?! Boy!!” He was yellow red, looked like his face would explode and death would take us both. “When?! You wanna know? Huh?” When you stop believing
—his locked hand slid up his forearm squeezing mightily… tighter
in Santee Claussss, lil’ BIG boy! I almost said it. If the sound of
and tighter, inch by inch closing the space between his inner
my father’s voice, in the other room, didn’t carry with it the
elbow and my throat. “-Youuuu gonna… mmmhh, learrrrn?”
memory of his belt’s sting I would have blurted it... fresh off of
I wiggled slightly, testing my ability to move—at all.
confronting my dad, demanding my intelligence be respected,
“I’m stronger than you. Mhhh-” His words and warm breath
and assembling the toys he, my challenger 18-month-younger
seemed to singe my right ear. He was a lefty and athletic and
brother, and all the rest of my siblings still thought Santa
strong. I should’ve never let him grab me from that side. I could
delivered… I would have told him: I’ll stop believing I’m stronger,
feel the blood locking in my face.
when you stop believing in fairytales!
He grunted and breathed heavily. I said nothing; maybe I couldn’t. He pulled my silence back, closer to him, releasing a low
Release. Lift my leg. “Now go lift some weights.” Shove his back. Watch for tears and attempts at revenge. Pull my leg from beneath him. Watch. Stay ready. “Come back after you catch
pocket of air from my opened mouth and clinched teeth. “I keep
some more footballs, or sum’n.” Breathe. Back up. Smooth my hair
telling you. I’mmmm the man!” His arms were locked. He held me
back into place. Turn. Skip away singing Annie’s song: “Anything
with sure and sheer masculinity, the weight of his torso hanging,
you can do, I can do betta, I can do anything, betta than you…”
n
draping on me, and anchoring him. I struggled. Each gathered burst of energy doused and thwarted by his solid muscle.
MARCH 2013 • TRUMPET NEWSMAGAZINE | 41
REARVIEW
STANDINGALONE CHICAGO BAPTIST PASTOR SUPPORTS SAMESEX MARRIAGE R E V. D R . L . B E R N A R D J A K E S
T
he State of Illinois is on the cusp of being the tenth state to legalize same sex marriage. On February 14, 2013, the Illinois Senate approved same sex marriage by a vote of 34–21. The measure will be presented to the Illinois House of Representatives, and if approved, will be signed by Governor Pat Quinn, at his own admission. This highly debated, highly publicized movement has
many declared same sex marriage was against God’s will,
sparked waves across America, particularly in the Christian
while others stated it is not scriptural, and many agreed that
faith. Although a hot topic of debate in times past, the move
all who engage in the act, whether the couples or those who
to legalize same sex marriage found a national platform when
officiate their wedding, are in danger of going to hell. The debate
President Barack Obama declared his support, while offering
within Black Christianity was so entrenched throughout the
his rationale behind the same. The admittance of support
United States (U.S.) that Congressman Emanuel Clever II (D-
by President Obama was the fuel needed by Republicans to
Mo.) hosted a roundtable discussion on the Black church and
engage the public in a debate of Christian ethics and morality,
same sex marriage, during the Annual Legislative Conference in
while many in the gay and lesbian community, coupled with
Washington, D.C., in October 2012. From the voice of the many
heterosexual supporters, rode the momentum to further
in attendance, it was clear that same sex marriage had no place
the agenda on equality for same gender loving couples. The
in the Black church, as well as the nation. The stance of anti-same
conversation and movement on same sex marriage was of
sex marriage was clearly supported by many Black clergy, until
particular interest to the Black church.
other members of Black clergy began to arise and declare their
It is no secret local Black churches have benefitted from gay and lesbian members, as well as staff people, but the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy was, and continues to be, an unwritten understanding of those who are in the lifestyle. In the Black church, men who are gay and women who are lesbian are allowed to direct the choir, sing in the choir, play the instruments, etc., but they are not allowed to share their lifestyle choice publicly; moreover, if they are in a committed relationship with a member of the Deacon Board or Usher Board #2. I digress. As the movement pressed for recognition of same gender loving couples to be treated with the same dignity and respect of different gendered couples, i.e., married couples, the Black church became offended at the notion of two men or two women being united in marriage, especially in a Christian ceremony. Once President Obama made his declaration, the Black church, including her spiritual leaders, chimed in, and 42 | TRUMPET NEWSMAGAZINE • MARCH 2013
opposition with those who stand against marriage equality for same sex couples. The Black pastors and clergy that stood in favor of marriage equality included, but is not limited to: • Rev. Dr. Delman Coates, Mount Enon Baptist Church, Clinton, MD • Rev. Dr. Donte Hickman, Southern Baptist Church, Baltimore, MD • Rev. Dr. Frederick D. Haynes, III, Friendship-West Baptist Church, Dallas, TX • Rev. Dr. S. Todd Yeary, Douglas Memorial Church, Baltimore, MD • Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., Operation PUSH and Rainbow Coalition • Rev. Al Sharpton, National Action Network • Rev. Dr. L. Bernard Jakes, West Point Missionary Baptist Church, Chicago, IL
MARCH 2013 • TRUMPET NEWSMAGAZINE | 43
These men, along with other unmentioned men and woman of
challenged clergy and laity from the same Bible they were using
the Christian faith, faced criticism, vilification, and reprimand from
as the oppressive tool against same gender loving couples. My
colleagues, both publicly and privately.
argument was simple and succinct. If they are holding fast to what
Nonetheless, as the adage states, If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything. However, if you are going to stand, make sure you are standing on a firm foundation and not quicksand. As the debate of same sex marriage made its way to Illinois,
the Bible says, as it relates to marriage, then the entire Bible must be honored. Therefore, women must relinquish any authority in their local congregations. Likewise, for those who sit in Springfield or Capitol Hill, if they are holding to the letter of scripture, each woman must resign if she holds authority over a man. Therefore,
which found movement in the sanctioning of Civil Unions, the
much to the chagrin of my pastoral colleagues, as well as those
conversation among Black clergy and laity was highly contested on
who lay claim to Christianity, and even some of the sheep God
Gospel radio stations, as well as being tried on the Church of Social
placed in my care, I publicly supported marriage equality for
Media: Facebook. The ethos did not differ from other Black clergy
same gender loving couples in Illinois. The support was made
and laity around the country: same sex marriage is wrong, and it
public when I chose to sign an Illinois Unites for Marriage letter,
is against God’s will. When I was asked to support the movement
where prominent African American leaders stated their position
against same sex marriage in Illinois, I declined, because I did not
on marriage equality; moreover, marriage equality for same
believe in the movement, or the spirit behind the movement.
gender loving couples. This letter was presented to legislators in
The spirit, in my estimation, was fueled out of bigotry and not
Springfield, Illinois, with the hopes it would inform, and encourage
Bible. As the case was being made regarding Biblical authority, I
them to perform the act of voting in favor of marriage equality.
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The information presented to legislators is the information I have shared with many of my pastoral colleagues, as well as members of my congregation. Marriage equality for same gender loving couples is a matter of civil rights. In the body of the letter it states: We remember that not long ago, some states defined marriage as limited to people of the same race. We were told marriage between people of different races was “unnatural” and that society would be eroded if marriage changed. The truth is, marriage has evolved throughout history to reflect the needs and progress of society. As much as the Christian community would seek to superimpose their faith on society, the reality is we live in our faith, but we live under the law. My faith is what drives me, supports me, and keeps me connected to God. My understanding of The Holy Bible is what supports my faith. I, too, have a view of marriage. However, my understanding of The Holy Bible, coupled with my faith and my view, should not prevent others from engaging in a state sanctioned, legally binding ceremony, whereas they are afforded the same civil rights as different gendered couples. Within the truthfulness of the matter, many of the same gendered loving couples love Jesus as much as I, and they believe in scripture with the same fervor by which I believe. Their only legal lot in life is they are prevented from sharing in a life-long legal commitment with their partner—many of double-digit years. This is what makes it a matter of civil rights. The media recently reported that Jim Nabors aka Gomer Pyle, and his partner of thirty-eight (38) years, Stan Cadwallader, were married. This marriage affords Jim and Stan legal protection under the law, as it relates to their shared estate, as well as their health. Without marriage, had something happened to Jim or Stan, their families would be entitled to, or could legally challenge the will of Jim or Stan. If either were presented with making a decision regarding the others health, the family or next of kin would have the final decision on the lives of either Jim or Stan. A shared life of 38 years could be reduced to a family member who may not know or even care about Jim or Stan. This is not right or fair, and it is because the law decrees same sex couples cannot be legally married. It is against the law to deny American citizens their civil rights, which includes marriage equality, while using the Bible as justification for nullification. This same tactic was used against enslaved Africans in the Diaspora, while many sought to seek citizenship for Black people born on American soil. How soon we forget! My support of same sex marriage is not a defiant stance
It is against the law to deny American citizens their civil rights, which includes marriage equality, while using the Bible as justification for nullification. against scripture, although many use scripture to justify their disdain of same gender loving couples, and the justification is rooted in mis-education and misunderstanding. My support is rooted in the belief that all U.S. citizens deserve their inalienable right, and that right is protected under the law. Although I support same sex marriage equality, I do not intend to perform sex same marriages in our local church. And contrary to scare tactics used by those in opposition of same sex marriage, faith institutions, under the Illinois House Bill 1826: Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act, will not be forced to recognize or sanctify relationships they oppose.1 Therefore, a same gender loving couple cannot force a local congregation to perform a civil union or marital ceremony if it contradicts said congregations system of beliefs. It is for this reason I do not intend to perform same sex marriages in our local congregation. As pastor, I serve the congregation through preachment and teaching, while also entering a covenant that adheres to upholding the polity of the local congregation through her bylaws, Baptist systems of belief, and the contractual agreement between this local body and me. My personal opinion may differ from the opinion of our local church, and this happens with more than same gender loving marriages. However, my personal belief should not superimpose the polity of our local congregation. The majority of the congregation would need to support same gender loving ceremonies taking place within our worship center. As a congregation in transition, it is not certain our local congregation would acquiesce to same gender marriages being held within our local church. This does not, however, suggest our congregation would disrespect or dishonor same gender marriages held outside the local church. It does mean, however, the ceremony would not be held on our campus. As a side note, disagreeing with same gender marriages should not be received as not loving those who will be married; it is simply a matter of belief. Nonetheless, same sex couples deserve the right to be married under the law. As previously stated, we live in our faith, but we live under the law. If our local church, The faith family of West Point Missionary Baptist Church, is to continue her mission of being a justiceseeking congregation, this cannot be limited to those whose lifestyles we agree. With liberty and justice for all!
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