Seeing the writing on the wall for the “legal institution” of Slavery well before the Civil War, Southern Elites were scrambling to reconfigure their business models in order to secure access to that precious commodity, their niggers. The mythical & infamous Willie Lynch was called in to help the Planter class plan for emancipation. How can they keep control over their slaves, even once gradualism was exhausted and the inevitable freedom at long last had come?

In the letter credited to him, Lynch actually frowns upon hangings as a “waste of valuable stock.” According to him:

I am not here to enumerate your problems, I am here to introduce you to a method of solving them. In my bag here, I have a fool proof method for controlling your slaves. I guarantee every one of you that, if installed correctly, it will control the slaves for at least three hundred years.

So what we know as “lynching” is really frowned upon by the Planter class. The true lynching was to sow disunity such that we would never be able to overcome the systemic and cultural obstacles placed in our – that our designed to negatively impact us on the basis of the group to which we belong.

And we are still swinging from that metaphorical tree. #StrangeFruit

We have nailed ourselves to that tree, so that we might find a way to survive in this white man’s world. But is that freedom? #WhatsFree

What is freedom? What is this freedom that was promised us? What is that freedom that will at long last bring us down from the lynching tree, so that we might rest and experience new life?

We discuss that in this episode of Blacks with Power, and I want to invite you to this consideration. Coming off the Juneteenth release of my new book, Becoming a People: Re-Membering Blackness in the imago Dei, there were a few things I wanted to connect with Pr. Jimmie on and share with you. I think you’ll really be edified by the convo. And I believe it should compel you to grab a copy of my book.

Notes:

1. The beautiful piece of art used in the cover image is by Nebiyu Assefa. See more of his art via the link.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIdF5jN-Y2o&sub_confirmation=1

So, I wasn’t going to record an episode…I mean, I wanted to. But I didn’t want to…

The reality that police are now shooting us in the back of the head and folk are finding ways to rationalize and justify that. Even those who are supposedly supporting the mattering of Black life, want to see the tape of Andrew Brown Jr’s execution as if they believe there could be something on the tape that gives them comfort that a bullet to the back of the head was warranted…

I was compelled to record a show. But, I also didn’t assert that with Pr. Jimmie. So, we didn’t set up in my normal software for recording. So…this will be an Old Skool throw back type show…

It will be just audio.

Yet, we were on fire! I was in a space that I hope I won’t be in next week. Yet, I give thanks for what the Spirit placed in our midsts and so I am releasing this as a traditional audio only podcast.

Because we must consider: what is the line that cannot be crossed? What is the deal breaker for this experiment in integration? Do we have a deal breaker? Or have we simply resigned ourselves…reconciled ourselves to taking this ass-whopping until White folk stumble upon a higher level of civility and humanity than which they are presently capable?

We have to have some positions that protect and assert our dignity as human beings. So, in this conversation I present some of those foundational positions we must have and why we must have them if we the Black People are to become anything more than a victim of the American Experiment.

There are some foundational positions we must hold as a people, and we must be willing to disengage from anything that violates our dignity. So, in a sense: this might be the last podcast, because I don’t know what point it serves to have this conversation if you all are still ok with remaining a subjugated people.

But if you hear this and are moved to protect and assert your dignity, let us know in the comments and we can continue on this journey together!

We have heard the quote, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over-and-over again, while expecting different results.” But we seem to be stuck on this trajectory…

How do we make it stop?!

This conundrum has become a reality for Fr. Jabriel and me. Communally, we see this conundrum of insanity illustrated in how we view ourselves. There are many of us who are not willing to put in the work to explore and evolve who we are and how we view ourselves. Believe it or not, the personal view of ourselves distort our view toward others. This is the center of this conundrum. 

Are we willing to start and continue the work of self-exploration and evolution? Are we willing to continue in this conundrum of insanity?

This is our exploration on this episode of Blacks With Power. After viewing this episode, share your thoughts and comments. How much deeper do you think we need to go in this conversation? What’s the single greatest question you have in response?

Your comments will shape the how we approach this moving forward…so, thank you!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cef40lX9Qs&sub_confirmation=1

The old saying goes, “Laughter is good for the soul.” But it’s also said that, “You have to laugh to keep from crying.”

These sayings expressed the way in which we either find joy through laughter or cope through laughter. And this is the deeper search, because we all need to laugh…

We all have moments when we “need to laugh.” Or maybe not…maybe we’re the only ones…
Do you have moments when you just need a good laugh? As you see and endure the Black Experience, do you not experience times where you “just have to laugh?”

But how are we laughing?

Just to cope? Or to enter into the Joy of our True and Only Master?

This is our exploration on this episode of Blacks With Power. After viewing this episode, share your thoughts and comments. How do you engage laughter? Do you find joy through laughter? Do you find yourself coping with laughter? Do you ignore those who simply cannot laugh? We invite you to watch and share.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZ3vEhU_wPU&sub_confirmation=1

The oldest and the most BELOVED institution in the Black community is the Black Church. Tuesday, February 16, 2021, PBS aired a documentary called “The Black Church.” 

One personal take-away of this documentary is that “white acceptance is something that Black people long for.” These words are from my personal tweet, @WWJimmieDo. Fr. Jabriel, @Jah_Bread, responded, “There’s a topic…lol.” 

Any good documentary should provoke an honest conversation. White acceptance is something that is longed for in our BELOVED Black Church. Because of this, we celebrate our tradition while negating the trail that we are blazing for the next generation to come.

What has the Black Church become? Is the Black Church moving our beloved community forward? Or, are we just simply celebrating the traditional heritage of the Black Church? 

This is our exploration on this episode of Blacks With Power. After viewing this episode, share your thoughts and comments. What are your thoughts when it comes to the heritage of the Black Church? We invite you to watch and share.

To ensure a deeper understanding of the Black Church, we offer the following resources:

• Black Church and Black Radicalism by Gayraud S. Wilmore
• The Negro Church in America / The Black Church Since Frazier by E. Franklin Frazier and C. Eric Lincoln
• David Walker’s Appeal by David Walker

Some additional sources to consider:

• The Black Church in the African American Experience by C. Eric Lincoln and Lawrence H. Mamiya
• The Talking Book: African Americans and The Bible by Allen Dwight Callahan
• Slave Religion by Albert J. Raboteau 
• The Black Church: Relevant or Irrelevant in the 21st Century? by Reginald F. Davis

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1EnpFLHzbk&sub_confirmation=1

Zora Neale Hurston penned, “All your skin folk ain’t your kinfolk.” There are “skin folk” who continue to project whiteness in families, churches, and other institutions that is part of our community. The projection of whiteness dismembers and distorts the memory, vision and mission of the beloved community. 

As we journey through Black History Month, we are constantly reminded of the terror of White Supremacy. From the period of Reconstruction to the Insurrection at the Capital Building, whiteness (White Supremacy) remains at the cultural center of our country, community, and companions (those who consider themselves kinfolk). 

What does it mean for us to remember, return, and reconnect to our being as the beloved community? How do we embark on this journey of reclaiming ourselves and our community?

This is our exploration on this episode of Blacks With Power. We are joined by Rev. Tyree Anderson, D.Min. He is the Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church of Ensley, located in Birmingham, Alabama. He also hosts The Cutting Edge Clergy Podcast. After viewing this episode, share your thoughts and comments. What resonates with you as it pertains to reimagining ourselves free from the projection of whiteness?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yF7BxIXLTrE&sub_confirmation=1

What is Black History Month?

What is its purpose? What should be its purpose? What is the best use of Black History, in these times?

What are we remembering? What does it mean to “re-member?”

As we enter Black History Month, in the wake of White Insurrection, it is time to reconsider our approach to our story and its usage. It might not be the best use of Black History as a means to “enrich American History.”

Maybe it’s better to focus Black History on enriching the devalued and dismembered Black American? Better to use Black History for enriching the devalued and dismembered African people of the world…

This is our exploration in this episode of Blacks with Power. After checking it out, what do you think? What needs to be remembered? Where should we be placing the emphasis of remembering and who should be most invested in this remembering?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRUXABW8dsQ&sub_confirmation=1

With all the talk of unity and unifying America in the Post-Trump Era, the real question is this:

What do you mean by unity?

What definition of self are you using to determine what is meant by unity? What version of self are you presenting for unification with White America?

As a new Administration takes over and most folk prepare to go back to sleep, we wanted to explore these questions in this episode of Blacks with Power.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAUyMdtBq6c&feature=youtu.be&sub_confirmation=1

Last week…as we were recording last week’s episode of Blacks with Power, vitriolic elements of White Power took the Capital by storm, resulting in five death, including a member of Law Enforcement. They violated and betrayed the Rule of Law, with the support of the President, Members of Congress and other Federal and State elected officials.

Now, we are witnessing the aftermath. How will genteel White Power respond? What will the Rule of Law mean in this instance?

All of it remains to be seen. But, will Black people be watching? Will you be paying attention? And for what will you be paying attention? What will you be looking to see and what will you do with what you see?

That’s our discussion on this episode, and we’d love to hear your response to our thoughts & challenges in the comments below. Or tweet us: @jahbread & @wwjimmiedo.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6b4NLItTvKg&feature=youtu.be&sub_confirmation=1

It’s wild…

We recorded this hours BEFORE the mayhem that unfolded in DC on January 6, 2021. It wasn’t developed with this in mind. However, this was clearly in the Spirit that came upon us as we start this New Years journey as Blacks with Power.

The Ancients would say: “A charge to keep I have…A God to glorify. A never-dying soul to save and fit it for the sky…”

What is the role of the Black Church in these times?

If we are indeed American like everyone else… If we indeed have a value to America that needs be appreciated…

And if America is really & truly to “heal…”

What is the Holy Call of the Black Church? And how do we cultivate the faith that would ensure the Mattering of Black Lives, such that our full Black selves might have efficacy in the transformation in the America unto A More Perfect Union?

What is the faith we must have…what is the faith that is becoming of Beloved Community?

Those are some of our questions in this episode of Blacks with Power. We’d love to hear your response to what we’ve presented!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUSqkLu-0hs&sub_confirmation=1

We didn't plan on doing this episode, so I don't have a plan for a post. Yet, the Spirit spoke and we listened. So, we hope that you will too! It's rare that you'll see a white face on Blacks with Power. But, in this episode we're joined by my brother Fr. Cayce - with whom I host Racial Heresy (my podcast on Racial Reconciliation). Pr. Jimmie knows Fr. Cayce too...they are in the same cohort at the School of Theology at Virginia Union. So, there was a lot of laughter and irreverent discussion about race and dynamics across the color line, in this work of racial reconciliation. It's our gift to y'all. Inviting y'all into a discussion that neither you, nor our white audience for Racial Heresy get to see. Please let us know what you think! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jFZtGeig4E&feature=youtu.be&sub_confirmation=1