Racism Still Alive We just been concealing it....

On Nov. 4th, 2008, Barack Hussein Obama was elected the 44th President of the United States of America. A Black Man was elected President in a nation that still lives with the wounds and memory of slavery. While this is a historic moment in our nation's history, we must realize that the work put in to elect Barack Obama as President must not end! There are still battles to be fought, still wrongs to right. We must not think for one single moment that because he is elected President, all of the problems of the world will magically disappear. That is not the case. We must not think for one single moment that because he is elected President, the world is a much better place. That is not the case. Most importantly, we must not fall into the trap of thinking, for ONE SINGLE MOMENT, that because is elected President, racism does not exist. THAT IS NOT THE CASE!!

I am a very proud 2008 graduate of Colgate University. I will hold, forever, that it is one of the best institutions of higher education in America. However, occurrences at Colgate a week ago, let us all know that Racism is still alive. Last week, a student found disgustingly racist remarks in a bathroom in Colgate's Alumni Hall. When I first heard that someone wrote a racist remark, I was upset, but I (like most people) assumed that the person wrote "nigger" and continued on their racist way. However, I received pictures last night of what exactly was written. Needless to say, I was heartbroken. After reading what was written and carved into the bathroom, there had to be more than one person involved. For them to have the time to write "No Nigger will ever rule the White House", "Lynch them all", "They were born to be slaves and serve white people bout time for them to start doing it again", and "South will rise again", indicates that they had plenty of time to think and write and reflect (although they did not proofread).

As a graduate of Colgate University, I am outraged. As a Black Man, I am outraged. As a former leader at Colgate, I am outraged. I am not the only one who shares in this outrage. There are a number of students, alumni, faculty, and staff who are outraged. While that outrage is important and definitely well-founded, outrage is an emotion. What I'm getting at here is a very simple question: where is the action? Colgate is a very good institution, however, the students (and the university as a whole), are extremely sheltered. So when something like this occurs and there needs to be a response on the part of the students, the first inclination is to ask for permission or get approval to respond.

Colgate as an institution has a pretty clear history of what happens when something of this magnitude occurs. In 1969, members of the Association for Black Collegians held a sit-demanding an cultural living center. From their demands, both the HRC and ALANA cultural center were created. In 2001, when Colgate professor Barry Shain (who is still a member of the faculty) made incendiary remarks in an email to a black female student, that black students took easier courses, and that liberal-minded professors were easier on black students, there were meetings and then there were sit-ins.

So what is the major difference between those events and the events of last week? ACTION! I commend the current Colgate students for what they have done thus far. It's easy for me as an Alumni to sit here and say what I would have done if I were there, but until thrust into that situation there's no telling. And while, I know that we as Alumni support you all, I'm hesitant to make this an Alumni event of sorts. I say that in order to convey to current students that we as Alumni cannot overtake your experience. You are at Colgate right now. You are the future of that institution and of this country. And you do not need permission from anyone (administration or alumni) to express your feelings in whatever way you see fit!

Let me repeat that: YOU DO NOT NEED PERMISSION FROM ANYONE (ADMINISTRATION OR ALUMNI) TO EXPRESS YOUR FEELINGS!!!!

Some may ask, well, what are your demands from these protests? And while you may very well come up with demands later on or have them now, the reasoning is very simple: Some people got together and decided that writing racist remarks in a bathroom was a good idea and disrupted my day, education, life, so I want them to be just as disrupted by my presence despite their actions. That's what protest is about. Its not about appeasement, its about discomfort. And from that discomfort, reaching a place of coexistence.

Considering where we have come from in our nation's history, I think most major pundits are erroneously correct when they say that as a result of Barack Obama's selection, "we have come full circle". Instead of doing a 180 and having some change, we are back, in many ways, to where we started. The only way to effect change is to continue fighting. As the fight song indicates, Fight fight fight for Dear Old Colgate. But most importantly, FIGHT FOR YOURSELF!!

Musings on Change and Christianity

You got to make that change man
Cuz they don't come too often
And when they do come
You gotta be smart enough to know when to change
Like Sam Cooke say change gon' come nephew
And you better believe that
-Snoop Dogg in John Legend's "I Can Change"

I know that it has been a while since I last blogged, but as many of you know I'm making the move down to Atlanta tomorrow (CRAZY!!) . While I've been packing my things and reminiscing about my time at Colgate, I have continuously thought about the concept and idea of change. While I've been thinking about change, the quote by Snoop Dogg popped into my head. I never thought I'd be quoting Snoop in my blog but you never know when the quote fits. With that said, undoubtedly, the biggest change and challenge I am going to experience. First off, I'm moving to Atlanta. While I am definitely excited, I have been in upstate New York, for four year. I have been in the Northeast and exposed to the liberal ideologies which pretty much have had a huge impact on my thinking. So, going to the stereotypically conservative South is a major change that I will have to get used to. While the move is huge, I think the education that I am going for is probably going to be the most challenging part of this whole thing, so the remainder of this blog post will be dedicated to my thoughts on that and the Change I think necessary both within myself and in my prospective field. With change, though, you have two options, get run over or adapt. So like Snoop says, I'm gonna be smart enough to adapt.

Most of you know I'm going for my Masters of Divinity at Candler which is a great school. There are leading scholars that will definitely provide with the in-depth education necessary to be a leading scholar in the field of religion. But the decision to attend Candler does not come without some reservations. My biggest concern, as I have told Gabby numerous times, is that I am far too liberal for the degree I am pursuing. I have very liberal ideas about religion and Christianity and I believe they may conflict with the thoughts of many of my classmates (if you know me, you know what I'm talking about).

Outside of my liberal ideologies, I also believe that there may be some major contention between myself and so-called Evangelicals. In fact, I find myself to be totally antithetical to Evangelical ideas. In many ways, they scare me. If you've ever seen Jesus Camp , then you can understand part of what I mean. I have somewhat of a problem with a political Evangelical lobby as I believe that it directly violates the separation of church and state, as well as perpetuate a staggering dependence on Christian privilege that America has developed.

Therefore, so I don't sound like someone who complains all the time without offering a solution, I will attempt to explain some of my thoughts. First off, I feel that Christianity is offered as an option to any and everyone, but I don't feel that I have to approach people and tell them that they can be saved today. Since I use a lot of sports analogies, I'll use one here to further explain. When you're on a team, there are two types of leaders. There are the leaders who are always yelling and telling you what to do and essentially marginalize members of the team. When that happens the team gets divided and nobody accomplishes anything. On the other hand, there are leaders who lead by example. People who do everything right and people approach that person and they pull a team and country together. I imagine myself as one of the latter type of Christian leaders. So I would rather have someone approach me and ask me about my faith than to go and proclaim it to someone who may have an abject opinion of it after talking to me.

Secondly, I feel that Christianity's biggest message should be that of love for fellow humans. I feel that Christianity has a pretty bad habit of judging many different people who don't fit the traditional mold. In my life, I have met some very interesting people who I might not have met if I had prejudged them. So in my opinion love for fellow man should be a guiding principle for Christians.

Finally, my major point of contention is my personal belief that sin is equal. I feel like sometimes there are people who say that homosexuals are such a bad thing, but are cheating on their wives. People who condemn someone as a sinner and ignore there own sins. I feel that if people would consider themselves sinners as well, this world would be a little more compassionate and a little more understanding.

Well, as many of you can see, my idea of Christianity is a little more progressive than most. We'll see how it plays out once I get down there. But since I like feedback. I know many of you have an opinion on religion and Christianity and I want to hear your perspectives. So, thoughts?


P.S--Some people might find the picture above offensive. I'm sorry if it does. But I feel like, If you can't laugh at yourself a little, then you are missing out on life.