by Dr. George CL Cummings, Regional Executive Director, FIAEB
My faith is deeply rooted in what noted scholar Professor Cornel West referred to as a “prophetic African American revolutionary Christianity” in his landmark book entitled Prophesy Deliverance published in 1982.
In that volume, he outlined the specific thread of Christianity that makes up the lens through which I interpret meaning in the world. Central to those values is a commitment to transformative action that integrates faith with the public struggle for justice and liberation of all people.
There is not enough space nor time for me to elaborate the diverse ways that this perspective has shaped my commitment to the work of long-term organizing designed to transform this society. In the words of Professor West, “Justice is the public face of love.” The public expression of the “love of neighbor” that is a cornerstone of those who claim to be followers of Jesus is public action to change the world. Justice and racial, economic, and gender equity are at the heart of our movement.
“Hope has two beautiful daughters. The first is anger at the way things are. The second is courage to act so that things do not remain the same.”
St. Augustine
The challenge of our current time is that so much of our lives in 2022 are being dominated by perspectives that are contrary to the central beliefs to which I have referred. The contemporary scene is littered with the policies and actions of public institutions which are causing immeasurable pain to many marginalized communities. Public policies and Supreme Court rulings designed to limit access to voting and destroy democracy, limit the right of self determination for women in relationship to their bodies, lack of gun control, failed immigration policies, among other things, creates conditions that lead us to righteous indignation.
I am reminded that St. Augustine once said, “Hope has two beautiful daughters. The first is anger at the way things are. The second is courage to act so that things do not remain the same.”
Let us not be paralyzed by the challenges before us. Let us take courage to organize in order to address the needs of our communities. Let us ORGANIZE! ORGANIZE !ORGANIZE!—and be relentlessly courageous in bringing our various faiths to the public square.