A Different World: A World Alike 3/3

Nelson Mandela: A World Alike!

Nelson Mandela:  A World Alike!

My earliest memory of Nelson Mandela and Apartheid is riding the 95^th street bus and passing a church on the south side of Chicago, Trinity United Church of Christ and seeing a sign that reads, “Free South Africa.” My first thoughts were what, why and how? But the latter really stood out in my mind. How?

 In August 1988 I went away to college. I was leaving my west side neighborhood and stepping into a world of new insights, experiences, and people.  It was a different world. My love for rap developed and my favorite group Public Enemy took my black consciousness to a new level. The group was very political and gave a voice to issues that were affecting the black community and the world. It was so cool and so very bold to be free enough to speak out against the wrongs of the world. While this was going on in the world of rap, a black television show called, “ A Different World” was making a moral and financial statement as well.

In 1990 A Different World aired an episode entitled, “ A World Alike.” Showing the Hillman students making choices about supporting a company who gives money to the college or standing firm on what is right for the people of South Africa! I was able to see what it meant to divest, sacrifice, to take a stand against the wrongs of the world. This was a fictional TV show about black college students taking stands and giving voice to real life issues! It was no longer about me but about others who were oppressed and suffering in the world.  I learned that if you don’t stand for something you will fall for anything! I also learned about the power of money but moreover capitalism! In that very moment I needed to KNOW Nelson Mandela and South Africa! It began to burn in my spirit. It was permanent in my conscience and I could no longer ignore it.   My question of how from riding the 95^th street bus had become my reality.  

I remember Public Enemy’s front man Chuck D singing, “I like Nike but wait a minute, the neighborhoods are poor so put some money in it.” So many of my friends had Jordan’s gym shoes, we were loyal faithful consumers of Nike but what was Nike doing for us? What was Nike doing for the world?   There were so many corporations and universities connected to Apartheid it was crazy! So much changed for me in the late 80’s and the 90’s. My worldview expanded beyond my needs to the needs of others. My worldview expanded from the west side of Chicago to South Africa. Social Justice was forming within me and I didn’t even know what it was!  In the mid 90’s I joined a church in Detroit, MI, Hartford Memorial Baptist Church.  The Rev. Dr. Charles Gilchrist Adams is the pastor and his ministry took my learning on social justice and Jesus to another level! Theology was no longer a big word from seminary but a word that I had to discover, unpack and then release! The word Liberation gave my choices power!

Its amazing how three words, Free South Africa and a man action’s changed the world!  I can remember Nelson Mandela getting release from prison after 27 years.  I can also remember the excitement for his US tour! I remember my anger about his imprisonment and I remember my joy about his release! I remember my ignorance and curiosity of the Free South Africa sign!  

I repost an article from the Grio on my Facebook page that Michael Bloomberg announces the creation of the Nelson Mandela School for Social Justice. I received one comment; “a school were the students will learn to subvert the very system that made Bloomberg rich, neat”.

From the words of Colby the South African student at Hillman College, “The way it is, is not the way it has to be!” Julian the transfer student at Hillman replied:   “Things always work its way back!”   Some prime examples, me seeing the Free South Africa sign in the 80’s and 20 years later I am a member of that very congregation. Nelson Mandela a prisoner to the President!   Yes indeed things work their way back!

My favorite quote from Tata Madiba is, “ a real leader uses every issue, no matter how serious and sensitive to ensure that at the end of the debate we should emerge stronger.”

The A Different World episode: A World Alike was just one of the catalyst that woke me up and taught me about the divestment movement. Economic boycotts do work!

Thank you Madiba, for your life, leadership and legacy.  You shaped my belief of the world, belief of humanity and especially my faith in social justice. Because of you I have emerge stronger in the fight for justice!

12 Years a Slave equals 12 Years of Survival

A few weeks ago I was in Alabama visiting my sister and her family.  As my niece and nephew were leaving to go home my sister kissed them goodbye and said, “ don’t take any wooden nickels.”  My nephew immediately turned to me and said, “Aunt Brenda what does that mean?” It was something from our childhood that my sister’s father uses to say when we parted goodbye. Don’t take wooden nickels! As I watched my nephew a 20 something black man walk away a sense of sadness came over me because we still have to tell our children to be careful and safe in this world.  As I sat in the theater watching the film “12 Years a Slave” that same feeling rose up in my spirit as Solomon Northrop kissed his wife and children good bye, because I knew the wooden nickels were coming next!

The film 12 Years a Slave is a Masterpiece! Solomon Northrop (portrayed by Chitewel Ejiofor) was described as exceptional and he was; carpenter, musician, husband and father. But most importantly a free black man! I can’t remember seeing a film that showed slavery as raw and uncensored.  If I have in the past I simply have filed it away deep in my memory as another film on slavery I want to forget! Director Steve McQueen does an awesome job showing us how slavery looks, sounds and feels. It’s also the first hand account by Solomon Northrop himself on what he experience as a slave.

            The film dealt with the manipulation, kidnapping, the auctioning, buying, selling of slaves and plantation life. Solomon through out the film had this sense of dignity about him that was simply amazing. There is a part in the film on the boat headed to Louisiana were Solomon states that he does not want to survive he wants to live! Then there is another scene were Eliza is grieving her children and Solomon tells her to stop crying.  Eliza scolds him for not resisting and giving in but Solomon tells her he is trying to survive! Survival during slavery was the objective! It wasn’t about just doing the work! Solomon once being a free black man lived but once enslaved he had to learn how to survive. For example Solomon offered up his talents, his carpentry skills and musical skills to his masters pleasing.

            What I love about this film is that it shows slaves trying to maintain humanity within the inhumane. Slavery is pure evil! There is nothing good that came from it! The film showed Plantation life and the horrific brutality that it entailed. Master Ford had compassion to try to help Solomon leave his plantation but there were laws in place in the US regarding slavery.  Master Epps was psychotic and had no sense or regard for anyone or anything. Both masters viewed their slaves as pure property, not human just property.  The slave owners gave no regard to human life! But it was amazing how each master read scriptures to the slaves to encourage them to obey! It showed how the bible was used to control slaves who couldn’t even read it! The bible is used as a weapon for the slaves to obey; it is also the saving grace to slaves trying to survive.  

My turning point in the film was to see Pastey gets the flesh beaten off her back for leaving the plantation to get a bar of soap. The dialogue took me to a place of helplessness for my ancestors and to the reality that there are those who still hate black people! But within that evil I saw Pastey’s courage because she told Master Epps, “ I pick over 500lbs of cotton everyday more than any man here and for that I will be clean.” Pastey was beaten to the point of death for a bar of soap. I vomited during the scene! The soap was a mere cover of what was really happening on the plantation. Master Epps could not negotiate his feelings for Pastey so he decides to beats Pastey to death and then maybe the feelings he has towards her will go away. The emotional effects of slavery are so sicken on so many levels. We saw this film through the lens of a black man who was once free and now caught up in a living hell that we call slavery.

            I would argue that Solomon’s turning point was when Uncle Abram died and another slave wanted to say a few words before Solomon buried him. I believe that seeing Abram fall out in the field, burying him and then listening to the song, “roll Jordan roll’ Solomon accepted his fate. Solomon started singing the Negro spirituals for comfort! But Solomon never lost his dignity nor did he ever hate! I believe that is what made him so exceptional. I believe that is what makes are race so exceptional. Our narrative didn’t start with slavery but we as a people endured slavery. Black people have been here since the beginning. Through colonial and antebellum periods and we are still here. We are resilient and survivors!

The effects and consequences of slavery have not been resolved in the United States. So for me there is still anger and hurt. Racial tensions have not diminished in the United States. We are still experiencing racial undertones and violence.  So for me to view this film tore a scab off an old wound. Is there a balm in Gilead for my people? Is there any emotional justice for African Americas? The prophet Jeremiah also heard from God who says, “ for I know the plan I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future…and with that All I can do is trust in my God!

Solomon Northrop’s 12 Years a Slave; showed the world the true face of slavery. Steve McQueen’s film will remind the world of the evil and terrorism of slavery! There is a scene where Mistress Shaw (portrayed by Alfre Woodard) tells Patsey and Solomon, “In time the good Lord will manage them all.”(Referring to the slave masters). Dear Lord I am waiting on the day that you manage all those who seek to annihilate my race! I look forward to the day when my race can live and no longer have to survive!

Lee Daniel's The Butler giving new meaning to servitude!

Lee Daniel’s The Butler giving new meaning to servitude!

Recently I was invited to speak some words of inspiration at my family reunion.  I had learned prior to the reunion that my great grandfather Doc Patterson was a butler for a family in Cherokee County, AL.  Because I love to use movies in my sermons I had to incorporate Lee Daniels’s The Butler into my speech!

            After my words of inspiration a family friend approached me about slavery, the Lord and how slavery could not be a good thing for Black people. First off I never said it was a good thing. Slavery is nothing to be glorified! Slavery was an evil event in the history of the U.S. and Black America. I said that my great grandparents Doc and Lula Patterson worked hard to give their children opportunities and they did it as servants.

            Humbling yourself to service in any capacity is discipline.  It’s challenging and should never be taken for granted.  One of my favorite scenes in the film is when Dr. King tells Louis that maids, butlers, nannies and other domestics have defied racist stereotypes by being trustworthy, hardworking and loyal.  They maintain other people’s household and raise other people’s children.  They have gradually broken down hardened and hateful attitudes.  Their apparent subservience is also quietly subversive.  Being a servant you appear to have no voice but in reality your actions speaks volumes to your service!

            Through the film we saw examples of servitude to different things for example, the master’s mother Vanessa Redgrave taught Cecile how to serve her family in the big house and Clarence Williams III taught Cecile how to serve in the world as a free Black Man. Louis trying to serve his people by fighting against his country while is younger brother Charlie was serving and fighting for his country. 

            Like Cecile Gains my great grandfather wanted a better life for his children and he did what he had to do to obtain it and so on and so forth. When you dedicate yourself to service it’s a great sacrifice! You put yourself last to make someone else first!

            Isaiah 53:4-5 speaks of the greatest sacrifice and service to us, "Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him and by his wounds we are healed." 

            Isaiah 53:7 goes on to say, "He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth."  Cecile saw and heard so much during his service in the White House but he never open his mouth to speak against it! Cecile Gains affected change in the White House by speaking up for the well-deserved raises for the Black staff. 

            Serving and service looks different for people.  Sometimes its quiet and sometimes its loud. Sometimes it’s dangerous and sometimes it’s humbling. But no matter how it is presented it still produces the same outcome…Change! 

Fruitvale Station: A Crash into reality!

Fruitvale Station is just another train stop on the road of racism. Fruitvale Station is the story of the last day of the life of a black man named Oscar Grant, which happens to occur on the last day of the year! For most of us New Year Eve is a time when we say goodbye to the things of past and look forward to what the New Year will bring.


The film shows Oscar’s struggles with trying to keep/find a job and still be legit (not selling weed on the side). The film also shows Oscar being a victim of racial profiling. We see Oscar trying to stay out of trouble, provide for his family and make his mom proud!

As I watched the film I could not help but to think about the film Crash. Crash was a powerful

Film dealing with the racial and social tensions of our time. Oscar Grant constantly crashed into people and I found it very ironic that it was all white people. Let me explain. During his mother’s visit to prison, Oscar gets into an argument with a white inmate/gangbanger. They are beefing about something and this beef/ argument resumes on the Bart on New Year Eve.

Oscar Grant meets Katie a white woman in the grocery store where he previously worked. Katie is trying to figure out which fish to purchase for a fish fry she is having for her boyfriend. Katie does not know where to begin so Oscar jumps in. He calls Grandma Bonnie to the rescue and she provides all the knowledge that Katie needs for a successful fish fry! Katie is all smiles and thanks Oscar for helping her out! Katie is on the Bart that New Years Eve as well. Coincidence I think not.

Lastly Oscar meets a white man who is a web developer. This man shares his rags to riches story with Oscar. He tells Oscar that he too was broke and stole a ring to propose to his now pregnant wife.



Oscar Grant was definitely between a rock and a hard place, Oscar could have sold that big bag of weed and that could have taken care of the money problems for a while but he chose not to. Oscar dumped the weed in the bay! Oscar wanted to make a different and do what was right and legal for his family.



Now this is where the reality of racism crashes into Fruitvale station!

The encounters: The inmate and his beef was the past. Katie is the present. The web developer is the future.

Oscar and Sophina made resolutions and were hopeful for what the New Year would bring for their family. But the train ride home turned evil, a fight occurs and the police arrive. The police assume and pull the black and brown men off the train. While the inmate and Katie rides on home!

Emotions are high and everyone wants to talk and no one wants to go to jail. But a white officer who is assuming reaches for his gun and in that emotional moment all hope is gone for Oscar Grant!

On the last day of Oscar Grant’s life he crashes into some white people who would probably not given him the time of day but they saw Oscar’s as human, not a thug and non treating. They let their guard down and shared positive exchanges with him. (Except the inmate/gangbanger).

There are always some who judge skin color and appearance, they will panic and shoot first and no questions later. Oscar Grant was just trying to get home, as he took his last breath he repeated, “I have a daughter.”



Oscar Grant’s story for me is that of redemption interrupted by racism! Oscar is the prodigal son trying to maintain a life without a job! Racism looms its evil head and loves to disgust itself as fear! Racism makes us panic and all hell breaks loose!

Trayvon Martin was a young black boy with the world waiting for him. Oscar Grant was a young black man who was in the world just trying to survive!

Trayvon was just starting out! Oscar was just starting over!



One thing I know for sure racism will always kill a happy ending!!!

Protect the flowers!

How do we protect our children from violence? Well we must protect our children from ourselves.

I watched the 85th Academy Awards last night and I am familiar with the host Seth MacFarlane. So I knew what type of comedy I would be receiving. But I didn’t expect to see a tweet from the Onion about Quvenzhane Wallis about being a cunt! I am appalled and offended!

There is a war on children in this country and especially in my city of Chicago. But the buck has to stop here with the adults. There is a lot of hate going around the internet about Gabby Douglas hair, then about actress Amandle Stenberg who portrayed Rue in the Hunger Games movie and now Quvenzhane Wallis. There is this narrative that is growing that we can say and do whatever and it is ok. Not OK! Words are powerful! Life and Death is in the power of the tongue! Remember these are children, our young and our future! We as adults should be encouraging and lifting them up not tearing them down on social media. Vicious talk against young girls or women of colors will not be tolerated! The Onion must apologize! You have been warned!

Ephesians 4:29, Let not any hateful words come out of your mouth but whatever is good and useful, as is good for edifying as the need may be that it may give grace to them that hear! This should be put into practice when talking to or about our children. We must instill values and love into our children. Our children need to hear that we care, that they are special and that they matter!

With all of the tragedy that we have endured concerning our children we must do better protecting our most valuable asset.

Please do not disrespect our children! We must speak hope and love to our flowers!

No tea for me!

I was watching ABC This Week with Jake Tapper and during the show there is a roundtable portion. Democratic Strategist Donna Brazile was one of the guests. Donna made this statement that resonated with me and I am compelled to speak further on it. “It is ok to disagree with someone but do not demonize them in the process!” This is in regards to the Tea Party movement.




I am trying to gain a better understanding of the Tea party movement. The group is name after a taxation movement against Great Britain. This modern day version seems to be against anything Obama! The more I hear and learn about them the more it sounds like miss information and racial rhetoric! Let me explain further. The tea partiers shouts, “I want my country back!” First off it was never their country to begin with just talk to the Indians!

Secondly they are against the nuclear bill. Well former President Ronald Regan is well remembered for talks with President Mikhail Gorbachev regarding nuclear arms!



Thirdly it is not about territory at all. Truth be told the partiers want the country back out of the hands of President Obama because now the balance of power has shifted! Mr. Obama wants to help the poor, the marginalized and the disfranchised. And because of his compassion to help it appears that the partier’s goal is to dehumanize him. When you dehumanize someone you paint them evil with no soul! Fueling fear into any given situation will bring chaos and terror. Is this movement really reform or a lynch mob? What happen to the days of good old debating and shaking hands afterwards? In today’s debates you must agree if not you are the anti Christ! That makes no sense to me. But for some change is scary. This leads me to Jesus ministry here on earth. It was not always welcome and sometimes met with opposition. In Luke 4:14-30 when Jesus went back to his hometown of Nazareth. He was in the synagogue were he read from the scroll of the prophet of Isaiah. Jesus was expressing his purpose for this ministry on earth! Jesus plans were to preach good news to the poor, give freedom to the captives, recover sight for the blind, and release the oppressed and to declare the year of the Lord’s favor. After this speech the town people ran Jesus to the edge of a cliff but he did not go over!



President Obama is doing what he feels right in his heart and conscience. This is the platform for his Presidency. Helping the poor should not make you a demon but should make you a giver of humanity.



Tea Partiers if you don’t like Mr. Obama’s direction then seek to challenge his opinions but do not kill his character and demoralize him to make your point. Social movements should be based on intelligence, strategies and resolutions. It should not be based on lies, miss information and scare tactics. It is fine to disagree; some of us might prefer coffee to tea! But don’t call me evil because I don’t want to drink your tea!