by Clarence E. Stowers | Apr 10, 2008 | Communication, Current Affairs, Empowerment, Race
In the black community in America,
there is a severe disconnection among those of different classes.
Many upper and middle-class blacks feel
as if they can look down on, talk down to, and overlook black people
who are considered lower class. Unfortunately, I’ve witnessed black
people who are college-educated, living in nice homes, driving fancy
cars or earning a high salaries, looking down on blacks who are less
fortunate. Lawrence Otis Graham even wrote a book explaining why
upper-class blacks want nothing to do with other blacks. They only
want to deal with “Their Kind of People.”
Why is it that
some blacks who have "moved on up," by working hard and
achieving the American dream feel they can distance themselves and
underestimate poor black people? Is it because they feel they have
nothing in common with lower class black people? Is it because they
feel they are more accepted among white people?
Perhaps it is
because lower class blacks get blamed for many of the problems the
black community allegedly has, such as speaking poor English; having
babies outside of wedlock; high dropout rates; using and selling
drugs; and filling up the jail cells.
Is it because they
feel like they are more accepted among white people? Or are they
just outright silly, feeling as if they have arrived?
The last
time I checked I thought most of the black people in America were
descendants of slaves. With that being the case, we all come from
nothing. They make brainless statements like low class blacks are
not good enough to associate or be seen with. They even have a
website devoted to “stuff educated black people like.”
Some
are so confused. They go as far as talking bad about them in front
of whites. They are not willing to try and take the time out to help
or share information that will help the lower class blacks get to
their level. They don’t attend black schools, and they move away
from predominantly black neighborhoods.
That is not to say
that all black neighborhoods have lower class black people living in
them, but a lot of blacks have forgotten who they are and where they
come from.
Black people are not in any position to look down
on one another. We as black people haven’t risen to our full
potential. Even rich black people are not globally in control of as
much as they could. They are rich, but they have to be careful what
they do or say because if they make the wrong move all of their money
can be taken away in the blink of an eye. High and middle-class
black people who are walking around feeling as if they are in a
position to look down on others need to wake up and smell the coffee.
In my opinion, the divide is created by
the monopoly capitalist economic system and social structure which
gives rise to and reinforces class divisions within the society.
Hence, classism is the effect, not the cause. Trust me, at the end
of the day, we are all the same.
by Clarence E. Stowers | Apr 8, 2008 | Current Affairs, Empowerment, Politics
Most black Americans have been Democrats for at least the forty-one years that I’ve been alive. What have the Democrats done for us in all that time? We have the lowest average income of any large racial group in the nation. We’re incarcerated at an alarmingly high rate. We are still segregated and profiled, and have a very low representation at the top echelons of the Democratic Party. We are the stalwarts, the bulwark, the Old Faithful of the Democrats, and yet they have not made our issues a high priority in a very long time. Why should we be second-class members in the most important political activities of our lives? Why shouldn’t the party we belong to think that our problems are the most important in this land?
I’m not saying that we should become Republicans. The Republicans don’t care about us either. But at least they don’t pretend to be on our side. And you have to admit that, of late, the Bush Administration has put black faces into high-profile jobs that carry clout on the international playing field. I don’t have to like Colin Powell or Condoleezza Rice to appreciate that once a black person has been put into a position of power, the second time around is much, much easier.
We are a racial minority in a country where racism is a fact of life, a country that was founded on economic and imperialist racism. Taking this into account and adding it to the fact that our issues are regularly put on a back burner, I believe that it is not out of order to send out a call for the formation of an African-American interest group, or maybe a political unit, that would bring our issues, and others, to the forefront of American political discourse.
If we had our own political voting bloc that paid attention to issues that reflect our needs in domestic and international affairs, things would change for us. The first thing is that many more of us would be likely to vote. Imagine the interest young people would have if they felt we were organizing based on our own interests: They could work for a candidate who represented their issues; they could run for office themselves.
Even though the party would be based on the racial identity that has been shoved down our throats since the first days we came here in chains, we wouldn’t work only for ourselves. We’d argue about medical care and Social Security and the good jobs that are disappearing from this nation like fleas off a dead dog’s back.
If we took the vote into our own hands, we wouldn’t have to ask the Democrats for their support–we could demand it. George W. Bush, or whoever takes his place, will send for our representatives to come to his home to discuss his plans. This is because they have not yet figured out how to dispose of the vote in the American political system.
Imagine it. We could actually democratize America by taking power away from the two-party system and handing it over to the people. Other special parties would arise splintering off from the centrist attendants of the rich once we show them the way.
What I’m talking about here is the beginning of an American Evolution, a movement that will create a series of political interest groups that will transform our two-party system into a kind of virtual parliament. We could construct smaller political groups based on specific interests. There could be Black Party Congress members from Chicago, Watts, Harlem, the Motor City and a dozen other inner-city bastions. All we have to do is have a fair representation in the House of Representatives to have an extraordinary impact on the wheels of government.
NOW YOU SEE WHY I DON’T OFTEN SHARE MY VIEWS – TOO RADICAL…
by Clarence E. Stowers | Apr 4, 2008 | Christian, Christianity, Church Issues, Communication, Current Affairs, Empowerment, Family, Race, Religion, Vision, Worship
Next week I’m starting a new blog series entitled: "Ten Challenges Facing African Americans & What You Can Do." Trust me, I will hold no punches and exercise my 1st Amendment right.
Will I offend some, YES…
Will I spark debate…YES
Will you disagree…MAYBE
Will you engage…I HOPE SO
Will I cuss…STAY TUNED 😀
Will you comment…I PRAY THAT YOU DO
Stay tuned…Spread the word…Can’t wait till Monday…
by Clarence E. Stowers | Mar 31, 2008 | Current Affairs, Empowerment, Leadership, Vision
Questions I Ponder Daily…
#1 – How can I serve God with all my heart, mind, and soul…
#2 – How can I be a better husband…
#3 – How can I be a better father…
#4 – Is there anything in my life that I need to stop doing…
#5 – Is there anything in my life that I should start doing…
(By the way…the answer to #5 is YES…but in order for it to happen I REALLY need to wrestle with question #4!)
#6 – Will the majority of our members ever move from membership to discipleship…
#7 – How can I be more efficient in the way I use my time…
#8 – Why, out of all the people on this planet, is God allowing me to be a part of what He is doing…
#9 – Will I ever rejoin our denomination’s convention…
#10 – Will Mars Hill ever become a church with multiple locations…
So, what about you – what’s on your mind?
by Clarence E. Stowers | Mar 28, 2008 | Empowerment
After a long day at the office, sometimes I sit back and watch TV. Recently, I found myself channel-surfing for about 15 minutes. I was amazed at how many of the ads were about getting in shape. Here are some of the exact phrases I heard:
"Six-second abs."
"Easy shaper."
"Incredible — a miracle!"
"It feels terrific! Let us show you how easy it is!"
"Quickly turn your flabby abs into that sexy six-pack!"
Where did we ever get the crazy idea that getting in shape is supposed to be quick and easy? Why do we think that there will be almost no cost? Why are we surprised when working out turns out to be arduous and healthy foods don’t really taste that good?
HERE’S THE PROBLEM: WE OFTEN CONFUSE THE WORDS "SIMPLE" AND "EASY"
The changes I help people make are generally very simple. However, they are never easy. Just as with diet and exercise, changing behavior involves hard work. It takes time.
Look in the mirror. Not just at how you look but who you are. If you want to be a better leader, a better professional, or just a better person — don’t kid yourself. To achieve meaningful goals, you’ll have to pay the price. There’s no product, no diet, no exercise program, and (I hate to admit it) no pastor who can make you better. Only you can do it. If your source of motivation doesn’t come from inside, you won’t stick with it. This may not be infomercial material, but it’s great advice for any real achievement.
by Clarence E. Stowers | Mar 25, 2008 | Empowerment
As a pastor, my mission is to help people achieve positive change in behavior: for themselves, their family, and their teams. Research shows that successful people have a strong need for self-determination. Simply put, this means, “I am doing, what I am doing because I choose to, not “I am doing what I am doing because I have to.”
People who are doing what they choose to do are committed professionals. They proactively apply their talents to make a greater contribution. People who are doing what they have to do are compliant employees. They are putting in time for money.
How much of our lives have been wasted in trying to change the behavior of people who have no interest in changing? What is our return on this investment?
WARNING – THIS IS A CONTROVERSIAL STATEMENT…READ ON AT YOUR OWN RISK
In my work as pastor, I finally decided to only work with people who care and who are willing to try. You should do the same thing. It is hard to make people change what they don’t choose to change.
Have you ever tried to change the behavior of someone who had absolutely no interest in changing? Have you ever tried to change the behavior of a spouse, partner or significant other who had no interest in changing?
How much luck did you have there? After a few days (or maybe even a few minutes) you can tell if the person whom you are trying to coach is willing to try. If they are willing to try, do whatever you can to help them. If they are not willing to try, either “live with it” (let it go) or find someone else to do the job (let him or her go).
Think of it this way: The time we waste on the people who don’t care is time that is stolen from the people who do care. My guess is that you have little time to waste. You are as busy today as you have ever been in your life.
So, here’s a tip I won’t even charge you for:
Only invest your time where you are going to get a return on your investment. Don’t waste your time on a road to nowhere.
Experience has taught me that successful people are committed. Normally this sense of commitment leads to even more success. Committed people have a drive that comes from the inside, not from the outside. They don’t give up when times are tough. They try even harder.
