My Inalienable Right to Live

Reverend Tawana Davis

October 11, 2015

Shorter Community AME Church

Sermon Theme: My Inalienable Right to Live!

II Corinthians 1:3-4; 2:1-4 NRSV

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all consolation, who consoles us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to console those who are in any affliction with the consolation with which we ourselves are consoled by God. So I made up my mind not to make you another painful visit. For if I cause you pain, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have pained?  And I wrote as I did, so that when I came, I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice; for I am confident about all of you, that my joy would be the joy of all of you.  For I wrote to you out of much distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain, but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.

Focus Verse: For I wrote you out of much distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain, but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you. 

In other words as Desmond Tutu says "My humanity is caught up, is inextricably bound up, in yours."

Introduction

Out of distress Paul pens this open, truthful, transparent, heartfelt letter to the people of Corinth.  A reminder of our inalienable right to live. To love is to live. To feel anguish and distress is to live. To shed tears is to live. Paul reminds the people of Corinth of his love for them and his desire for them to live and live life abundantly as he taught them to do. 

Move I ~ Background

Paul, who at the time moved to Ephesus after ministering in Corinth, heard of the continued problems in Corinth.  The Corinthians were known for their licentiousness – just wilding out and out of control.  Now while Paul was in Corinth, he developed a love for the people.  He wanted them to experience a conversion to follow the teachings of Jesus the Christ.  He was affected by them; he loved them so much that when they hurt, he hurt.  He was encouraged by them.  He stayed for some time feeding off of their desire to learn and want to change.    So when he was in Ephesus continuing his missionary journey, he received word that the people where in bad shape again.

Therefore, Paul writes to the people of Corinth ~ he is writing to them not to hurt them but to describe his level of hurt and disappointment.  But evidently this was received by the Corinthians much differently.  So here we are at the point where Paul in his aggravation, pain and sorrow, writes an explanation to the Corinthians; an explanation of why he had to stay away and why he wrote such harsh letters.  Paul’s anguish caused him to act.  His hurt and tears moved him to a place of action, change, forward movement, forgiveness, accountability, maturity, initiative, and love.  Sometimes the very thing that does not feel good is the thing that moves us toward transformation, learning, progress, and liberation.

Paul experienced anguish, tears, hurt and pain.   Which don’t necessarily make us feel good.  So why would G-d create feelings that don’t feel so good? When we were little kids and our parents and/or guardians told us not to touch the stove because it is hot and what did we do, we touched the stove, burned our hands and said “Ouch, hot!”  Although the feeling of slightly burning oneself does not feel good it served as a warning to stay away from the stove.  If we did not have this warning in place we could end up being seriously hurt.  Why would God create feelings that don’t feel so good?  When Richard Allen, the first consecrated Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, was dragged off of his knees in St. George’s church, a Euro-American church, I am sure this was hurtful, humiliating, and painful.  Out of this pain, Richard Allen decided to never experience that type of pain again and started African Methodist Episcopal Church. Why would God create feelings that don’t feel so good?  I am sure Jarena Lee the first female preacher in the AME Church was heartbroken when she was 1^st denied a preaching license and it was this disappointment that fueled her work preaching to hundreds and thousands traveling thousands of miles to preach the Gospel anyway and still inspires women preachers to this day!   

My uncle was very ill prior to his death in 2014.  He couldn’t take 10 steps without his oxygen tank due to various health challenges.  When I was in NY I had an opportunity to spend some time with him.  He said to me “Tawana I have never been happier.  What you see, I did this to me.  I led a rough life and made some crazy decisions in the process.  But what you see is not what you get.  I am happy.  I am at peace.  What you see is mine (as he pointed around his one bedroom apartment).  I have food in my refrigerator and that is big for me because you know I love to cook.  I have money so if anyone comes to me for help I am in a position to help.  I got my family and my friends.  But most of all I have God.  Despite my choices and what I’ve done to myself, God still loves me and allowed me to experience peace, love, and joy.  It was in my pain and anguish that I have come to a place of peace and serenity.” God gave us these emotions so that we could respond accordingly – G-d gave us the feeling of hurt and pain so that we could respond differently – a defense mechanism in order to do better, do differently, and to keep one safe.

Out of Paul’s distress and anguish came this letter ~ a letter that speaks life into a dying and dreadful situation. Paul could’ve stayed in Ephesus and ignored the cries of the people in Corinth.  He could have said my job is done and I am over them. Yet, out of his hurt he speaks healing and hope to a licentious community. This is what we do, especially has an African American culture: we make bricks without straw, we love beyond measure, we create greatness out of pain and distress.  Out of pain came amazing musicians, artists, philanthropist, civil rights leaders, abolitionist, freedom fighters, legislation, and brilliant pioneers.  Out of anguish Black educational institutions were built during a time when we were still enslaved. Out of suffering Black churches and business were established. Out of hurt, despair, frustration, anger came the Black Lives Matter Movement. And quite frankly (if I may pause right here,) I am not going to argue with you about White lives matter or all lives matter ~ you can have the hastag/slogan/movement because truth be told this means that it is your children that are being murdered by law enforcement, it is your children that have substandard education, it is your children who are disproportionately incarcerated in mass number! I pray this never happens as I pray for the killing of my people, mind/body/spirit, will cease. 

Paul allowed his hurt and anguish to move him out of a space of separation to a space of reconciliation.  Therefore, it is not what we are dealing with, it is how we respond.  Paul is showing us how to be accountable, compassionate, and exhibit unconditional positive regard for our sisters and brothers.  Paul said “For I wrote you out of much distress and anguish of heart and with many tears…” Accountability – liable for one’s own actions; I did it and I acknowledge my part in this situation.  “…not to cause you pain…”  Operating with good intention – What I did is not only on me but my intention was not to hurt you or cause you any pain.  And since messages aren’t always received the way they were intended – I apologize.  “…but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.”  The agape love of God and Jesus the Christ – unconditional love – a great deal of love - I love you even though you are upset with me and I am disappointed in you – I love you.  I love you anyway!

Move II

It is during the times of pain and distress and anguish we find our purpose, peace, strength, and creativity.  It was Paul’s anguish caused him to move through his space of hurt into a space of restoration and reconciliation which is indicative of African Americans and/or the Black diaspora:  When the Euro-Americans said we could not worship ~ we had to steal away into the brush arbors and create our own worship experience!  When the powers that be said that we would never be free and Harriett Tubman, who was beaten and whipped and even suffered a traumatic head wound when she was hit by a heavy metal weight thrown by an irate overseer, responded to her pain by freeing slaves and could have freed hundreds more if they knew they were enslaved.  The AME Church and her struggles since its inception produced the likes of James Cone, black theologian and professor at Union Theological Seminary in NY; Renita Weems, biblical scholar, author, and powerful preacher; Hallie Q. Brown educator, writer and activist; and Jacqueline Grant pioneer in the womanist movement and theologian. Out of the struggle, hurt, pain, oppression, anguish, pain, tears we must have the wherewithal to move out of our current situation, be accountable for our actions, and take the necessary steps toward liberation and transformation. 

(Allow me to pause again.)  I am not waiting for someone to give me or my people a hand out.  I am not waiting for someone else to honor who we are as beautiful, creative, brilliant, spirit-filled children of G-d, I am not waiting for my 40 acres and a mule.  What I am waiting for is an opportunity to live! To live and to live life more abundantly.  To live as a human being with human rights with human dignity.  I am waiting for the equitable and fair opportunity to live.  And if I blow it, that is on me.  Yet, when I accept it, flourish, and prosper, I will then live out the statement promised to me in the Declaration of Independence: “We hold these truths to be sacred and undeniable: that all men (humans) are created equal and independent, that from that equal creation they derive rights inherent & inalienable, among which are the preservation of life, & liberty, & the pursuit of happiness:…” And from July 5^th, 1776 to date, we have not been afforded the unalienable right to live!

Move III

Unalienable ~ unable to be taken away from or given away by the possessor ~ regarded as too important to be interfered with ~ not qualified or diminished in any way ~ never to be broken, infringed, or dishonored (google)

Live ~ to remain alive ~ living not dead ~ the existence of a human being or an animal (google)

Liberty ~ the state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one's way of life, behavior, or political views (google)

Pursuit of happiness ~ The pursuit of happiness is defined as a fundamental right mentioned in the Declaration of Independence to freely pursue joy and live life in a way that makes you happy, as long as you don't do anything illegal or violate the rights of others. (your dictionary.com)

From slavery, to the emancipation proclamation, to civil rights, to Jim Crow, to mass incarceration – substandard education – unemployment – crime – policing – according to Justice or else 45.3M people in the USA are living in poverty ~ 2x Black unemployment is twice that of Whites ~ 60% of people in prison are Black and Latino ~ 32.4% of Native American youth under 18 live in poverty ~ 28hrs from now police will have murdered someone Black. From then until now we have been denied this unalienable right to live!

And before I move on, please let’s talk about: “Well he should’ve been…” “Well if she hadn’t…” “We I did it so why can she or he…” I am not excusing bad, illegal, immoral behavior.  What I am troubled by is the disproportionate penalties levied against our people, the targeting of our Black and Brown men and women; boys and girls ~ what I am troubled by is folk telling us to get it together, pull yourselves up by your own boot straps and my response is “we will but you are maliciously, intentionally, and deliberately taking and keeping my boots with the straps.” ~ Distress, anguish, frustration, disgust!

Move IV

For I wrote you out of much distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain, but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you. 

Paul writes the letter out of distress and anguish through his tears for the people of Corinth whom he loved dearly.  What is God calling us to do in the midst of our distress, anguish, and tears?  Is God calling us to stay separated from those we may have had a disagreement with?  Is God calling us to stay angry at those who misunderstand us?  Is G-d calling us to degrade and demean others in the name of Jesus?  Or is God calling us to be like Paul ~ to take initiative, to make a change, to be accountable, to be loving, forgiving, hopeful, and communal.  To love beyond measure ~ to exhibit unconditional positive regard. To live and to live transcending our own biases, egos, and adverse feelings.

What Paul does here is a powerful example of how we come to understand and acknowledge our inalienable right to live for our humanity is inextricably bound regardless of the situation or circumstance.  Paul also exemplifies the fact that we do not have the power to change others yet we have the power to change how we respond especially in the midst of our anger, frustration, and distress.  We must understand that our humanity is inextricably bound in one another. Ubuntu ~ I am because we are ~ we are therefore I am. This means if Blacks need to be liberated from oppression then Whites need to be liberated from White privilege. If the poor are meeting their basic needs by any illegal or immoral means necessary then the rich are just as immoral, unjust, and uncompassionate by turning a blind eye. If Public Education is failing and another school in the area is thriving shame on both for not reaching out to one another learn and to share so that all might be successful.

Paul exemplifies this unalienable right to live through the love, care, compassion, forgiveness, repentance, and hope shown in this letter which is rooted in a cross bearing relationship.  Paul states this perfectly in the opening sentences of this letter.  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the G-d of mercies and the G-d of all consolation, who consoles us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to console those who are in any affliction with the consolation with which we ourselves are consoled by God. Consoled means comfort and if the Holy Spirit, the paraclete, is our comforter then it is spirit that bounds us together through our shell of humanity.  As much as you try to ignore it ~ as much as you try to deny it ~ as much as you try to pit us against them ~ we are all children of G-d and if you hurt I hurt ~ If you fail I fail ~ If you are dying then I am dying.

This shift in kingdom building is nothing new nor is it some grand idea I came up with.  We (as in the world) got it twisted when we began to conform to the ways of this world instead of being transformed by the renewing of our minds. Paul makes it very plain. When you hurt I hurt but thanks be to G-d we have a Comforter who will console US unto reconciliation and liberation from our ailments and free us from our licentiousness so that we might live!

Conclusion

My inalienable right to live, then, is rooted in the word of G-d. Not my feelings which are temporary. Not my damaged ego. Not my need to control others.  Not in what others might think of me. Not rooted in politicians ~ not in the constitution or the declaration of independence ~ not rooted in the 13^th amendment that states that slavery by way of mass incarceration is legal.

My inalienable right to live is rooted in the word of G-d which states: The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)

My inalienable right to live is rooted in Psalm 139:14: I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. (Black Lives Matter is reminding Black folk of this very fact)

My inalienable right to live is rooted in Genesis 2:7: then the Lord God formed human from the dust of the ground, and breathed into the nostrils the breath of life; and the human became a living being.

My inalienable right to live is rooted in the life of my sisters and brothers ~ despite status, race, employment status, educational prowess…  

My pain and promise

My hurt and healing

My worry and worship

My suffering and salvation

Paul reminds us of this inalienable right to live by speaking life to what seemed to be a dying situation ~ speaking love to the unloved ~ speaking hope to the hopeless ~ showing unconditional positive regard a sister or brother just because our humanity is inextricably bound.

For I write to you, Shorter, out of much distress and anguish of heart and with many tears because our people are dying, our people are unemployed, our people are receiving substandard education, our people are poor, homeless, hungry, in despair.  I write to you not to cause you pain, but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you. And with this love I implore you to love the Lord our G-d with all your heart, soul, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself.  That is your pew neighbor, your community neighbor, your work neighbor, your Black, White, poor, rich, homeless, gang member, drug addict, lost neighbor.  For it is this love that speaks life and this life is inalienable.

A life that is rooted in Jesus Christ ~ Therefore, my inalienable right to live is rooted in Jesus the Christ ~ G-d’s only begotten son and WHOSOEVER believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life! Jesus the one who paid it all ~ the one who died and arose from the dead so that we might live! Jesus the one who suffered: was ridiculed, ostracized, marginalized, despised, falsely arrested, falsely accused, could’ve been killed in custody but the oppressor didn’t want blood on his hands, was beaten, spat on, a victim of mass incarceration, abused by the enforcers of the law who are called to protect and serve and not seek, kill, and destroy; Jesus, the one who was forced to carry His cross to his own execution (a cross that looks like Arizona and Skittles, a hoodie, the failure to signal, a cross that looks like the color of our skin.) Jesus, the one nailed to the old rugged cross, hung high, stretch wide, murdered on Friday, handled his business behind the scenes on Saturday ~ and on the third day, despite evil, despite the oppressor, despite racism, classism, sexism, marginalization of poor communities, failing schools, broken families, increased violence… Jesus got up with all power in his hands so that we might have an inalienable right to live!!! 

#BlackLivesMatter

Never hopeless, forever searching...

Rev. T

Street Gangs ~ Police Gangs

STREET GANG	POLICE GANG
Very protective of identity	Called to protect and serve others but protecting and serving their false sense of power
Will defend their color	Will defend their uniform by any means necessary
Protection of family/territory	Protection of the blue
Will kill when a perceived threat manifests	Will kill when a perceived threat manifests
Will judge by the color you wear	Will judge and make assumption by the color of your skin
Must join and conform to the code	Must join and conform to the code
Hard to get out	Conform to feed my ego, my family and/or racist beliefs and won't get out
Gang members and gang bangers	No such thing as good cop/bad cop
Born as a child of G-d with a purpose for good	Born as a child of G-d with a purpose for good
Born out of response to a marginalized system designed to oppress	Born out of a racist system designed to continually perpetuate White power/privilege
Kill or be killed	Kill or be killed OR be exposed

As I was reflecting on the peace work we are doing in the Denver community, my heart was suddenly grieved by the continuous shootings and murders by gangs and by the police.  Then it hit me, yep at 3:30 in the morning, there is not much difference between the two systems.

I must add this caveat here.  I know great police officers.  I have family and friends who are police officers.  I have family and friends who are gang members, hustlers, repeat offenders... At the same time, I must acknowledge this system, this way of system thinking that forms to protect a given group/mindset (good, bad, or indifferent.) This system of desensitization has proven fatal and systemic.  We must bring humanity back!

The same way we are addressing gang violence is the same way we must address the police gang.  We must be strategic in tearing down these oppressive systems from the top down and from the bottom up.  We cannot address one and not the other and there must be a simultaneous approach to combat these adverse systems. We must know Black Lives Matter whether you are in a blue uniform or wearing the color red or blue. We must not villainize the street gangs and ignore the police gang (police gang bangers) who are killing and arresting our people. 

In the worldview, just like organizational development, systems thinking and design, team dynamics, relational learning, redesign, restructure; transactional, transformational, relational, and values based leadership we must use these human resources and strategic gifts to build new systems and relationships. 

In a spiritual view, as Christians, religious people, spiritual leaders/members, community leaders/members, we must peel back the onion, beyond the system, to impact the person who was created for good.  We have the power to build systems of Love and not hate; systems of Life and not death. 

Speaking of the power to build ~ I am grateful for Pastors Haroun, Jason, and Age and the remnant of others who picked up the mantle to do the work others opted not to do. I am grateful for the weekly prayer walks. I am grateful for those who stepped out on faith believing that prayer changes things.  And most of all I am grateful for Trey, a former gang member, who in front of the Mayor and approximately 60 faith leaders said "...if you don't put G-d first you ain't changing nothing!" Trey has been an inspiration to this effort and an amazing leader in bringing peace to our communities.  

So I say all this to say, we have a lot of work to do.  There is more than enough work for everyone to play their part.  This is the only way we are going to tear down these oppressive and evil systems to build better, life-giving communities for the greater good.  This effort includes addressing the system of street gangs as well as the racist, oppressive, murderous system of police gangs.  

My blog! My thoughts! 

Reverend Tawana Davis

Never hopeless ~ always searching...

Do I Really Love G-d with Unconditional Positive Regard?

#morningreflection

Do I really Love G-d?

I sat in a room yesterday with approximately 40 homeless men during Bible study.  I was blessed and really had to check myself in that moment. Did I really believe that a homeless person couldn't love G-d, know Jesus, state the scriptures emphatically??? Homeless and they love G-d! Homeless and human! Homeless and spirit-filled.  No home, no food, somewhat clean or not so clean clothing, health and mental challenges...yet they love G-d.

Do I love G-d when I don't have food on my table?
     I often hear communal prayers that say Lord you put food on our table and we thank you yet you don't know my story
Do I love G-d when I awake in the morning but 22 years ago my mama and six years ago my daddy did and then died suddenly?
     I often experience a prayer of thanksgiving for waking up as if dieing is not a blessing
Do I love G-d when my bank account doesn't support my bills
     I often hear communal prayers of thanksgiving and supplication as it relates to money and the crowd goes wild...
Do I love G-d when witnessing our young sisters and brothers die at the hands of law enforcement
     In my experience, we tend to thank G-d for protecting our young people who survived another day as if G-d was not with Trayvon, Michael, Marvin, Sandra, Jessica...
Do I love G-d when I don't know or don't understand or when things just aren't going "right?"
     Can I love G-d when homeless
     Can I love G-d when economically challenged
     Can I love G-d during the hurt and pain caused by others
     Can I love G-d when things go awry
     Can I love G-d when I go through the day hungry
     Can I love G-d when my spouse or significant other is unfaithful
     Can I love G-d when I awake in a shelter
     Can I love G-d while sitting in a Bible study for the homeless as a homeless person

My G-d, if I pimped your Love please forgive me! If I put limits and boundaries on your blessings please forgive me! If I put your power, Love, provision, grace, and mercy in a box aligned with fleshly desires, please forgive me! If I haven't loved you beyond my status and what I have, please forgive me!

G-d give me the tenacity to love beyond the flesh, beyond the material, beyond my limiting beliefs, beyond our ignorance! Lord, help me to Love you with all of our heart, soul, and mind which is not contingent upon ego, flesh, and material items. G-d of mercy and G-d of grace, help me to see you in all things and in all things give thanks for you are all knowing, all powerful, and ever present.  Help me to present myself in a posture to allow your word to manifest. For it is you who said You will make rivers in the desert! It is You who said I am about to do a new thing do you perceive it! It is you who sent Your only begotten son to die and rise for my sins and transgressions.  It is you who knew me before I was formed in our mother's womb and created me with a purpose to Love you and serve others! It is you who spoke and life was created!

So I come to you thanking You for being You ~ trusting You to do what you said you would do ~ asking for forgiveness as I forgive others ~ repenting in order to grow closer to you ~ praising You for this moment for it is by your grace and divine mercy I am living and breathing and allowed to experience another day in your glory.

I really do love you Lord ~ unconditionally, positively, and with regard to your essence of Love and Life! In all things, situations, and circumstances, I really do love you Lord!

Signed,
Your daughter, a sinner saved by Your grace, Tawana

Take Notice!

Today is a new day!

From this day forward

I will not serve with the oppressed who are behaving like the oppressor
I will not serve with those who attack demean, degrade, disrespect, dishonor, marginalize, demonize homosexuals
I will check you if you refer to me as Sis. Tawana while serving in a clergy, ordained, religious capacity
I will not entertain those who use the Bible as the belt to beat another down with one's limiting beliefs
I Love Jesus and will not dismiss those who believe in Allah, Muhammad, Yahweh, Buddha... and if you are one of those Jesus is the only way folk who dismisses others because of their beliefs then you will be dismissed ~ I will not longer rock with you
If you dehumanize the homeless, gang members, poor... I will no longer walk side-by-side with you
If you think more highly of yourself than you ought I will pray for you as I walk away wiping the dust off my feet
I will speak Truth to power
I will have unconditional positive regard for others
I will Love like never before because without it, I might as well be the tag hanging off of my new dress ~ states a high price but is worth nothing
I will Love the Lord our G-d with all my heart, soul and mind AND Love my neighbor as myself
My gay neighbor
My homeless neighbor
My poor neighbor
My gangster neighbor
My incarcerated neighbor
My white neighbor
My Jewish neighbor
My Black male neighbor
This is the day, I serve notice to all those who dehumanize, deculturalize, desexualize, demoralize, demonize in the name of Jesus!

Signed,
The Black Woman, Reverend, womanist, existentialist, heterosexual, multi-faith/multi-cultural/homosexual/gang and former gang-member loving Tawana Davis

Consider yourselves served!!!

P.S. Please note, I will speak Truth to power and call you out in Love and in the name of Jesus. No hate, no shade, no disdain... Just won't rock with you anymore! Love ya!

P.P.S. I am not a social media gangster so don't worry, I will call you out to your face and if it warrants a comment that is for the good of the order I will share on social media and from the pulpit with to goal of speaking life to those who were subject to your hate and to encourage others to do justice, Love mercy, and walk humbly with G-d.

Scandal ~ a View from a Black Woman

Oscar Wilde a writer and poet once said “Life imitates Art far more than Art imitates Life.” This statement causes quite a stir when we look at Olivia Pope. Is Life imitating Art or Art imitating Life?  That is the question to ponder as I am an avid viewer of Scandal. 

I tune in each week with my favorite snack, comfortable clothing, and no other distractions.  I tune into every aspect of the show including the latest fashion, hairstyles, power moves, one-liners, and intriguing scenes.  I view Scandal as entertainment through the lens of a Black female writer and star.  A Black woman named Olivia Pope who is known as the fixer, mistress, and mystery to most.  This mode of entertainment often mimics life in many ways as we deal with white supremacy, patriarchy, homosexuality, infidelity, and a host of other life events in this weekly one-hour show.

If I viewed the show as art imitating life, I find myself dismayed at the dysfunction, mistrust, heinous, sex-riddled, murderous behavior that is happening somewhere in the real world.  If I viewed the show as life imitating art, I am then compelled to anger as Black women are placed in stereotypical roles that over sexualizes, dehumanizes, and marginalizes women depicting a false sense of power.  I am compelled to view Scandal in the former lens: art imitating life.  Scandal is a fictional show based on real life characters using a stretch of the imagination, added intrigue, and at times advocacy through real-life story lines. 

As a preacher, I honor and value ones lens and stance in life. Good, bad or indifferent we have an unalienable right to live and live life to the fullest.  Yet, while television shows like Scandal tend to be scandalous, we must know who we are, rooted and grounded in a spiritual being who defines us more than what we see on television, more than being called out of our names, more than our young men being killed on the streets, more than a Black woman depicted with power and weakness simultaneously.  Instead of judging ones character on the fact she/he watches Scandal (or Empire, Being Mary Jane…) I am more concerned about the images you see and how you respond to them. 

It is important to offer balance in one’s life to off-set the negative images put forth and to celebrate the positive messages and images despite the negativity.  I can watch Scandal because I know I am more than what is depicted on television.  I can view Scandal with an entertainment lens and at the same time have theological and sociological discourse pertaining to the Black woman and the challenges thereof to propel us beyond what we see and how we as Black women are viewed. 

I will continue to view Scandal as a form of though-provoking entertainment with the knowledge that this may not be mindless to some and quite influential to others.  Therefore, I must send positive messages and lead by example to dispel the status quo and push us beyond sexualization, skin color, hair length, and body type to the life-giving, amazing, beautiful, creative, nurturing, powerful women we are destined to be.  

Never hopeless ~ always searching...

The oppressed becomes the oppressor... Wake up!

And we do not realize this is happening because we are so ingrained in oppressive-like behavior.

In his book Pedagogy of the Oppressed, Paulo Freire speaks of "the banking concept of education" in which the actions of a teacher-student relationship is rooted in and limited to a student receiving from the teacher leading the student to be full of information but without skills to implement, create, explore, or transform in this was he calls a misguided system. The teacher will posit information without regard toward culture, identity, context, or ability just like making a deposit in a bank. As long as it is your bank (problem number one) the teacher will make the deposit and walk away knowing, barring all other circumstances are in place, the money will be there when she/he returns.  As a matter of fact, if the money is deposited in an interest bearing account the depositor will have a few more dollars without doing anything further than making that deposit.

This sounds all too familiar in our education system in our marginalized, low-income communities as well as our churches. Due to lack of resources, over-sized classes, and raising a generation of teachers who teach in marginalized schools to either get their student loans paid or as a stepping stone, we have created a banking system of teaching hoping the deposit will gain interest called success.   For all the teachers who teach in marginalized, low-income communities who actually love what they do for the sake of teaching, we do them a disservice by overcrowding their classrooms, overworking them, and then penalizing them when their numbers do not meet state expectations.  And these days we even throw them in jail to do more time than police who kill our Black, unarmed, defenseless children.  (Say what you want about she/he should not have.... in the first place. I am unarmed, you have a gun, and I get killed... the math just doesn't add up PERIOD!)

In any and all educational circumstances and opportunities we must institute a space in what Freire calls "...the solution of the teacher-student contradiction, by reconciling the poles of the contradiction so that both are simultaneously teachers and students." As soon as I walk into a teacher-student setting and I believe, as the teacher, I know it all and cannot learn from my constituents, herein lies the problem! How can I teach if I am not willing to be taught? How can I empower when I am not willing to be empowered? How can I transform when I am not willing nor able to be transformed?

The truth is as long as we continue to define the marginalized as marginalized, ostracized, demeaned, and discounted we will continue to remain on the hamster wheel of perpetual insanity (this is for another blog post.) Freire states "...the oppressed are not marginals, are not people living outside society.  They have always been inside - inside the structure which made them beings for others.  The solution is not to integrate them into the structure of oppression, but to transform that structure so that they can become beings for themselves."

This brings us to the church.  This same pedagogy of the oppressed can be relevant in the church.  If the leader/preacher/teacher is not in a dialogical relationship with constituents/members/ parishioners... we institute the same "banking system" Freire speaks against.  If we the pastor/preacher/teacher believes she/he is the do all-be all-end all to this thing called Christianity we have now become cult-ish leaders who think more highly of ourselves than we really are (Romans 12:3.) If we, as spiritual and educational leaders, do not enter into a reciprocal, dialogical, relationship with our constituents we are creating a community of death. Without creativity, nurturing, growth, innovation, critical thinking, exchange... we become mundane, worthless, and die. We will forget our natural, innate value and remain on the hamster wheel where we will tire out, fall off and not know what to do to liberate ourselves.  Freire says that we must be committed to liberation that must reject the banking system and adopt a concept of women and men as conscious beings and consciousness as consciousness intent upon the world. It is consciousness that breeds life!

We must be intentional about creating a space of relational dialogue where there is an exchange in the role of teacher/student, pastor/parishioner. Gone are the days of three points and a whoop. Gone are the days of uncaring, numb, number driven educational/church systems.  Gone are the days of a banking system where we are blaming our young people for doing what they do when we have not taught them how to be in relationship, to value themselves without outside dictation, and to think critically about action - consequence - action.   Gone are the days where we look at the Bible as a compartmentalized piece of literature, picking and choosing what to preach/teach; who to degrade and demean; how to gather more members/student for financial gain...

"The revolutionary's (pastor/teacher) role is to liberate, AND be liberated, with the people - not to win them over" otherwise, the oppressed has now become the oppressor. Wake up!

Never hopeless ~ always searching

(Inspired by the heinous misguided institutions and Paulo Freire's Pedagogy of the Oppressed!

It's Been Four Years

I cannot believe I've been in Denver for four years.  January 6th was my 4th anniversary and it went unnoticed.  I kept receiving messages from LinkedIn congratulating me and I realized it was my work anniversary.  So caught up in the fight for justice, the life of the church, school, family... I didn't pause to reflect and thank G-d for a most amazing journey in my life thus far.

When I received the call from LeSean in 2010, he said he put my name in for a full-time youth and young adult minister in Denver.  I said, in so many words, are you kidding me? I am not going to Denver! I am going back to NY! (I was in Atlanta at the time serving as a resident Chaplain at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.) Clearly G-d had other plans and I was compelled to reach out to Rev. Dr. Timothy E. Tyler to introduce myself.  We had an informal conversation via phone and I was invited to come to teach and preach during Y.E.S. weekend.  I stepped out on faith and accepted.  I was offered the job from the pulpit after a weekend of teaching and preaching.  And the rest is history.

Denver offered me a lifestyle that I had not experienced.

Shorter offered me a church life like none other.

Rev. Dr. Timothy E. Tyler took a chance with me and afforded me an opportunity to grow and learn in ways I would've never imagined.

I found my voice in Denver.

I gained some amazing friends and lost the same.

I admitted publicly, for the first time, of my status as a DV survivor.

I preached in South Africa y'all with Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Wright in the congregation!

I experienced relationships with youth and young adults I will never forget.

I found peace.

I learned about myself in ways I may not have been able to in other circumstances.

I discovered my love for Social Justice.

I traveled extensively.

I am a woman, in a patriarchal environment, in a leading role in one of the leading churches in African Methodism.

I do what I love ~ strategic planning, project management, spiritual development, youth and young adult ministry including events, worship planning, Bible study and preaching.

Wow! I flew to St. Louis to my auntie Noella's church to be ordained as a Deacon. Who does that? Jesus and Me!

Then I was ordained in LA as an elder two years later ~ there was some drama behind this but as in all relationships there are ups and downs and the relationships that were meant to be will survive the strife ~ I am grateful those persons are still in my life and extremely supportive.  (Yes, this was a hard lesson to learn.)

I cry a lot ~ I pray a lot ~ I hurt a lot ~ I celebrate a lot ~ I love a lot ~ I serve a lot...

Four years of training, development, friendship, risks, trial, error, hard work, peace in the midst of, family, sisterhood, fear, faith, learning, did I say hard work/long hours/hard work, and love!

Thank you my Pastor/Boss/Friend for taking a chance on this 41 year old recent seminary graduate whom you didn't know and gave an opportunity of a lifetime to serve as the 1st full-time youth and young adult minister at Shorter Community African Methodist Episcopal Church and now serving as the Executive Minister.  You have put amazing trust and faith in me and I am grateful.

Thank you Shorter Community AME Church family for embracing me, encouraging me, supporting me, and loving me and my family.

To the young and young adult ~ I cannot name names because I can't possibly list everyone who has had a major impact on my life.  You give me life! You're a huge reason why I do what I do! You are amazing and the opportunity to share in your world is a blessing to my soul.  You have created a space for me to serve, teach, grow, and learn.

To Erik and Kyesha ~ I love you for letting your mom follow her dreams! You sacrificed a lot for me to serve G-d and G-d's people and I am grateful!

Thank you G-d for making a way out of no way ~ for healing me ~ for providing for me ~ for creating a space to grow closer to You ~ for loving me so!

Just grateful,

T

2011 ~ Minister Tawana Davis preaching or the first time at Shorter Community AME Church ~ 9/2010