“I can’t breathe…I can’t breathe” Those were his last words and the world saw them spill from his lips as he exhaled his final breath. George Floyd was crying out for his mother. And he was murdered by white supremacy. Before him was Breonna Taylor, and before her, Ahmaud Arbery. India Beaty. Aiyana Stanley-Jones. Janisha […]
Remember to retreat and care for yourself more than you battle and defend yourself.
Today’s episode is fire. Tyler Burns has the honor of interviewing powerhouse theologian and author, Dr. Willie Jennings. This episode is filled with powerful insights that will strike uncomfortably close to home. For the uninitiated, Dr. Willie Jennings is an Associate Professor of Systematic Theology and Africana Studies at Yale Divinity School. Writing in the […]
Selected Important Works of Early African Christian Literature in the First 600 Years of Christianity The Christian religion was born in the Roman Empire and consequently spread under its influence and with its support. Christianity moved rapidly from Palestine, Asia, Africa, and then Europe, in that sequential order. The Continent of Africa was a significant […]
The truth is on November 4th, we all will wake up with a different perspective of our society.
How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? (Psalm 13:1) 194 days and counting! That’s how long it has been since the Louisville Metro Police Department violently stormed into the apartment of Breonna Taylor, in the middle of the night, and recklessly fired a […]
Recently, the Barna Research Group released a study about “How the summer of 2020 changed perceptions of racial justice-and what it means for Christian leaders.” The discovery revealed what many Black Christians already knew: In the area of racial justice, “progress” is elusive. Jemar and Tyler are back this week to talk about their frustrations […]
We lay aside and strip off every weight of sin that so easily ensnares us—even the ones that look pious and saintly.
My wife and I were on the edge. The last time I wrote about our relationship for The Witness, I was blissfully unaware of how close I was to dismantling our marriage. My sin is my sin and I blame nobody else for it but me. But with the provision of hindsight, I now see […]
Give thanks to God that he has put women and men in this particular place, at this particular time, to provide this particular safe haven.
Racism is a major burden that weighs heavily on the hearts and minds of many who parent Black children. Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum describes racism as “a system of advantage based on race.” From her very inception, America was structured so that White people (especially White men) would be granted power and privilege based on […]
What a journey Lecrae has been on! Lecrae’s debut studio album “Real Talk” was released in 2004 and he has reached heights no other Christian rapper has. The Grammy-Award winning artist has grown as a man, a husband, a father, and as a Christian in the public eye over the last sixteen years. Most would […]
We. Are. Tired. This is the cry of Black Americans in 2020. By all accounts, this year has been unfriendly and it seems like it has been particularly difficult for us. From COVID disproportionately affecting minority communities and Black bodies being murdered in the streets, to the reminders of the nation’s racial injustices that have […]
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? […]
Jemar and Tyler are back to discuss what everyone is talking about: the appointment of Senator Kamala Harris as the Vice Presidential nominee of the Democratic Party. They discuss the inevitable reality of racism and misogynoir that has already risen up against her, the concerns about her policies, and how voters interpret her progressive record. […]
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 […]
Jemar and Tyler are back with a special word for Black Christians. We know how hard it has been in this season to see people ignore and pass over your pain. We know how hard it is to feel like you’re the only one. We know how hard it is to get your hopes up […]
We have a special conversation for you today! We’ve been talking about the “quiet exodus” for many years, but what about when your stand for dignity forces you out? That was the case of Zee Johnson, a worship pastor in Texas who was removed from her position for speaking out about injustice. She sat down […]
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 […]