African Americans. A tree with no roots

As I look across the headlines, it seems that racial hatred is rearing its ugly head with a vengeance. It appears that we are still unwanted in this country - these United States of America. It's not an unfamiliar feeling. In fact, there is a significant number of African Americans who would long to see Africa and reconcile their inner yearning for the Motherland.

I organize trips to South Africa. Along with my partner at African Angel Tours we have created a tour for music lovers known as the South African Jazz Tour. We strive to tap into the rich musical tapestry of South Africa while connecting African Americans with the essence of their long lost African Heritage. A heritage that's been denied through a distinct American historical legacy of slavery, segregation, Jim Crow, and second class citizenship. This legacy has left today's African American with a deep yearning in the soul for a connection with our African consciousness.

This consciousness is spiritual in nature. I can see a visible awakening in each of our travellers as they embark on their African dream experience. This consciousness is the single most significant impetus for their decision to participate and invest in the trip. They desire to reconcile a cultural yearning for heritage that has been heretofore defined by American standards. No. Even as slave holders tried through brutality, religion and murder to remove any hint of our African culture from us, Even through slavery, prejudice, reprogramming, severe discrimination, our African nature has survived. Yes, our African Consciousness has survived a legacy that would steal, kill or destroy any connection to the Motherland. No. We weren't born in Africa. We don't know the nations, the tribes, the languages, the customs, folkways and mores. We don't know our name. Yet, it is undeniable that our African tendencies are yet indelibly inscribed in our DNA to this present day. Musically our soulful rhythms know their origins from the Continent. Even as we were stolen away from the Motherland and brought into the Americas against our will, the soul of our Africanness survived.

My last group of African Americans were anxious and excited for the journey I was about to share with them. We were ready for an unmatched cultural experience. The trip started with great and profound introspect. Our visit to the Apartheid Museum was a sobering reality check into where we were... South Africa. Land of intense racial division. The journey of Nelson Mandela and other freedom fighters came alive. Our visit to the majestic Pilanesberg National Park showed us the incredible displays of nature. As we descended on Capetown, our musical appetite was satisfied as we visited the Capetown international Jazz Festival. Our cultural and historical consciousness is vastly stimulated as we visit Robben Island where Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years. We see the vestiges of Apartheid... We can relate to the struggle. Yes. South Africa's struggle is much like our own. We are one. These are our brothers and sisters. We are home.....or not.

This is the part where we were rudely reminded that perhaps, our African brothers and sisters did not see us as we see them. Perhaps they don't even want us there. We have a tremendously exciting element of our tour called the Jazz Safari. Here we venture into the township and visit a Jazz musician's home. His wife cooks dinner and we are treated to an awesome display of music. Our African guide, who is supposed to set the stage by giving us a history of South African Jazz and music, started out ok, but then began tell us how Americans have stolen African rhythms and now claim them was our own. He said we call ourselves African Americans but we aren't African. We are just Americans. We should be proud of where we were born. He let us know that there is nothing African about us. We were shocked.. Hurt... Flabbergasted...

This guy wounded us deeply. One of our travellers had been on the front line at Ferguson and most of us were old enough to know the essence of the struggle in America. We were hurt and offended. This guide singlehandedly incinerated the euphoria that most felt during the entire trip.

We spent considerable time and energy trying to debate the young man however it was soon apparent that he wasn't going to get it. And in the end, he didn't want to get it. This brotha was going to have to read more deeply. He was going to have to take it upon himself to become more knowledgeable about the Diaspora. Maybe just maybe he would eventually become enlightened. Sadly it took the group a couple of days to recover from this revelation. That night we just refused to hear anymore from this guy and in fact executed an economic embargo on him, unanimously refusing to give him a gratuity. Yes. an economic embargo.

In the end, I believe that a lot of Africans hold this view. It's possible that while we are over here dressing in African clothes and filling our homes with African art, that our brothers and sisters are over there on the continent laughing at us. In America, our legacy has made us as unto a tree in the river of American history. Yet, we are a tree with no roots. Not welcome here in the land of the free and not wanted in the land of our ancestors. But then again, this is a case for the need to tell our story, control our images, be a steward of our cultures.. worldwide so that the young will know. Like my mother used to say... never forget..... Africa Unite!!!

This is the Church of God In Christ: A Contemplation

I am joined into the Church of God in Christ.

There is a church song which says, “This is the Church of God in Christ, you can’t join in, you have to be born in”… These lyrics have always troubled me because although I have been in church most of my life, I was raised in a Baptist church. In fact, my childhood pastor, Dr. C.H. Hampton, was good friends with Bishop J. A. Blake, the father of Presiding Bishop C.E. Blake. The notion that you have to be born in has always troubled me because the Church of God in Christ is the denomination that I belong to. I mean BELONG to. When I came to myself and called on the name of the Lord to cleanse me and set me free, it was to the Church of God in Christ that HE guided me. It was the Church of God in Christ where I re-dedicated my life to Christ. It was at the Church of God in Christ that I got baptized for the third time in my life. It is in the Church of God in Christ where I study God’s holy word. It is within the Church of God in Christ that I follow my clergical calling. And so, I have joined in. I am so glad that the Presiding Bishop Patterson made us change the lyrics…

The rich history of COGIC

Long before attending any sort of bible study, I began to study the Church of God in Christ. When I was newly graduated from my new member’s class, I was in the bookstore getting a few books and I

came across a little book known as the COGIC Official Manual. I was so surprised!!! And so I purchased it. I am fascinated with the origins of the Church of God in Christ. Being a broadcaster, after hearing the story of the Azusa Street Revival, I went to the USC Library at the Annenberg School of Communications so that I could look up the published news reports of the revival. It is interesting to note that the Revival received front page coverage in most major newspapers of the region and front page or near the front placement in major newspapers in the major cities of the time. It is interesting to note the perseverance our founder Bishop Charles Harrison Mason had as he completely and unabashedly received the knowledge and baptism of the Holy Ghost even as some of his original circle rejected him and distanced themselves from him. It is quite interesting to note that the miraculous falling of the Holy Ghost in “modern” times was thoroughly documented in secular news sources. The falling of the Spirit was real. Its results are tangible. Our Church is born out of this modern time experience and out of it even more churches were (see Assemblies of God) born. Today, we are the foremost Pentecostal denomination in the world today.

The “Dark Period” of COGIC

It is interesting to note the COGIC “dark period” which began after our beloved founder passed away. It is critical to note that this dark period took place near and during the days of our current Presiding Bishop’s college days. Consider this: Bishop Blake’s father was one of the original members of the general board after the “reorganization” of our denomination. Imagine the intuitiveness a young Charles Blake had as he was raised in the footsteps of one of COGIC’s greatest and most influential preachers. So intuitive that while he studied at the International Theological Center in Atlanta, GA, one of his dissertations was known as “The Church of God in Christ: It’s Organizational Crisis. This document is the scholarly foundation for Bishop Blake’s ascension to the leadership of our denomination and demonstrates why he has been instrumental in the steady and sure course of the Church of God in Christ in these days and time. And while the world changes and people need Jesus even the more, the role of COGIC is more pronounced and Bishop Blake is the right man for the job.

Holiness and Sanctification

The notion of sanctification beyond cliché’ is quite serious for me. The deeper my walk goes, the more I see how and why I must live a sanctified life. That is to be “set apart” from the norm. It is important to me because my denomination requires it. Now, as for me, this is an interesting walk. My career is built upon being a broadcaster. I am a mass communicator with a mission to preserve and promote African American pop culture and history. In my field you hear and see inappropriate music, films and discussion. I have frequently asked my subordinates to manage an event or promotion for me because it is completely contrary to my sanctification requirements. I am going deeper in the Lord and this notion of sanctification is becoming even more important.

The customs and traditions of COGIC

On the surface, I love the “pageantry” of the Church of God in Christ. At Holy Convocation both State and National, I get goosebumps when I see the procession of the Bishops, Elders and Adjutants. I love the promotion of excellence in the worship of our Lord Jesus Christ. The essence of our music is certainly the foundation of not only church culture, but all of African American Culture. You will find and hear similarities of black gospel in all of R&B. Most singers will have to remember they got their start in the black church. And the core of that soulful black music sound can be traced to the rhythms of the Church of God in Christ. The preaching of the Word is delivered in a way that touches me deeply. Even as I define my preaching style, I find myself looking at videos from not only today’s top COGIC preachers, I am going back. I see Bishop LH Ford. I hear Bishop J. Delano Ellis. I see Bishop JO Patterson, Bishop G.E. Patterson, Bishop Charles E. Blake and so many many more. The preached Word from the pulpit of the Church of God in Christ is clear, true and resonates with me on a level that is almost indescribable. And while hooping and yelling the Word across the pulpit is not necessary to extend salvation to the lost, I still love the tradition of the sing song style backed by a crisp, rich Hammond B3 organ. (note: Bishop GE Patterson once said "Preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ and evangelizing the Word of God is not about hooping and hollering and yelling your message across the room while the man or the woman plays the organ or the piano behind you, but it is about letting the Spirit of God take course as you do what God has called you to do for spreading His unadulterated Gospel.")

This is the Church of God in Christ

I am saved, sanctified and filled with the Holy Ghost. I am called to minister God’s Word to today’s people. I am called as a minister of the gospel to promote social justice in our community. I like the discipline demanded for in the Church of God in Christ. I like the mothers praying. I love the tambourines, the drums. Sometimes I just close my eyes and take in the sounds of the saints praising and praying, the mothers beating and playing their tambourines all against a backdrop of the gospel musicians. Within this menagerie of loud and “peculiar” expression of reverence to God is my direct connect to our Heavenly Father through his Son Jesus Christ. This is the Church of God in Christ.

Moonwalk Contemplations: 45 years later

And so among today's headlines are those heralding the 45th anniversary of Neil Armstrong's first steps on the moon. Wow... 45 years ago.... I remember.... I was a 12 year old interested in science and technology, so the many space missions fascinated me to no end. And coming from a military family, I was always interested in the nature of aviation.. jet propulsion, all things space..... I was so excited about the notion of America landing a man on the moon that I followed the story from start to finish. I even had a model kit of the lunar landing module and the mothership. Oh yeah, I was a black kid in the 'hood with a keen fascination for the United States Space Program.

America was similarly fascinated with the expectation of world history being made by Neil Armstrong and his crew;. however, a lot of folk in my community had absolutely no interest in the space missions. It was a disappointment that the space missions would pre-empt our favorite television shows. Folk had other things to worry about in the 'hood. Equality, Discrimination, Economic disparity, Social Justice. Besides, in those days, we couldn't fathom the idea of a black astronaut, so the billions of dollars spent of sending rockets to the moon seemed like a waste - they could have used that money to end poverty.... community programs.... Flying to the moon was a notion that seemed to elude most of the folks in my community. Nonetheless, I watched.. enthralled by the entire process.

I watched as Neil Armstrong became the first person in world history to set foot on another world. I was aware that all over the world, townhalls, schools, churches, bars and other public gathering places were packed with folk clamoring to witness the greatest television event in history. AT my house, we watched on our television that my dad had purchased on one of his many sea voyages during his career in the US Navy. We were one of the first, if not the first, to own a color television in our neighborhood. And even though we had the best television available in those times, the picture that beamed in from the moon was black and white and grainy at best. IN spite of that, we were glued to the set, watching breathlessly as Armstrong descended the ladder of the Eagle and set his foot onto the Moon. He'd taken that proverbial "one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind".

My Aunt Teenie(may God rest her soul), had been visiting us that week, from Pennsylvania. She joined us as we gathered around our television to witness this piece of world history. She watched as the Eagle made it's descent to the Moon, pausing only to refresh her cool beverage. It was summertime after all..... She sipped as Armstrong stepped onto the lunar surface... she sighed as he made his now famous pronouncement. "Gregory, baby... do you really think he is on the moon??" "Yes Auntie... I do".. "Tell me why darlin'..." I proudly proceeded to tell her all the things I knew about the Space Program and why the United States has been able to win the space race(the US for most of the decade had designs on beating the USSR to the moon). Our technology was superior to anyone in the world. We have made it!!! Aunt Teenie looked at me with that loving look she always gave to us.. took a deep breath and said "Well Gregory, dear. I just don't believe any of this." Shocked I said "what do you mean Auntie??" "I just don't believe this at all... They are up there in Hollywood somewhere closed up in a movie set and showing this to the public so we can think they really went up there".... I was completely stymied.... "yeah baby... they ain't about to get up there. First of all, God ain't gonna let them fly that high, and if they have gone up there then we better start prayin because God don't need us in his space - who do we think we are?? Man always trying to get to heaven before our time.... we are meant to be here.. on earth"... She sipped her beverage and viewed the scenes on the television for a bit longer, looked at me and said "yeah, child, they are pulling a fast one on the people... those are special effects and actors jumping around on some movie set.. I just don't believe this mess... They need to find something else to do with our tax money"

I was flabbergasted at her assessment of the situation. But I had to admit deep down, she made a lot of sense.... In the following days, I would find that a LOT of folk in the 'hood shared her same opinion. It was beyond me. How could they think this? How could they be so paranoid that the government would go to such lengths as to fool the people? C'mon, Auntie!! For real?

And so 45 years later, as we observe the anniversary of the landing on the moon, Aunt Teenie's words still resonate in my memory and while I do believe they went to the moon and did what they said they did, I must contemplate my Auntie's analysis of the situation. It causes me to ask Why?

Why haven't they returned to the moon?

Why, 45 years later, is there not some observatory or space station built on the surface of the moon that would help them observe the heavens even the more?

Why hasn't any other nation placed a man on the moon or even tried?

Why? did they see something? Did they encounter something? Something that makes them say... nope, not going there!!!

Of course these are my own conspiracy possibilities and I am not an expert by any means. I'm just contemplating the thoughts in my mind, stimulated by my beloved Aunt's speculation as she watched the lunar landing alongside of us. It is interesting to note that quickly after the Apollo 11 mission, the nation seemed to tire of space flight. The notion that the US had beaten the Russians seem to be all that mattered. And according to one poll taken during the 30th Anniversary observance, said that, like Aunt Teenie, 6% of Americans believe the entire affair was a fake, carried out in some secret movie studio. They point to misplaced shadows, lack of stars and flapping flags even though the moon is airless as the evidence.

I believe the landings on the moon are real. However, I do pause and wonder.. why we haven't returned.... what is up there that causes them to derail the entire process. On that summer day in 1969, was my beloved Aunt Teenie right? The things that make you go hmmmmmmm.....

Marissa Alexander: Sentencing Injustice yes. But how innocent is she?

I am still outraged that George Zimmerman was acquitted of murdering Trayvon Martin. I am suspect of Florida's Stand Your Ground Laws. I am convinced that mandatory sentencing guidelines are overly harsh in most cases and affect black folk and other minorities disproportionately. And while I reeled from the news of Zimmerman's acquittal, I was hit in the gut again by the news that Marissa Alexander faced decades in jail as she defended herself from an abusive mate. Her defense rested on the controversial Stand Your Ground Law after she fired a warning shot near or at her abusive husband. Marissa claims she was protecting herself from another attack at the hands of her man. She "stood her ground". Instead of Justice, Marissa was sentenced to 20 years in prison, igniting a firestorm of objection and protest across the country, particularly from black Americans still reeling from the Zimmerman verdict.

The anger I felt as this woman's picture was showing up time and again in my social media timelines, usually accompanied by the headline or status update that all she was doing was defending herself against an abusive male. I saw images of an innocent mother. That's somebody's sister.... another innocent sista trapped in an abusive relationship... There are so may stories like this in our community, I was thinking.... I was like dag.. yet another brotha beatin down his woman.... I have sympathy for Marissa.... Compassion. I joined in the voices that said "INJUSTICE!! DISCRIMINATION!!! UNFAIR!!! Yes. On the surface, it appears that Marissa would be yet another black person unjustly consumed by the court system in America. A fact made worse because the case is in Florida.

Then I began to seek the facts. Facts that reveal why Marissa's Stand Your Ground defense was turned away at pre-trial hearings. Facts that also demonstrate why Marissa was convicted on multiple charges and sentenced to a mandatory 20 years. After only 12 minutes of deliberation, the jury convicted Marissa of three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. (Click here to read the actual court documents) So then what happened?? How did we get to this point???

(Note: As of June 10, a retrial was postponed to December, while the state learns if the New Warning Shot bill will be passed or not)

On July 31, 2010, Marissa left her newborn child in the hospital days after giving birth to visit the home of Rico Gray, her husband. The couple had gotten married in May, but Marissa had not lived with Rico for two months prior to the shooting incident. When she got there, Rico wasn't home so she parked her car in the garage and waited. She spent the night but Rico did not come home until the morning along with his two sons. Sounds like everything is cool, because they all sat down and had breakfast. Everything is great. But then Marissa gave her phone to Rico so he could see pics of their newborn who was still in the hospital. She gave him the phone and then got up to go to the restroom. Rico found text message conversations between Marissa and her Ex. Rico got mad and confronted her as to whether the baby was even his. You know that set it off, right? And so it was on.... Rico prevented Marissa from leaving the bathroom at first, but she managed to get around him and exited. According to experts, this is where the Stand Your Ground laws went awry.

Marissa's actions at this point made the difference. Marissa exited the restroom and went to the master bedroom. Rico left the bedroom and headed to the living room. His sons were there. Marissa then leaves the bedroom, walks past Rico and the kids, straight to her car where she got a gun from her glovebox. She came back into the kitchen and pointed it at all three(Rico and his two sons). Rico put his hands in the air but Marissa fired anyway nearly missing Rico's head and sending a bullet through the kitchen and into the ceiling of the living room..... dayum!!!! Rico got the heck outta there with his sons and called 911. Marissa stayed at the house but never did call 911. It should be noted here that Rico did have a history of abuse against Marissa and other chicks. One such incident sent Marissa to the hospital with head injuries after he shoved her into a bathtub.    In the following legal actions, they decide to depose Rico. And wouldn't you know it.. the couple is now conspiring to keep the laws out of their business. Rico said he had all but threatened to kill Marissa. He said she couldn't leave the house through the garage because it was broken and that she never pointed a gun at him or his kids. But that was a completely different account than what he gave to the cops. Then, after swearing in court that she would have no contact with Rico, she continued to see him. In fact, when the court dismissed Marissa's Stand Your Ground defense, the judge noted that not only did Marissa continue to see Rico even after swearing not to, Rico and her discussed what Rico should say during the deposition!!!! Shady...

Rico says he lied in his deposition to protect Marissa. Further, after Marissa was convicted and sentenced to 20 years, she requested a retrial. At that hearing, Rico said he never threatened to kill her and said he begged and pleaded for his life when she had the gun. To make things worse, while she was out on bail and awaiting trial from the shooting charges, Marissa was arrested for domestic battery against Rico. Apparently she came to drop off their child at the house and they started arguing because he would not allow her to stay overnight. Police were called but Marissa had fled the scene. But not before she left Rico with a swoll eye and bloodied.  Po- Po caught up with Marissa about an hour later and of course Marissa claimed to not know what "this was all about" - she had an alibi. But as he police kept questioning her, the story changed with Marissa claiming that in fact she had gone to Rico's house but he attacked her with his fists because she wouldn't stay overnight. But Marissa had no visible injuries....Marissa was arrested and her bail revoked.

Needless to say, Marissa's case has a lot of issues. She had choices when she felt she was in "life threatening danger" - leave through the front door, back door or garage. She stayed in the house and although she and Rico said the garage was broken, police were not able to confirm.

Marissa says it was only a warning shot, but she shot at Rico, nearly missing him. The fact that she shot at him and did not hit him in the body presents the argument that she wasn't trying to kill him so why fire at all. 

She was never in life threatening danger. She never called the police. If she was in fear for her life, she should have dialed 911.

She kept returning to the house even after the court ordered her not to. She did not fear Rico as she had previously claimed.

The last arrest for Domestic violence while she was out on bail coupled with the fact that she lied to police about even being there demonstrates that she was not in fear of her life.....

In the end, this case is sad. It is the story of a tragic and, in my opinion trifling couple with severe anger issues. Marissa clearly has issues within this relationship. Rico clearly has violence issues. But they keep seeing each other... They keep trying to protect one another... Their relationship is a messy mess and now Marissa will have to do major time for her actions. The pictures we see put together with the status sentences and twitter updates present an entirely different picture of this woman. We are led to say poor Marissa.... but in fact, this relationship was a mess. Clearly Marissa is not some helpless victim of domestic violence. They maintained a messy, violent relationship. Abusers of one another. They need mental health and anger management counseling... not a harsh prison sentence....

Now I am not saying the sentence isn't too harsh. I am all for seeking justice where injustice has been applied. I am saying that I need to sit this one out and see how it shakes out. I am saying that besides whatever the courts are going to do with Marissa, this couple needs mental health and anger management treatment. This dysfunctional relationship has caused a world of pain.

Marissa Alexander. A symbol of American injustice? not so fast is what I say.... I wish her luck.... It's all unfortunate. But this one? Not so fast.....