On July 3, 2020, Pastor John Onwuchekwa surprised many by telling his followers that his church, Cornerstone Church in Atlanta, had made the decision to leave the Southern Baptist Church denomination. Jemar and Tyler sit down with Pastor John to ask all the questions: What led to this decision? Why did it take so long? […]
Jesus says our words will either “justify” us or “condemn” us in the Day of judgment.
“Say It Loud – I’m Black and I’m Proud” (1969) was an anthem of Black joy as we continued the struggle of working to affirm Black dignity in the ‘60s. On the surface, the sentiment behind these celebratory words seems at odds with the New Testament’s language of self-denial and co-crucifixion with Christ. Jesus challenges […]
Two years ago, Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo declared 2019 the “Year of Return.” Akufo-Addo welcomed African-Diasporans back to the motherland for self-discovery and renewal while being presented with economic opportunities to invest in Ghana, including options for dual citizenship. The Ghanaian president’s “Year of Return” coincided with the 400th anniversary of when the Transatlantic Slave […]
Read Part 1 and Part 2 here! Paul vs Jesus? Another case Benbow makes is that the Apostle Paul should be canceled because he approved the killing of Christians. She argues that his words are in contradiction with Jesus and should be valued less since Paul was once a “murderer of Christians.” She suggests Paul, […]
We cannot fix a problem we refuse to properly acknowledge.
Read Part 1 here! Experience vs. Exegesis Both Candice Benbow and Dr. Howard John Wesley express value for the Bible, but challenge the idea of its reliability and therefore its authority. Benbow argues that experience should be prioritized over the Bible. Wesley also places experience as criteria that can be placed above the Scripture […]
The global Coronavirus pandemic has brought out the best of many image-bearers. Nations are sharing advice, best practices, and resources with each other. Healthcare professionals daily risk their lives on the frontlines as they work around the clock to protect public health. Multiple leaders in government are working hard to inform their residents and citizens […]
As I’ve committed myself to justice, I’ve learned that I cannot just fight for the livelihood of my people, but also for the world we inhabit.
My first impression of Christianity was that the God it spoke of said “white is right” and “black is bad.” Before I was born, my parents had left their Catholic and Baptist traditions to follow Minister Elijah Muhammad who started the Nation of Islam (hence the origin of my Arabic name). I understood early on […]
Read Part 1 here! White Sight and Black Lives Ellison’s image of the glass eye reminds us that the societal dehumanization of Black people is not the result of a fault in us. The fault resides in the gaze of persons and institutions that blend into “one single white figure.” The locus of moral […]
The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! — Matthew 6:22-23 It is a great […]
This is a big one, y’all! Jemar and Tyler had the privilege of recording this podcast during our LIVE “Free To Be” Juneteenth Event. Our guest is the incomparable Rev. Dr. John Faison, Sr. He is no stranger to The Witness family. In fact, he recently was one of our Keynote speakers at our First […]
The issue of ending racism is much more complex than simply hugging a police officer or “hugging the hate away.” The issue is not a ‘lack of love’ from this Black person to a police officer. The issue is a lack of justice. How can I hug someone (ultimately an institution) who is withholding justice […]
On May 6, 2020, public theologian Ekemini Uwan tweeted: “No, I will not watch the video of #AhmaudArbery’s lynching. Don’t even ask me to. It’s dehumanizing. Black death is not for public consumption.” But on May 22, 2020, another video of Black death began circulating, this time the murder of George Floyd at the hands […]
On May 30th, after a raw and real-time of sharing pain, strategy, and hope for change, our president, Jemar Tisby, closed out our special live event time with these words. Feel free to share them with others or pray them yourself. Thank you to Dr. Luke Stamps for transcribing the words. — Lord, Psalm 13 […]
There’s something terribly wrong with this country’s justice system if we have to celebrate the arrest of those who have committed horrific acts of evil or violence against Black and African people. That was the national response yesterday (May 7, 2020) when Glynn County Police Officers arrested the two white supremacists who slaughtered jogger Ahmaud […]
“Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.” -Ancient Proverb “But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.” -Matt. 5:39 How do we reconcile these two statements? On one hand, we have what appears to be sound wisdom: don’t let someone cause you […]
Whenever my environment had failed to support or nourish me, I had clutched at books… ― Richard Wright “Jason Reynolds is on a mission.” This is how the New York Times recently described Reynolds’ work as the writer sought to give voice to the lives of young Black people. In their stories, there is […]
This article was first published on the author’s personal page and has been reposted here with permission. For the original piece and more great content, click here. — We are living in scary times. Unless you’ve been under a rock, like Jared Leto, then you know we are in the midst of a global pandemic. […]
