Odds for Change are 1:1.2 Billion

Associated PressBy Schylar Meadows

As white smoke billowed from the chimney at the Vatican, the throngs of people gathered outside in St. Peter’s Square began to cheer. Celebrating began around the world, especially in Latin America, as we learned Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires would be the next Pope. The first Latin American Pope in history, who is also a Jesuit, took the name Francis I, after St. Francis of Assisi. The patron saint believed in radical poverty, living with nothing to happily serve those with nothing. The founder of the Franciscan order, St. Francis lived as a man of peace within his self-imposed poverty. In this tradition, reports and testimonials of Francis I living a simple lifestyle and working among all people in Argentina spread like wild fire.

Click to read more ...

Any Given Sunday: Church oppression

anissatBy Angela Fitch

Does the Black church depend on the helpless, hopeless and faithless?  During a recent service I attended at an all-inclusive Black church, 23 new members joined when the church doors were opened (term used in some churches to describe the point in the service when members are asked to join the church). Some came down the aisle crying, while others walked down to sounds of thunderous applause alone or in pairs. They all took the oath to except Jesus as their savior and promised to stay involved in that church in order to fill their destiny. This scene repeats itself every Sunday morning across the country.

Click to read more ...

American Muslims: The new niggers

By Richard Montgomery

The idea that we live in a post-racial society in America has no credibility, however there are some within the African American community who not only believe this idea is credible, but also believe they have license to turn the ugly finger of discrimination towards others. Soledad O’Brien of CNN recently aired a segment called “Unwelcome: Muslims Next Door.” The focus of this segment was to document the discrimination being expressed towards American Muslims in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. More specifically, the Muslim community in Murfreesboro is in the process of building a 53,000-foot Islamic center, which houses a school, a mosque, and a recreation center. The current mosque, which has been in the community for years, has become too small for the number of American Muslims who worship there, but the townspeople have staunchly protested the plan for the mosque’s expansion.

Click to read more ...

When keeping the faith goes too far

By Charisse N. Montgomery

Faith is often the power that propels us forward and allows us to put aside our fears to accomplish our goals, but is there a point when faith actually holds us back? I’ve seen evidence that faith can and does sometimes prevent us from being our best.

Click to read more ...

Open Letter to Luther Campbell: Build the NY Mosque

By Richard Montgomery

I have toiled with whether to write this letter because of my great respect for your influence in the history of hip hop and your advocacy for free speech. However, when it comes to taking sides on the cultural issues that have arisen during the post-Obama age, I am boggled by the logic you used on the issue of the New York mosque to be built near Ground Zero. As a public figure, you have a responsibility to speak cautiously, accurately, and thoughtfully. Yet your commentary demonstrated a reckless and equally dangerous approach to weighing in on this issue, and since the project has a 2011 plan to move forward, I feel compelled to bring this issue forward before you weigh in again.

Click to read more ...