An African American's Africa Experience

A colleague of mine in my BYU doctoral program, Sylvia Finlayson, brought to my attention during a conversation we were having a book called Out of America by Keith B. Richburg written in 1997. Even though I have not read the whole book, yet, I did read a review of the book by Wolf Roder. The contents of this "blog post" are based on that review.

Richburg has been a foreign correspondent for the Washington Post and has won several awards for his international reporting. From 1991-4 he was assigned to Africa and based in Nairobi. Being an African-American who had grown up in Detroit and knowing what it means to be Black in America Richburg was filled with excitement to be able to return to the land of his forefathers.

Although Richburg was hopeful that he would find much good in Africa, but as he "covers the coups, the wars, the massacres, from Liberia to Somalia, he comes to cherish his America heritage more and more." Even though remembrances of the atrocities of the slave trade are painful to recall, Richburg contemplates on what his life might have been like in Africa if the slave trade had not occurred. He comes to realize that he could be one of those anonymous bodies dumped into a mass grave.

Because of Richburg's Africa experience he comes to the conclusion that "he can only bless those unsung ancestors of his who survived capture, the middle passage, and the auction block to become Americans."

My personal comment: In spite of America's dark history as well as the racism and prejudice that continues today, the greatest hope for all people to eventually enjoy true freedom and rights lies within the borders of the United States of America.

Reference
Roder, Wolf (1997). Retrieved February 22, 2008 from the World Wide Web, www.unc.edu/~ottotwoRoderreview.html

Our Own Personal "Hotel Rwanda"

On January 29, 2008 Paul Rusesabagina was BYU's forum speaker. Rusesabagina --often referred to as the Oskar Schindler of Africa--is the former general manager of the Mille Collines Hotel Rwanda which was made famous in the movie Hotel Rwanda. For 70 days in 1994 Rusesabagina sheltered refugees in this hotel saving the lives of 1200 people.

It is important to remember that these 1200 people were from a different ethnic group than Rusesabagina--people who were being called "cockroaches." Yet Rusesabagina was willing to be called a traitor and to risk losing his own life for them by standing against the prejudice and senseless violence. He felt that it wasn't the majority of people who hated each other so much as it was poor leadership that took advantage of differences in order to divide and conquer.

In his message at BYU he taught the importance of the following that he learned from his own experience:

• Dialogue: "The only thing that can bring people together is dialogue." "Instead of fighting violence and war with more violence, people should strive to increase dialogue." "Words can be the best weapon or the worst weapon in the human being's arsenal." "Whoever opens his or her mouth and is willing to discuss with you, you will always come up with an agreement. You will always come up with a compromise depending on how you deal with the situation." "As long as people don't consider each other, they will never get anywhere. As long as people are fighting for power...they will never get anywhere." Use verbal skills instead of resorting to violence.
• Hope: Never give up on hope.
• Stand up: "Stand up and do whatever you can to save the situation of the world." "Don't stand by. You can do something." "We should be aware of the problems and find our own solutions."

Rusesabagina entitled his presentation "Hotel Rwanda: A story yet to be told" because the story isn't over yet. Each of us can do our small part in making it a better story than it otherwise would be--not only for Rwanda but for our own corner of the world as well. As Rusesabagina says, "Whenever we think this is the end, I tell you, it is never the end. God always has a way to save his people."

"Wisdom of Our Years" Documentary

Yesterday I had the opportunity to visit the Calvary Baptist Church in Salt Lake City to see the premiere screening of "Wisdom of Our Years." It is a documentary about the experience of Blacks in Utah--their rich and hidden legacy.

Most of the seven men and women interviewed in the documentary came from the Deep South, escaping the harsh realities of the Jim Crow laws. Still it was hard in Utah because the discrimination and prejudice were subtler in Utah making it harder to know one's place and often didn't know the rules until it was too late. In other words, they had to learn to navigate de facto racism.

Yet, there was blatant discrimination and prejudice as well:

• Blacks were only welcome in Chinese restaurants
• Blacks had to sit in theater balconies
• Blacks could only use the public swimming pools one day a week--the day life guards weren't on duty
• Blacks could only live and buy homes in certain areas because of unspoken restrictions
• Available jobs for blacks were largely in domestic service or the railroads

What impressed me the most in the documentary was the courage, stamina, strength, and spunk of these people who were interviewed. They challenged the injustice. One kept applying for a job as an elementary teacher until she finally was given the job. She was such an excellent teacher parents of all ethnic backgrounds wanted her to be their child's teacher. Another couple purposefully bought a house, with the help of a bank, in an area where neighbors didn't want Blacks.

More than these qualities, though, I was impressed with their insights and advice to the younger generation:

• Trust in God
• Get an education
• Take advantage of all the opportunities now open to you
• Have faith in your own worth
• See opportunities in spite of challenges and don't use obstacles as excuses

My heart was touched as I sensed no bitterness. Rather they had a deep spirituality which probably helped them to overcome any traces of bitterness and that helped them to have this deep well of wisdom.

Phyllis Caruth, the executive producer of the documentary, said that education is the purpose of her film--"I believe that the key is opening your heart to other people, hearing their stories." It definitely educated me and opened my heart. I highly recommend it as a documentary that every Utahn (and people in the U.S.) needs to see.

Note: To request a showing, contact Phyllis Caruth at (891) 414-0501.

"The Drum Major Instinct" Speech by Martin Luther King

Last Friday I had the opportunity to attend the 2008 Drum Major Awards Luncheon in Salt Lake. The keynote speaker was Judge Shauna Graves-Robertson. She chose to base her speech on the "The Drum Major Instinct" speech that Martin Luther King, Jr. gave at the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia on February 4, 1968.

I as so impressed with her speech that I came home and found Dr. King's speech so I could read it in it's entirety. In honor of Martin Luther King's life that is celebrated today, I am choosing to share lessons from this speech that if applied, can help King's dream be realized.

The speech is based on the story found in the 10th chapter of St. Mark in the New Testament when James and John, the sons of Zebedee, request to sit at his right hand and left hand. Toward the end of Jesus' response, He says, "But so shall it not be among you, but whosoever will be great among, shall be your servant: and whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be the servant of all."

King cautions us not to be too critical of James and John because deep down all of us have this instinct=="it's a kind of drum major instinct--a desire to be out front, a desire to lead the parade, a desire to be first." He adds that even when we do something good, too often we do it so we can be praised for it.

King notes some ways that this drum major instinct manifests itself in our lives:

• Being a "joiner" for attention, recognition, importance
• Being taken in by advertisers who promise that their product will make us stand out
• Living above our means in order to outdo the Joneses
• Boasting
• Striving to identify with the so-called big-name people
• Engaging in activities merely to get attention which if not harnessed can lead to anti social behavior in the quest for recognition
• Pushing others down through gossip and even lies in hopes to push oneself up
• Snobbish exclusiveness and classism which can even happen in churches, the one place where everybody should be the same regardless of degrees, titles, economics, etc. because all are children of the same Father
• Race prejudice because of desire to feel superior

Jesus did not condemn James and John because of their desire. In fact, in essence he told them that the drum major instinct was a good thing if they used it right. In other words, it's ok to want to be first, but want to be first in love, excellence, generosity---a definition for greatness.

King emphasizes that the use of this definition of greatness, everyone can be great because everyone can serve. The one solitary life of Jesus is our example--He who had no credentials but himself just went around serving and doing good.

Let Mercy Season Justice

The following is a Co-ed that I submitted to the Salt Lake Tribune on December 21, 2007. Even though it's focus is on immigration, the principle is applicable to many education issues.

Someone said, “You can judge the greatness of a country by the number of people trying to get into it compared to the number trying to get out.” If this statement is true, then the United States is truly great when we consider that we not only have about 12 million illegal immigrants living here, but we also add about one million legal immigrants each year.

Our “spirit of hospitality” as Reverend John Webster, the bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City, would describe it is one contributor to the greatness of the United States. We understand that we have been given much in this land of opportunity, and we have been generous in our willingness to share that bounty.

Another contributor is that in spite of the fact that we have failed miserably throughout our history to live up to our ideals to treat each person with dignity, respect, and equity, the laws of this land still offer the greatest hope to combat the harmful effects of prejudice, discrimination, racism, and every other form of “ism.”

These attributes as well as others that contribute to America’s greatness also make responding to the immigration challenge that much more complex. Many are uncomfortable with proposals such as building longer and higher border fences and/or increasing illegal immigration raids because they are contrary to America’s “spirit of hospitality.”

Yet, this quiet, compassionate “spirit of hospitality”: voice is being drowned out with the deafening shouting words, “We must adhere to the ‘rule of law’.” It has left good and honest United States citizens in a quandary as they question if there is any possible way to reconcile these two conflicting voices. I would argue that not only can the two be reconciled, but they must be if America is to retain its greatness.

For this reconciliation to occur, there are some facts we must understand about the “rule of law.” First, “rule of law” is a principle that subjects the actions of both the government and the citizens to the law. Second, abiding by a “rule of law” prevents the “rule of men” which can lead to tyranny and abuse of power because of capricious whims.

Yet, an understanding of the “rule of law” is not sufficient. It must also be understood that law and justice are not synonyms. Although Abraham Lincoln was a staunch believer in the “rule of law,” it was he who also believed and taught aspiring lawyers that circumstances rather than the letter of the law should dictate the judgments of a case. He expressed this sentiment with the words, “I have always found that mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice.”

While law gives a society a set of important laws or rules to which to govern itself, equity and fairness allows for the subjective but necessary qualities of mercy and tolerance. One without the other is inadequate if justice is to occur. The scale of law and mercy must be balanced.

As we go forth to retain America’s greatness as we resolve the immigration issue, it would behoove all of to remember and employ the words Shakespeare uses in the Merchant of Venice, “And earthly power doth then show likest God’s when mercy seasons justice.”

Role of Religion

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." These words of the First Amendment of the U. S. Constitution prohibit government from establishing a religion and protects each person's right to practice (or not practice) any faith without government interference.

It is important for educators to have an thorough understanding of the meaning of the First Amendment in relationship to religion and public schools. The law concurs with Noddings (1998/1999) that the First Amendment does not prevent teaching about religion.

There are three main reasons why religion needs to be part of a public school education:

1. Religion and spirituality are part of who we are, not only as a country, but as a world, and have influenced both our public and private lives.



2. Ignorance about religion in religiously diverse societies, especially in the U. S. which is the most religiously diverse society on earth, is a root cause of intolerance, discrimination, prejudice, and stereotyping.



3. Teaching about religion is important and necessary if public schools are to provide students with a complete education. Much of history, art, music, literature and contemporary life is unintelligible without an understanding of the major religious ideas and influences that have shaped history and culture throughout the world.

In Abington v. Schempp (1963), the court stated: "[I]t might well be said that one's education is not complete without a study of comparative religion or the history of religion and its relationship to the advancement of civilization. It certainly may be said that the Bible is worthy of study for its literary and historic qualities. Nothing we have said here indicates that such study of the Bible or of religion, when presented objectively as part of a secular program of education, may not be affected consistently with the First Amendment."

Justice Tom Clark wrote for the Supreme Court concerning this same case saying: " A person cannot be fully educated without understanding the role of religion in history, culture, and politics...The law, constitutional or otherwise, is no impediment to the realization of this aim."

The question is no longer whether schools should teach about religion. That answer is a resounding "Yes"--In fact, it is a duty to do so.

Reference
Halford, J. M. (1998/1999). Longing for the sacred in schools: A conversation
with Nel Noddings. Educational Leadership, 56, 28-32.