Remember
faith
My Entire Education Has Been Ruse
I feel this every time I run into a major moment in history about people of African descent. As I watched Mangrove, part of the Small Axe on Netflix I felt my history teachers had bamboozled me. It is one of a collection of films by Steve McQueen originally on BBC One.
This movie tells the story of a West Indian community in the Notting Hill section of London in the 1970s. Nine members of the community were arrested after their peaceful demonstration turned violent. They faced prison sentences in a system that didn’t want to see them as equals. It reminded me of the Chicago Seven, but apparently Americans were not the only ones stuck on stupid.
I was drawn to the story, but the telling of it put me off sometime. It tended to linger over elements too long. If I notice a scene is too long, it is way too long. I tried to resist the urge to fast forward (which is why I don’t go to theaters anymore.) Good stories can tell themselves, we artist just need to get out the way.
This movie stars Letitia Wright from Black Panther, Shaun Parkes from Lost in Space and Malachi Kirby from Roots. Wright is Althea Jones, a strong female urging the community to organize, while Parkes is Frank Crichlow, the owner of the Mangrove restaurant which takes the brunt of the harassment. Kirby’s character, Darcy’s Howe, is a bit vague to me until the end when he absolutely nails it in his closing argument.
McQueen did very interesting things with sound that helped me relate to the West Indian community in his film. It also added depth to the story for me because I had never imagined the 1970s in that way. Although the story didn’t need any help. There were difficult moments when oppression impacts the community. I found myself wanting to fight with them.
The real folks who fought this fight battle, did so for a while. This movie shows one battle, in a much longer war. Which brings me back to my history teachers. What I hate most about not knowing this struggle is that my brothers and sisters across the pond didn’t have the support they needed to stay in the fight. I mean they stayed in the fight, but did so alone.
It is much easier to stay in the fight if you know you have been seen. If you know others are in this fight with you, even if it is just spiritually. But I love that we tell these stories now and hope others find the courage to continue the march for justice. I hope you find encouragement here. I did.
God’s Attributes
He is an Everlasting Father. He chose the role of father so that we would be his children. He has promised to guard and guide us into eternity.
Book of the Month
An African American woman moved home to take care of her dying mother giving up the opportunity to experience a world beyond segregation. Zoraida Hughes Williams finds that some things have changed about her hometown of Fort Worth, Texas while some have stayed the same, like Hell’s Half Acre, an area where saloons, prostitution and gambling runs wild. Like most of the residents, she wants to keep her head down and stay away from trouble, but it comes in the unlikely form of an Anglo Baptist preacher. He messes up everything and almost gets them killed.
Available on Amazon.com
or Books2read.com which include Barnes & Noble, Apple, Indigo and more
Happy Hanukkah
God’s Attributes
He is a Wonderful Counselor. I mean think about it. He knows everything about you because He created you. Isaiah 9:6 tells us He is a wonderful counselor.
God’s Attributes
Christians are preparing to celebrate God coming to earth during the month of December. This month we will focus on His attributes. Isaiah 9:6 tells us He is a mighty God. He is a powerful God, someone with strength. Remember that this week as you encounter problems. God is mighty.
Guard Your Hearts
The Bible teaches us that from our hearts everything about our life flows from it. What we love and believe in our hearts determines how we see the world around us.
We need to be careful about the things we allow to influence our hearts. We need to guard it.
Book of the Month
How To Raise God Wise Kids In A Satan Rich World
In a world that can seem hopeless, kids need a reason to hope. In addition to teaching our children how to get into college, play sports and chase the American Dream, there is something greater to be learned. He created the universe with stars and planets, yet the desire of His heart was to reconcile with people whom He loved. In this devotional, the author shares ideas of how to help your children have a personal relationship with God. Through scripture, art and stories, she shared the opportunities she had to teach her own child to get to know God.
Available on Amazon or Books2Read.com
Sample Chapter
Pick Your Village
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Hebrews 10:24-25
Society brags about self-made men who climb to the top. It leads you to believe that they did it by themselves. It reinforces the desire to be independent and not ask for help. People who need help are often thought of as weak.
As a single parent this was one of the easiest lessons. I knew I couldn’t raise a child on my own. I knew I was going to need help. God brought people into my life who would shape my daughter’s life. He does this for everyone because He believes in community. He understands the importance of this.
I can’t remember all of the names or all of the deeds, but I remember a kindergarten teacher who took my daughter home after school because I couldn’t get off work in time. I remember a group of friends who fixed up the house when we had no other means.
There have literally been hundreds people in our lives over the years. The beautiful thing was watching which people stick. Watching my daughter grow into a beautiful young woman with pieces of each person who poured into her life like a mosaic.
Not every person has been a good influence. However, I used those as teaching moments to say that not every person who comes into your life is there for your good. God will use it for good, but those people won’t.
Parents allow the person or persons God appoints to step in when you are just too tired. He knows we need an extra hand. He will send heroes to help guide their hearts because He has an interest in how the children turn out.
You will pick some, God will pick some. Don’t sweat it, just pray.
Pray that the Lord will give you people who will pray over your child, and always direct them towards God. He is a friend.
Pick Your Village
The people who surround your life will determine what type of life you have. They will decide if your life is full of joy or focused on what you don’t have. So pick your village carefully.
When I say village I mean your friends, family members you hang with, where you work and what you do. All of this determines your quality of life.
I have great family and friends because of how we chose to have a relationship. We set healthy boundaries. This doesn’t mean our lives are perfect. It just means we have our own definition of good.
UPP Creative Media 